What looks good to colleges on your transcript, that makes colleges want to accept you?

Question

I am a freshman in highschool and I am planning on going to college when I graduate. I either want to go to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (both my parents graduated from there), San Francisco Academy of Arts University, or some other college with a really great arts program. What looks good to the colleges when you apply to go there? What classes should I take now to make them want to accept me?

Thank you very much for your help and input!

Answer 1

I work at a college right now and the entrance items we look for are as follows:

1. GPA - critical for selection based on the minimum entrance standards for the university. If you don't have the minimum, they won't even consider you.

2. Transferrable credits - believe it or not this can be good or bad. If you have some transferrable credits (say from college prep courses) that looks good. If you have a whole ton of courses (say you're coming from another university) they have to weigh the fact that they won't get much money out of you.. which is what it's all about in the end for the university...

3. Civil profile - This is something I've only heard of prestigious universities considering. It includes things like any awards you may have won while you were in high school, any civic duty you've done, basically it's the 'face' of the university that they like to uphold by letting people in with good qualifications and a good record. Again, this is mostly ivy league and hard to get into colleges where the 4.0 average is just that.. average.

4. Application and interview - having all your bells and whistles shining in the application doesn't mean a thing if you blow the interview (again, depends on the college). Be focused, determined, energetic and definitely a fan of the college (know some background).

All in all, the decision to even talk to you is based on their minimum entrance requirements. A good rule of thumb is .. if you barely make the minimum.. you're not likely to get in unless it's a state college or a technical school.

As far as what courses to take. I would have a strong foundation in the area you want to make your major degree. So if it's arts.. then look at the classes you have that support that degree program. Most of the accelerated degree programs have a prerequisite course or two they look for before they allow you to take them.. having already taken them in highschool is a definite bonus!

good luck!

Answer 2

First of all, keep your GPA (grade point average) up. A rough GPA during your freshmen year can come back to haunt you your senior year of high school.

Most colleges like to see some sort of extra curricular activities outside of the classroom. Try to find one or two sports or clubs to join and really excel in them. It is better to really do well in one or two clubs than to do average in 10 different clubs.

Start touring campuses that you're interested in starting the fall of your Junior year of high school and have good idea of what school you'd like to apply to the summer between your Junior and Senior year. For some of the more competitive schools, the applications are due in early November of your Senior year.

I think the fact that you're thinking about it at such a young age already puts you one step ahead of everyone else! Good luck!

Answer 3

You mention "arts" program but you don't tell us what branch of "arts" you're most interested in. I'd do a lot of that. You should get involved in graphic arts (painting, drawing, webpage design), or dance or music, depending on what you want to focus on in college.

Music lessons are always considered positive signals on college application transcripts. Maybe you should study an instrument for four years.

see:
How to locate teachers and violin shops:
http://beststudentviolins.com/PedagogyTech.html#1

Answer 4

in case you have right now A's after which one B-/C+ your G.P.A could desire to be someplace around 3.8ish? it is a rattling solid G.P.A. you will in all probability nevertheless graduate interior the ideal 10% of your classification. mutually as grades are an significant area of your profile, there are different issues that schools will seem at including extracurricular activities, volunteer artwork, and so on... you may desire to in all probability connect a club in school and locate some volunteer artwork on your community particulary artwork related to deprived infants. colleges and human beings frequently see that as an very noble act. yet do undergo in suggestions one element, solid grades do no longer assure fulfillment in existence yet, they're going to open many doorways for you.

Answer 5

obviously grades are important, but what you want to have is extra activities -- that would relate to your study... even if it is indirectly related-- it is a big plus. You just have to demonstrate that you really care about it.

Answer 6

a hot body