Colleges use some, if not all, of the information listed below when determining whether or not to accept an applicant. Individual colleges may differ in how they evaluate information.
Grade Point Average
A student’s grade
point average (GPA) is the average of a student’s grades, starting with the
freshman year. Colleges generally
consider a student’s GPA in a college preparatory program to be the most
important criteria for college admission.
Class Rank
Class rank indicates where a student stands academically in relation to the other members of his/her graduating class. Class rank is often presented with the student’s place in the class followed by the total number of students in the class (e.g., 44/151). The student who has the highest GPA is number one, the student with the second highest GPA is number two, etc. Rank can be important when applying for scholarships because many scholarships stipulate that a student must be in the top 10% (or 20%, etc.) of his/her class.
Transcript
A transcript is a document that details a student’s academic achievement in high school. A transcript contains the following information:
All college applications request that an official transcript be submitted with the application. An official transcript must have a signature and the school seal verifying its authenticity. An unofficial transcript is the same as an official transcript except there is no official signature or seal. A transcript is also usually required when a student applies for a scholarship. You may request an unofficial transcript for personal use by contacting the guidance office.
School Profile
A Salisbury High
School Profile is included with each transcript. Our profile includes an
explanation of our grading system and how the GPA and class rank are
calculated, the curriculum available, the percentage of students who attend
post-secondary institutions and other post-secondary options, school size,
class size and the average SAT scores of the previous graduating class.
Admissions Essay
Some colleges require an applicant to write an essay as part of the
application. This essay can clearly
affect your chances of acceptance, especially at top-tier schools, where it
almost goes without saying that students’ grades and test scores are
outstanding and their accomplishments are extraordinary. As you prepare your essay, keep the following
in mind:
-Be yourself: The essay gives the admissions officers a
personalized sense of you—an image that mere numbers cannot convey.
-Don’t be gimmicky
-Don’t wait until
the last minute: When you’re done, put
your essay aside for a week and then go back to it with greater objectivity.
-Don’t let someone
else write your essay: You’re selling
yourself short—and you’re likely to get caught.
-Do revise
-Do
proofread—twice
Interview dos and don’ts
The interview can
be a prospective school’s only opportunity to evaluate you face to face. So be prepared. Here’s what you need to know:
-Dress
appropriately: Clean and presentable is
the way to go. Don’t let the way you
look hurt your chances of getting in.
-Do your
homework: Before the interview, check
the college’s website; then ask informed questions.
-Read two recent
books: Be ready to discuss them. Chances are that you’ll be asked what you’ve
read lately.
-Be on time.
-Make eye contact.
-Be
passionate: Figure out what you’re
passionate about and find a way to talk about it.
-Be specific.
-Don’t get too
personal.
-Shake hands
before and after the interview.
-Write a thank-you
note and mail it the next day.
Courses Recommended For College Admission
Four-year colleges recommend that students complete certain college preparatory courses while in high school. These include a minimum of:
Students without these courses may be required to take remedial and/or additional courses at college. Such suggested preparation will vary from college to college. The most competitive colleges expect that applicants will select the most challenging courses available.