Think of a student's academic profile as a four-legged chair. Several tools support a strong academic profile which all point to the same conclusion - the student is academically motivated and capable of handling the rigor of college work.
High School Transcript - The main body of your sturdy chair is your high school transcript. Are you earning good grades in rigorous classes? If you had a wobbly freshman or sophomore year are you showing an uptick in junior year performance and will you post a strong senior year academic schedule?
Admission Test Scores - Advanced Placement or IB - David Coleman, College Board CEO, referenced in his chat with Yahoo Finance, 40% of students self-report straight As. I call current GPAs "squishy," or perhaps similar to the analogy that in some schools, everyone gets a trophy. Since learning has been all over the map for the past two years validating those As on your transcript is important. Schools want to see students take advantage of the AP courses the school offers and earn 4 and 5 scores on those tests. Although many schools remain test-optional, a score that places students in the 50th percentile range or higher of admitted students also validates the transcript. Interested in a diagnostic test score or tutoring, register here and we can provide guidance.
High School Profile - The school profile is part of your student's application and provides admissions summary information about the school's student body, curricular offerings, and grading system. A good school profile will promote the school if the counselor understands their importance and will include details such as a list of recent graduate accepted schools. You can also research your high school's college readiness index (CRI) as published by U.S. News and World Report.
Independent Work - Showcasing an independent academic project of interest can help students cut through the noise of a crowded applicant pool. These projects can be published, presented, produced, given college credit, or entered into academic competitions. Read more about our partnership with Polygence
Make sure your academic chair is sturdy, with all pieces pointing to the same conclusion. If there is a wobbly leg, identify other tools you can use to add extra support.
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