COLLEGE APPLICATION

Students may apply to as many schools as they would like.  However, it is best to create a BALANCED college list. This may consist of five to ten colleges, or up to 20, if you are a theater or fine arts major.  These colleges should include at least one Reach School, one Match/Target School, and one Safety School.

• Reach School

  • • Your academic credentials fall below the college's acceptance range for the average first-year student. This is a long shot, but is possible.

• Match/Target School

  • • Your academic credentials fall within or exceed the college's acceptance range for the average first-year student. This is not a guarantee, but you have an acceptable chance of being accepted.

• Safety School

  • • Your academic credentials fall above the college's acceptance range for the average first-year student.  You will be more than likely to be admitted.

Per the NACAC "For the Fall 2023 admission cycle, NACAC member four-year colleges reported that the most important factors in admission decisions were grades in high school courses and strength of the high school curriculum."

Factors in admission decisions vary by type of college. 

Across all four-year colleges surveyed by NACAC, high school grades and strength of high school curriculum are uniformly rated as the most important factors. However, some differences were found between public and private colleges in the level of importance given to the following factors:

• high school grades in college prep courses

• strength of curriculum

• class rank

• positive character attributes

• the essay or writing sample

• the interview (if applicable)

• work

• extracurricular activities

• counselor and teacher recommendations

• student’s interest in attending the institution

Your high school transcript may show a GPA and a weighted GPA

• GPA: This is your grade point average based upon a 4.0 scale - every class is weighted the same.

• Weighted GPA: Many high schools offer a "weighted" GPA, placing a higher value/using a different scale for honors, IB, AP, AICE, and dual enrollment. The scales can be out a 5.0, 6.0, or higher scale, depending on the school. Your high school may calculate your weighted GPA differently from how the college you are applying to does. 

For college admissions, while you will be submitting either your GPA or weighted GPA, the college will recalculate your GPA.

• Recalculated GPA: Colleges will recalculate your GPA. Many colleges only consider core classes (English, Math, Science, Social Studies) with 1 point added for AP/AICE/IB, and .5 points added for honors core classes. 

  • • Some colleges include world language classes, and others include classes like AP Computer Science.  NOTE:  Not all AP, AICE, IB, and dual enrollment classes will be considered when they recalculate your GPA.

      • • Because each college considers, we do not recommend trying to figure out what your recalculated GPA will be.

• When you look at GPA admission stats, this is usually based on a recalculated GPA. For example, if you see that FSU's mid 50% GPA from the last year's accepted student cohort is 4.3-4.6, you cannot look at your weighted GPA and think that because you have a 5.2 GPA, you are in the required range.