How to Get Into Colleges: Guide 2025-2026

A recent survey by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) confirms what many students and families already know: applying to college can be a nerve-wracking experience. More than half of the surveyed students reported it as their most stressful academic experience, and rightfully so, because applying to some of the top colleges in 2024-2025 means meeting a plethora of requirements with no guarantee of acceptance. 

This guide will crack the code on how to get into colleges that are the most selective in US. We’ll take you through each step of the process of building a competitive profile, informed by data and the knowledge of former admissions officers. Let’s find out how you can approach the admissions season with confidence! 

How to Get Noticed By Colleges?

What is Holistic Admissions?

It’s helpful to remember that the US admissions process is an outlier in comparison to the rest of the world. For example, the UK university admissions process is about assessing how qualified a student is to study a specific academic field. This is true for most admissions systems across the globe. The focus is on a student’s grades and test scores, with specific course requirements and targets to meet.

Sometimes admissions are based solely on entrance exams like the Gaokao in China, CSAT in South Korea, or the Center Test in Japan.

In the holistic admissions system adopted by most top US colleges, there is no single factor that will determine whether a student is admitted. Various factors are considered. These include a student’s extracurricular activities, essays, and recommendation letters.

However, that doesn’t mean college admissions officers don’t have priorities. Certain factors are considered more important than others. NACAC’s report on factors in the admission decision, which surveyed four-year colleges, clearly indicates that strong grades and rigorous coursework are the foundation of a competitive profile. This has not changed since NACAC first conducted its survey in 2012.

We will take a closer look at the significance of academics in the college admission process below:

The First Consideration: Grades and Coursework

In order to process tens of thousands of applications, top colleges need an efficient and relatively objective filter to remove a large number of applicants from serious consideration.

If your GPA is in the competitive range, your application will move to the next stage of review. If your GPA is not in the competitive range, your application will end up in the pile of likely rejections.

GPA Requirements: What grades do you need to get into a university? There are often no minimal GPA requirements for highly selective universities, but there are published ranges of past admitted students.

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Course Difficulty: Colleges take into account more than simply your GPA when evaluating your application. Enrolling in demanding Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses demonstrates your commitment to challenging yourself academically. Your performance in AP and IB serves as an indication of how well you are likely to perform in college courses in the future. 

Trends and Academic Improvement: Colleges may take note of the upward improvement trend in your grades over time, which demonstrates your capacity for growth and learning. However, it is always preferable to earn high grades throughout your high school years.

Major Choice and Academics

Talent and Commitment: Achieving great grades in courses related to your major is particularly important because it shows your dedication and potential for success in your field in college and beyond. In some ways, applying to college isn’t different than applying for a job. You want to show you’re qualified for what you intend to do.

Course Selection Strategies to Get Into Top Colleges

Below are common scenarios experienced by students and strategic guidance for how to strengthen your profile to be a more competitive applicant: 

Scenario 1: Strong Overall Grades

• Ensure that you’re taking the most difficult courses offered by your school (e.g., if the maximum number of AP courses allowed per academic year is four, then take four AP courses) to show admissions officers that you’re challenging yourself 
• Check that classes, including electives, align with your major (e.g., creative writing for an English major)
• Consider showing academic strength in contrasting subjects if you’re capable (e.g., if you intend to major in English and have A’s in all your humanities classes, consider taking an AP Physics C class); students who are academically talented in both the sciences and humanities can stand out

Scenario 2: Uneven Grades with Specific Strengths

• Take courses in your weaker subjects at a standard level and show gradual improvement over time while focusing on maintaining strong grades in subjects of strength (e.g., AP Biology with standard-level US History).
• Enroll in additional summer courses in your strong subjects to further raise your GPA
• Consider taking easier but still challenging classes in related subjects (e.g., AP Statistics instead of AP Calculus AB) 

Scenario 3: Low Overall Grades

• Focus on becoming good in one subject, while working toward improvement in other subjects; choose electives aligned with your intended major at a standard level to build a solid foundation to take more advanced classes related to your future college major
• Please note: You’re unlikely to be admitted to top college with a low overall GPA, but there is time to improve if you’re in grade 9 or 10. If you’re in grade 11 or 12, an upward trend in GPA can still help to some extent, but students with consistenly strong GPA throughout high school are always preferred.

