1. What Makes a “Competitive” College Competitive? / Lower acceptance rate / High SAT/ACT test scores of the middle 50% of incoming freshmen / Percentage of students who rank academically in the top 10% of their senior class / Lower acceptance rate / High SAT/ACT test scores of the middle 50% of incoming freshmen / Percentage of students who rank academically in the top 10% of their senior class

2. Factors that Determine Class Rank / Grades / Rigor of high school courses / Remember that honors, AP and some dual enrollment courses get extra points calculated into the GPA / Students with highest GPAs have taken multiple AP courses / Grades / Rigor of high school courses / Remember that honors, AP and some dual enrollment courses get extra points calculated into the GPA / Students with highest GPAs have taken multiple AP courses

3. Levels of Competitiveness Most difficult: More than 75% of freshmen were in the top 10% of their high school class and scored over 1310 on SAT (reading and math) or over 29 on ACT. Less than 30% applicants are accepted. Very Difficult : More than 50% of all freshmen were in the top 10% of their high school class and scored over 1230 on SAT (reading and math) or over 26 on ACT. 60% or fewer applicants are accepted. Most difficult: More than 75% of freshmen were in the top 10% of their high school class and scored over 1310 on SAT (reading and math) or over 29 on ACT. Less than 30% applicants are accepted. Very Difficult : More than 50% of all freshmen were in the top 10% of their high school class and scored over 1230 on SAT (reading and math) or over 26 on ACT. 60% or fewer applicants are accepted.

4. Levels of Competitiveness Moderately difficult: more than 75% of freshmen were in the top 50% of their high school class and scored over 1010 SAT (reading and math) or over 18 on ACT. 85% or fewer applicants accepted. Minimally Difficult: Most freshmen were not in the top 50% and scored below 1010 SAT (reading and math) or below 19 on ACT. Up to 95% applicants accepted. Noncompetitive: All applicants accepted regardless of high school rank or test scores Moderately difficult: more than 75% of freshmen were in the top 50% of their high school class and scored over 1010 SAT (reading and math) or over 18 on ACT. 85% or fewer applicants accepted. Minimally Difficult: Most freshmen were not in the top 50% and scored below 1010 SAT (reading and math) or below 19 on ACT. Up to 95% applicants accepted. Noncompetitive: All applicants accepted regardless of high school rank or test scores

5. Most Competitive College Examples CollegeAcceptance Rate Range of SAT Class rank top10% Harvard6.9%2080- 2370 95% Princeton8.2%2000- 2300 92% Dartmouth11.5%2210 avg. 95%

6. Most Competitive College examples (2) CollegeAcceptance Rate UC Berkeley21% Univ. of Virginia32% Emory University27.2%

7. Georgia College Examples CollegeAccept. Rate Mean SAT Rd/Math Average act UGA54.8%121527 GA Tech63.3%133029 North GA61.7%107522 KSU59.1%106022 Valdosta62.1%99522

8. Competitive Colleges Attract Competitive Applicants How Competitive Are YOU? How Competitive Are YOU?

9. What makes a student more competitive? / Multiple AP and/or dual enrollment college courses / High grades/high GPA / High SAT or ACT scores / Strong extracurricular involvement / High level of quality community service activities / Leadership roles / Strong recommendations / Multiple AP and/or dual enrollment college courses / High grades/high GPA / High SAT or ACT scores / Strong extracurricular involvement / High level of quality community service activities / Leadership roles / Strong recommendations

10. For most private colleges and some public ones, like UGA, counselors and teachers are asked to report class rank and rate their applicants.

11. Here’s what a typical school report form asks: Applicant’s GPA______ Highest GPA in the class_______ Is GPA weighted?________ Applicant ranks ______ in a class of _______ students. Is rank based on weighted grades? ________ Applicant’s highest test scores SAT reading_____SAT math______ Date taken_______ ACT composite_______ Date taken_________ Are Honors and/or AP courses available? Which ones has the applicant taken?

12. Compared to other students in the class, please rate the level of difficulty of courses this student has attempted: Below avg. Avg. Above avg. Adv. Most diff. English Math Social Science Foreign Language Science Overall

13. Please rate the student compared to peers in this graduating class in each of the following areas: Below avg. Avg. Above Avg. Advanced Outstanding top 25% top 15% top 5% Academic achievement Co-curricular involvement Commitment to service Ability to interact with different groups Positive impact at school Character & integrity Overall Feel free to attach an adidtional sheet or letter to tell us anything else about the student you would like us to know.

14. The bottom line is: The higher your grades and test scores, the more college choices you will have. Good college search websites: www.careercruising.com www.collegeview.com www.collegeresults.comwww.collegeresults.com (good for finding statistics like acceptance rate, etc. for colleges)