Today's post isn't really going to be a surprise; after all, I'm sure you've heard it all before. But it doesn't hurt to remind you what factors will be important when you apply to college. And if you are a freshman or sophomore, you should particularly pay attention to this information.
Grades matter. Yep, they really do. But so does the strength of your curriculum, so if you are contemplating dropping that honors or AP course (or that fourth year of a foreign language), you need to think twice. Why are you really dropping it? You don't like the teacher, or you don't want to work that hard? How might someone else interpret that? More important, what does it say about you? It's okay to struggle sometimes, and some of the best teacher recommendations I have ever read were about students who struggled mightily. Your willingness to work hard and stick with it says a lot to colleges.
It is also important to note that some colleges - about half of them - consider 'demonstrated interest' as a factor in admission. That means they want to know you're serious about your application. It means you have taken the time to talk to an admissions representative and/or visit campus. You've read the website and consulted other sources. And when you answer the question "why do you want to attend this college," you can explain why the school is a good fit for you.
Every year the National Association of College Admission Counseling surveys its members to see what factors are important in the admission process, but they also explain how different colleges (for example, large universities or smaller colleges) use that information. Your college counselor is another valuable resource, because she knows how it's done.
Now get back to work.
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