How to Raise Your Grades If They Are Not Competitive Enough 

Getting your grades where you want them takes work, but with the right strategies and course selection, you can see significant improvement. Here's a breakdown of actionable steps and course-specific tips:

• Step 1: Assess Where You Stand

Go through your latest report card. Are there specific subjects bringing down your GPA? Do you know where you’re repeating the same mistakes in certain subjects, like committing grammatical errors on your English papers? Do you not understand certain concepts like rotational dynamics in physics? Or are you simply not making the time to study because you’re prone to procrastination? 

• Step 2: Take Action

Schedule meetings with teachers for your most challenging subjects. Discuss your struggles and ask for specific recommendations. Your counselor can also help you develop a study plan, suggest time management, and connect you with academic support services offered by your school.

• Step 3: Revamp Your Study Habits

Passive studying is not the right approach if you plan to get into top colleges. The common study approach for many students involves simply re-reading and highlighting material. You should engage with class content through practice problems, flashcards, and concept mapping. Create a weekly schedule that allocates dedicated study time for each subject, and set aside the most time for subjects where you’re struggling. You might also find classmates who share similar goals and form a study group to keep each other accountable. Explaining concepts to each other, quizzing each other, and working on practice problems together can lead to everyone’s success. 

Testing in College Applications: What to Expect?

Tests like the SAT and ACT are important for top colleges, with many now requiring scores to be submitted again. They give admission officers a standard way to compare students from different schools and backgrounds. Scoring well can definitely strengthen your application, especially for the most selective colleges.

Standardized Testing

The fact that several elite universities like Harvard, Stanford, and MIT have reintroduced their standardized test requirements highlights the continued importance of SAT/ACT scores in the college admissions process. Some students may find it difficult to adjust to this new reality.

If you’re wondering how to get into colleges, let's examine standardized testing's potential impact on your college application in more detail:

●  Decoding the "Middle 50% Range"

With testing, a targeted strategy is critical for goal setting. Find the “middle 50% range” (or 25th-75th percentile range) of accepted students' SAT/ACT scores for every college on your list Your application will be strengthened if you score in this range since it will indicate that you are academically capable of handling the level of demanding coursework at that particular university.

●  Test-Required versus Test-Optional

Testing strategy can become a nightmare for some students who are anxious about how to get into colleges.s. The good news is that "test-optional" policies have been implemented by numerous universities, so you won't be required to submit a low score.

However, a high test score that is within a college's range can greatly improve your candidacy, especially if the rest of your application is equally strong..

●  Targeted Test Preparation

Make the most of standardized testing on your application by preparing strategically for the test. To determine your strengths and shortcomings, use official practice exams from ACT, Inc. for the ACT or the College Board for the SAT. Examine your performance to determine what areas need to be improved the most. Spend less attention on general test-prep techniques and areas where you already perform well.

It is wise to invest in online resources or specialized preparatory classes that cater to your individual needs. With this targeted strategy, you can be sure that you're spending your precious preparation time perfecting the skills that will raise your score the most.

Subject-Specific Tests

Achieving high scores on Advanced Placement (AP) examinations can significantly improve the profiles of students who want to attend top colleges, even if the SAT and ACT scores are still an important consideration for many college admissions decisions. If you want to know how to get into colleges that are highly selective, these subject-specific examinations can be a game-changer.

●  Demonstrating Depth and Passion

AP exams force you to go deeper into certain subjects than the SAT and ACT, which measure broad academic aptitude. By scoring high on and passing these exams, you may demonstrate not only your proficiency on standardized assessments but also your in-depth understanding that comes from countless hours studying the subject matter. Universities are constantly looking for individuals with true intellectual curiosity, and this is an effective way of showing this.

●  Standing Out from the Crowd

There are many students who excel academically and have great SAT or ACT scores and GPAs who apply to top universities. AP examinations provide you with the chance to stand out from the competition. For example, earning a 5 on an AP exam in a subject linked to your major shows that you have a strong foundation in the subject and are committed to it.

