Admission procedure in higher institutes could be confusing and frustrating. Each school has its own preferences of standardized tests, and its own criteria of GPAs. But fortunately, they don't have completely different criteria. Most of the institutes follow some standard benchmark criteria in the admission procedure. Given below are the four most important factors considered by institutes while evaluating a candidate for admission
GPAs in high school:
A candidates grade point average from 8th to 12th grade are considered as an indicator of his/her academic aptitude. However, this may differ from institute to institute. It is normally calculated as total number of grade points achieved, divided by number of attempts. Hence it is highly recommended that students manage their GPA carefully throughout these important years of high school.
Curricular and Extra-Curricular Activities:
The quality of the curriculum, the elective subjects, and extra-curricular activities undertaken at high school can be as important as GPAs. Different schools follow different curriculum and the effectiveness of their course-delivery varies. Studying from reputed school, and following a recognized curriculum will add strength to your case.
Score on Standardized Tests:
Scores on the SAT or ACT are recognized by most of the schools. These standardized tests are designed to measure student's readiness for university and college environment, and suitability for different disciplines of higher study. Hence, it bears pivotal importance in the whole admission procedure. Admission officers will evaluate your suitability for a particular course based on your performance in SAT and SAT II Subject tests.
Grades in College Prep Courses:
College prep courses such as AP (Advanced Placement) or IB (International Baccalaureate) can give your application a thrust. Most of the colleges/universities recognize both of these courses equivalently. However, there might be some conditions imposed; for example, colleges in the US consider 6 AP courses to be equal to the IB Diploma. Since AP gives you freedom to choose subjects, you must choose your subject portfolio carefully to support your application.
Some other important factors considered by the institutes are admission essays, teacher/counselor recommendations, and student's demonstration of interest.
To conclude:
Preparing a solid application is not a one-off task, it is done by building a strong profile right from your freshman year. And if you messed up grades in a subject in a certain year, that's not the end of it. You can make up for it by performing great in other areas. Consider this a long-term battle that you have to fight on different fronts, but you will have enough time if you start early. To avoid frustration and pressure, start from now. For more advice, contact Cornerstone today!