4 Steps You Can Take to Improve Your Chances of College Acceptance

Whether you have a dream school in mind, or you just want to get into the best possible college, you’ll no doubt want to maximize your chances of your applications getting accepted. There are certain aspects admissions teams look for, and many ways that you can boost your application. Here are just a few steps you can take to improve your chances of acceptance.



1. Keep your grades steady
Good grades aren’t the be-all and end-all of college applications, but when combined with other factors, a solid GPA will put you ahead of the crowd. It’s a good idea to research your dream schools on CampusReel and see what kind of grades they’ll be looking for. For example, the UNC average GPA is around 4.7, which means the college wouldexpect consistently high grades, among other things.
If you’ve worked on your GPA and can’t quite get it up to scratch, it’s still worth applying to schools if you can match their other criteria and put forward an amazing overall application.


2. Work hard on the SATs
Your SAT score will be another key part of your application. If your GPA isn’t great, a decent SAT score could give your application a boost.
You can potentially improve your SAT scores by:
• Getting private tutoring – especially in areas where you struggle
• Going on an SAT preparation course
• Practice a lot – it’s easy to find mock papers online and taking practice exams can make you less nervous on the day
• Learn mindfulness techniques to keep you calm under pressure
Again, SATs are simply part of what admissions teams will look for, and if you don’t manage to get great scores, there are colleges that don’t require you to take the SAT, so you always have options.


3. Focus on a few interesting extracurricular activities
You don’t have to have dozens of extracurricular activities to make your application more impressive. In fact, some students make the mistake of trying to pad out their application with too many extras, from multiple sports to all sorts of charity work. This makes it look like you’ve spread yourself too thin and aren’t really interested in these activities. Focus on a few activities that genuinely interest you and that you can talk about in your essay.


4. Get help with your application
A good application can turn an average student into an attractive prospect for colleges. It’s a good idea to read up on how to fill in a college application and to attend workshops at your high school. You may also want to get help with your college essay. Your essay is something that needs to impress the admissions team, so it may be worth working with a college admissions tutor who knows the system and can help you put together something that catches the eye.


If you’re going for a place at a competitive college, it’s important that you have an application that’s the all-round package. From a good GPA to community activities, there’s a lot you can do to make your application attractive to the best schools.