Consider a candidate for an engineering degree. Their exceptional performance on the AP Calculus BC exam indicates that they have a strong grasp of mathematics and the ability to excel in the demanding engineering curriculum. This focused demonstration of expertise can significantly improve your application. This is how to get noticed by college, the right way!

Test-Blind Colleges

It's crucial to keep in mind that different universities place different values on these exams. Perform in-depth research on the particular colleges and programs you are interested in before devoting a lot of time and effort to studying for the SAT, ACT, or AP exams. Review admissions websites and, if needed, get in touch with admissions offices. Find out whether any tests are taken for the major you want to pursue.

In the past, the University of California campuses like UC Berkeley and UCLA took SAT and ACT scores into consideration in their admissions process. Now they will no longer review SAT or ACT scores when deciding who to admit. Pitzer College and Reed College are among the other institutions that are also test-blind are won’t consider SAT or ACT scores when reviewing applications.

Music students are another case. Let’s say you're a high school senior planning to attend a prestigious music school like Juilliard. You're an exceptional violinist, and naturally, you're considering taking the SAT to showcase your academic talent. However, through your research, you discover that Juilliard doesn't require the SAT!  Instead, they emphasize a strong audition where you can demonstrate your musicality firsthand.

By researching Juilliard's specific requirements, you can avoid spending time and energy studying for a test that won't significantly impact your application.

Top Colleges Admissions Profiles at a Glance (Class of 2025-2026)

The average student applies to 6-8 colleges, but it is not unusual for students applying to the most competitive colleges to submit 12-15 applications or more. Regardless of how may universities you apply to, you should aim for a balanced list of hard reach/reach, match, and safety schools:

• Hard Reach Schools: The most selective universities (e.g., Harvard University – GPA: 3.9, SAT: 1500-1580, ACT: 34-36)
• Reach Schools: Highly selective universities (e.g., University of Michigan: GPA: 3.9, SAT: 1350-1530, ACT: 31-34)
• Match Schools: Schools that align with your academic profile (e.g., your GPA and SAT/ACT scores are within the average range of the college)
• Safety Schools: Schools where admission is likely based on your academic profile (e.g., your GPA and SAT/ACT scores are above the average range of the college)

There is no specific criterion for colleges that they use to make final decisions, but there is data that shows the kind of profile you need to build to be competitive for admission. 

1. Princeton University:

• Average GPA: 3.9
• Strong test scores, optional (SAT: 1500-1580, ACT: 34-35)
• Very important factors for admission: Rigor of coursework, class rank, GPA, test scores, application essays, recommendation letters, extracurriculars, talent/ability, character/personal qualities 

2. Stanford University:

• Average GPA: 3.9
• Strong test scores required (SAT: 1510-1580, ACT: 34-35)
• Very important factors for admission: Rigor of coursework, class rank, GPA, application essays, recommendation letters, extracurriculars, talent/ability, character/personal qualities

4. University of Pennsylvania:

• Average GPA: 3.9
• Strong test scores required (SAT: 1500-1570, ACT: 34-35)
• Very important factors for admission: Rigor of coursework, GPA, application essays, recommendation letters, character/personal qualities

4. University of California, Berkeley:

• Average GPA: 3.9
• SAT/ACT not considered
• Very important factors for admission: Rigor of coursework, GPA, application essays

5. New York University:

• Average GPA: 3.8
• Strong test scores, optional (SAT: 1480-1570, ACT: 33-35)
• Very important factors for admission: Rigor of coursework, GPA, application essays, recommendation letters, character/personal qualities

Importance of Essays

As you saw in the profiles above, application essays are considered very important to many top colleges. There is more to applying than just grades and test results. This is your opportunity to share your special tale and highlight your individuality.

The personal statement is your chance to shine beyond grades and test scores. It's your story, your voice, and your opportunity to convince admissions officers you belong at their top-tier institution. 

The Common Application, often referred to as the Common App, is a centralized online platform used by over 1,000 colleges in the US for undergraduate admissions. It streamlines the application process by allowing you to submit one application to multiple colleges, saving you time and effort.

