For those of us who will soon be applying to colleges, the task may seem daunting. There are thousands of colleges, all receiving thousands of applications—how can one hope to decide between them? And how do you make sure you get in, among those thousands?
College applications are a bit of a black box. Each college has its own system of filtering applications, and none of them will just say what that system exactly is. Clearly, grades and test scores have some importance, especially for competitive colleges. But that’s not where the emphasis should lie. What colleges really want to see is meaningful dedication. Do you truly love whatever activities you are doing? Or are you just doing these things to get into colleges? Are you trying to make a genuine local impact on your community, or are you simply trying to be loosely involved in as many things as possible? According to Forbes, colleges want to see that you really care about what you are doing, and that it’s not just a ploy to get in (Forbes).
Ben Jones, an employee of MIT, makes an even stronger statement on college applications. MIT receives thousands of applications, most with high grades, and only limited spots are available. So admissions have to instead be judged on a genuine desire to be in the college, and not for the name. But what if you don’t have that desire? To Jones, this question is ludicrous. He says, “There are literally hundreds of amazing colleges and universities out there (some of which actually admit kids with no APs!). Many of them would actually be better matches for your child [than top-tier universities]. Many of them would provide your child with a better education. Most importantly, many of them would ultimately give your child a greater sense of happiness and fulfillment. The right match will do that” (Jones). In short, you have to find the college that is right for you. If you don’t have top grades, it’s not the cataclysm that some will have you believe. If you can’t get into a college it’s probably a poor fit anyway, so don’t stress it. Meanwhile, plenty of better matches that likely will accept you are awaiting.
So, then, how can you judge whether a college is a good match for you or not? Well, there are many, many, factors to consider. You should consider the safety of the campus. You should look at what services the college provides for students. You should consider the graduation rates—the percentage of students who graduate—and the retention rates—the percentage of students who remain in the school for a given amount of time. Make sure to consider these statistics for your demographic in particular; it’s a bad sign if the school doesn’t have that information readily available. By looking at the most popular events on campus, you can start to get a feel for the school environment and decide if you fit in. You should also see what internship opportunities are available at the school, and look at the employment rates for graduates in your major. Finally, there is money: how much will the school cost, and will the jobs awaiting you allow you to pay that back (NACAC)?
All these factors may seem daunting. But they can help you find the right college for you, and they can help you avoid racking up a massive amount of debt that you then will be unable to pay back. At the same time, don’t stress it. If a college isn’t the absolute perfect fit, it’s not the end of the world.
So, really, when considering colleges, keep an open mind. If a school simply doesn’t have the name you want, then that is no reason to count it out. When, really, is going to a prestigious school ever going to help you in later life? And getting top grades should not be a matter of life and death. If you’re truly dedicated to getting into a college, then that, shockingly, is what the college wants to see. So don’t worry about getting behind that black box.
Sources:
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/lizdoestone/2025/08/14/what-colleges-look-for-in-applications-2025/
- https://www.nacacnet.org/determining-the-right-fit/
- https://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/many_ways_to_define_the_best/
