1. 11th Grade College Admissions
Post-Secondary Planning

2. What do colleges look for?
While many factors are considered in college admissions, grades, challenging course selection, and test scores are still most important. Continue to challenge yourself your senior year!
Grades in college
Preparatory courses
Strength of
curriculum
Admission
Test scores
Grades in
All courses
Essay or writing
sample
Student’s demonstrated interest
Class rank
19% - Letters of Recommendation
7% - Extracurricular Activities

3. What is most important for Admissions-Review
Grades
Grades in college prep classes were the MOST important
Average GPA for 4-year college bound students: 3.11
Average GPA for 2-year college bound students: 2.5
Challenging Course Selection
Did you take any Concurrent Enrollment Courses?
AP courses?
More than the graduation requirements: 2-3 years of a language, 4 years of science, etc.
Test Scores
ACT Composite Scores average for inbound 4-year college Freshman
Check your overall Index Score

4. What is a College Index Score?
An Index Score looks at your G.P.A and your test scores to find where they meet
Colleges use these for admissions. See the chart for the Colorado College Index Scores:

5. Review your Index Score
Review your index score here:
Or use the CCHE Index Chart provided by your LC Mentor

6. How to Apply to College Tips
Keep it real. Don’t exaggerate accomplishments or claim things that aren’t true.
Give letter-writers time. If you are asking teachers, coaches, or counselors for letters of recommendation, ask several weeks before the letters are due.
Beat the deadline. Reduce the chance your application will get lost in the shuffle: Submit it well before the deadline.
Apply online. It’s easier and faster.
Emphasize your uniqueness. Colleges like to have students with different viewpoints, backgrounds, and experiences. If you can add to that mix, let them know.
Keep it clean online. Don’t have anything on your social media pages that you wouldn’t want a college admissions officer to see.
Submit one application for many schools. Some colleges and universities share common online applications. Once you complete the application for one school, you can submit copies of it to other schools. It saves a lot of time. Learn more about The Common Application.
Protect your hard work by keeping complete copies of everything you send to each school.

7. The Common Application
Use the Common Application if you are planning to apply to multiple out of state schools
5 Easy Steps:
Create your Account
Add schools to your list
Understand your school’s specific requirements
Gather general information
Start your application
Use the Common Application at over 600 SCHOOLS!
Clarify who needs to do the Common App– Only do it for multiple out of state schools

8. The College Application-4 year school
Example: Metro State University
What is on the Application?
General Information
Plans & Major
Residency Information
Recent Employment/Income History
Previous Schools Attended

9. College App- 2 year school
2 year School/ Community College
Example: Community College of Denver (CCD)
What is on the Application?
General Information (Name, Date )
Intended Program of Study
Colorado Residency Information

10. College App Emily Griffith/Technical Schools
Technical College:
Example: Emily Griffith Technical College
What is on the Application:
General Information ( Personal Information, Address Information, Biographical Information, etc)
Previous Education
Program Information
Residency Information

11. Residency Information Review
ALL applications have residency Information
You need to know…..
How long you and your parents have lived in Colorado
Your parent/guardian’s driver’s license information
Your parent/guardian’s motor vehicle registration
Your parent/guardian’s income tax information
If your parent/guardian is a registered Colorado Voter
If your parent or guardian owns or rents property in Colorado
If your parent/guardian has served in the military
Your parent/guardian’s permanent address