The Common App includes various sections, but a crucial one is the essay part. This is your chance to showcase your unique voice and qualities that go beyond grades and test scores. Here are some specific tips to craft a winning Common App essay:

➢ Find Your Core Narrative

Avoid writing a generic essay that anyone could write. Reflect on experiences, achievements, or challenges that shaped your personality and show them your passions, values, and goals.

Perhaps you had a summer of work experience at a hospital that totally altered your understanding of global health. Or maybe you built an invention that won an award and was bought by a company because you were fascinated by robotics.  It's these experiences that distinguish you.

➢ Show, Don't Tell

Use vivid language and storytelling instead of simply stating your qualities. It's a better way to showcase your personality in action.

Don't just write that you're a leader. Describe a time you rallied your classmates to organize a successful fundraising campaign for a local charity. Detail your strategies, challenges overcome, and the impact you made.

➢ Be True to Yourself

Don't try to create an image you think admissions officers want to see. Acknowledge and honor your identities. Let your genuine voice and personality shine through. This is something that can make you stand out from the crowd.

Be yourself and don't try to change your personality in the application. Are you funny? Witty or Analytical? Let your application show your personality. This will naturally help you to connect with the reader.

➢ Proofread Ruthlessly

Make sure your essay is free of grammatical errors and punctuation mistakes. You can do this by proofreading it several times. A polished piece reflects your attention to detail.

If possible, ask a trusted teacher, counselor, or mentor to review your essay. Their feedback can help you strengthen it, but remember that your essay should be your own work and voice. 

Develop an Application Theme (or Hook Statement)

A college admissions officer reviews hundreds of applications every day, each application competing for attention and eventually a seat in the incoming class. There are students with impressive grades, perfect or near-perfect test scores, and a laundry list of impactful activities. How will your application stand out? 

This is where an application theme can help you get noticed. It’s a central idea or thread that runs through your application, evidenced by academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and essays. It highlights your passions, values, or experiences, and shows admissions officers who you are as a student and a person.

This is the foundational strategy for how to get into colleges that are the most selective and highly ranked. Your theme creates a memorable impression on the admissions committee before they even meet you in person. A theme helps to tie disparate elements of your application into a clear picture of your goals and motivations, highlighting the contributions you could make to the college community and society at large. 

Where do you begin crafting your theme?

●  Start with Yourself: Take time out for introspection. Jot down your core values, passions, or any life experience that shaped who you are today. What were the major turning points in your life? What causes do you care deeply about? 

●  Connect the Dots: Find the common thread that links academics and extracurricular activities during your high school years. For instance, a passion for environmentalism might connect your participation in the school's environmental club, volunteer work at a local wildlife rehabilitation center, selection of AP Environmental Science a class in grade 10, and your chosen major in Environmental Science.

●  Embrace Multiple Interests: Students with two deep interests, one academic and one non-academic, can differentiate themselves from more traditional applicants with only one clear academic passion. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) recently highlighted its admitted students with an unusual combination of interests: cosmology and cosplay, quantum and quilting, and agriculture and archery. MIT is not alone in valuing students with multipotentiality.

●  Only One You: Don't try to be everything to everyone. Be authentic to your theme and stick to it throughout your high school years and in your application. 

Creating a Well-Lopsided Extracurricular Profile

Academics and extracurriculars go hand in hand, and when you’re trying to become a competitive applicant for your dream college, you need to show how your commitment to both is. In fact, several studies have found that students who were involved in extracurricular activities in high school had higher GPAs, so it's a win-win situation. 

While grades and test scores certainly do quantify your academic capabilities and lay the groundwork for a strong application, it's your ECs that reveal your passion and interests to the admission committee and can set you apart from applicants with similar stats. It could be a robotics club, debate team, or volunteering at an animal shelter: your ECs paint a picture of who you are beyond the classroom. Colleges want students who are intellectually curious and who bring a fresh perspective to their campus community, and ECs are one way to gain unique experiences leading to insights that can be shared with your peers inside and outside the classroom. 

In considering how to get into colleges that are selective, it's important to know the best way to utilize your ECs to create a stronger application. 

➢ Quality Over Quantity for ECs

High school is an exciting ride, but you can’t participate in everything. You’ll burn out. It also won’t help to strengthen your application. Why? Colleges prioritize depth before breadth. Select a few pursuits that genuinely excite you and dedicate yourself to them in high school. 

