Grades and Academic Rigor Remain the TOP Considerations for College Admission

Parents and students are bombarded by social media posts selling quick and easy tricks for getting into college. Don’t be fooled! The data that colleges shared below show that there are no backdoor tricks. Top Grades with Academic Rigor/Character & Strength of Writing (in that order) remain the Keys to College Admission.

Some colleges remain committed to a Test-Optional policy, but the graph at the bottom of this post demonstrates that colleges now have data correlating high SAT or ACT scores with high college GPA’s. Our professional opinion is that SAT and ACT Scores are increasingly important as an Admission Factor.

 Here are some Key Admission data for students and parents:

“According to NACAC’s 2023 data, 77% of colleges rank grades in rigorous courses as one of the top factors in admissions, while fewer than 7% say extracurriculars are a major consideration.”

“Although essays and holistic attributes matter for applicants with strong academics, those with weak grades simply do not remain competitive—other elements rarely compensate.”

 

NACAC - National Association for Admission Counseling – “Factors in the Admission Decision”

Admission Factor	% “Considerable Importance”
Grades in college‑prep courses	77 %
Total high‑school grades	74 %
Strength of high‑school curriculum	64 %
Positive character attributes	28 %
Essays/writing sample	19 %
Student demonstrated interest	16 %
Counselor recommendation	12 %
Teacher recommendation	11 %
Extracurricular activities	6.5%

Colleges are Increasingly Relying on SAT & ACT Scores:

A survey of 185 four-year U.S. colleges shows which factors were rated as “considerable            importance” in admission decisions. Even among test-optional universities, the ACT and SAT will play an increasingly important role in admissions. According to a recent survey of top colleges, 84% will use ACT and SAT scores as a criterion for admission, 53% will consider ACT and SAT scores either “important” or “very important,” and only 4% will not look at scores at all. These findings reinforce existing evidence that submitting your test scores almost doubles your odds of being accepted at an elite university. The chart below clearly illustrates that colleges now have data showing that higher SAT or ACT scores predict  higher college GPA’s (graph 1), but higher high school GPA’s do not predict higher college GPA’s(graph 2).

A survey of 185 four-year U.S. colleges shows which factors were rated as “considerable            importance” in admission decisions. Even among test-optional universities, the ACT and SAT will play an increasingly important role in admissions. According to a recent survey of top colleges, 84% will use ACT and SAT scores as a criterion for admission, 53% will consider ACT and SAT scores either “important” or “very important,” and only 4% will not look at scores at all. These findings reinforce existing evidence that submitting your test scores almost doubles your odds of being accepted at an elite university. The chart below clearly illustrates that colleges now have data showing that higher SAT or ACT scores predict  higher college GPA’s (graph 1), but higher high school GPA’s do not predict higher college GPA’s(graph 2).