What They're Looking For - poll of college admissions standards - Brief Article

Careers and Colleges, Sept, 2000

Each year the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) polls more than 1,500 colleges on their admission criteria. Below are the results. Note that 78 percent of responding institutions said that a student's ability to pay was of "little or no importance."

Factors influencing admission decisions (in order of importance):

1. Grades in college prep courses

2. Admission test scores

3. Grades in all subjects

4. Other criteria specific to each institution

5. Class rank

6. Essay/writing sample

7. Counselor recommendation

8. Teacher recommendation

9. Interview

10. Community service

11. Work/extracurricular activities

12. Ability to pay

13. Personal recognition programs

Source: NACAC 11th Annual Admission Trends Survey