➢ Align Your Application Theme

Your ECs support your primary academic interest and intended major. If engineering is your passion, then try to intern or volunteer at a nearby engineering company or compete in a robotics competition. You need to demonstrate that you’re committed to developing your skills in your field study. It is like you’re applying for a job. You need to show that you can and want to do the work that the job requires. 

Here are the most EC categories:

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Practical Steps-by-Step Guide to Getting Into Top Colleges

Prepare Early

You should aim to be one step ahead of everyone else. You can reduce your stress and anxiety by setting a goal to complete your essays and collect recommendations weeks before your first application deadline. Put these early due dates on your schedule.

Collect the deadline dates for all your colleges in one document so you can see them all in the same place. The most reliable source of information about deadlines and requirements is the college’s official website. If you are wondering how to get into Ivy League colleges, you should know that it comes with proving to them that you can complete the tasks needed to apply:

➢ Be Consistent

Make the job of admissions officers easier by using the same name on all of your forms. Utilizing your entire legal name is also smart. When you do this, the chance of errors will be minimized. It will also avoid inconsistencies in matching data from various sources, such as testing agencies and FAFSA.

While there may be a chance to list your preferred name, it is advisable to use your legal name whenever possible. Changing your name—for example, from Bill to Billy—raises the possibility that your documents will be misfiled.

➢ Avoid Careless Mistakes

Silly errors on your application actually reduce the chances of acceptance. Frequent misspellings can lead admissions officers to question your attention to detail and seriousness as an applicant. One excellent tip for spotting errors in college applicants is to wait a day after finishing your application before reviewing it for mistakes. You'll be able to see it with fresh eyes and identify mistakes more quickly. You may also want to save and print out a paper version of your application to review it before submitting it online. Having a parent or teacher proofread your application can be helpful as well.

➢ Keep Your School in the Loop

Know your high school's transcript submission procedure and recommendation letter policies. The vast majority of colleges today use an online platform, which greatly improves efficiency and avoids many issues that plagued the process in the past. The same holds true for recommendation letters. Typically, writers can electronically upload and send their letters using a user-friendly virtual platform. Follow up with your counselor and teachers to make sure everything is sent out on time. If paper documents are required for some reason, please make sure you use the correct physical address when sending out materials.

Finishing and Submitting the Application

When you reach the final stage of finishing your college application, there are some additional tips to follow to make sure you are on the right path:

➢ Don’t Wait Until the Deadline

Submit your online application at least a few days before the official deadline or one or two weeks before if you’re ready. Anything that requires physical mail should be sent several weeks ahead of time. You never know about the unexpected circumstances that might affect your submission. It is advisable to create an application checklist to remain organized and submit everything on time.

➢ Submit Everything All At Once

Usually, when you apply online, you'll receive an automated confirmation response stating that your materials have been received by the institution. Get in touch with the college's admissions office if you don't. Some colleges will allow you to submit application materials separately. However, it is best to submit everything together to avoid the potential of forgetting to submit a required document later.

➢ Keep Copies of Your Official Documents

Many people forget or underestimate the importance is making copies of their important documents. Make a copy of your entire application and save it in a safe place. It is critical to keep track of your passwords and PINs for application portals to ensure you have access. You should also keep a paper trail of email correspondence from admissions officers and confirmations of submissions. If an issue comes up in the future, you’ll have the information you need.

➢ Always Get Confirmation

You should receive confirmation that your application was received by a college. If not, you should contact the college’s admissions office. For any physical mail, you could use a  mail monitoring service and ask for a "return receipt."

Stay calm if you receive an email or message stating that something is missing. Read everything carefully. There should be clear directions about what items you still need to submit and how to submit them. Please don't hesitate to contact the admissions office if you need help or if anything is confusing.

➢ Keep an Eye on Your Email

Always use a professional-sounding email address for college-related correspondence for the application process. Apply to colleges using this email. To ensure you don't miss any important official messages about your applications, check it frequently.

Final Thoughts

As a high school student, knowing how to get into colleges can make the difference between receiving an acceptance offer or not from your dream colleges. By prioritizing what’s most important, you can stand out from the crowd.

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