What do colleges want to know, and how do they decide who gets in?
Admissions policies
Community and technical colleges have open admissions policies. Anyone with a high school diploma can apply, enroll and take classes. To get into most four-year colleges you have to compete with other students. This is called competitive admissions. When you think about applying to college, usually competitive admissions schools come to mind. Whether you choose a school with an open or competitive admissions policy, you will still have to meet high standards to earn a degree.
- What four-year colleges look for
Colleges want to know that you have the basic skills you’ll need to be successful. At competitive schools (most four-year colleges), they’ll try to figure that out by looking at your grades, test scores and personal background. They also look at your activities and potential for success. Sometimes colleges are very specific about the grades and test scores students should have. Most colleges, however, don’t have a fixed “cutoff” for grades, rank in class or test scores. They want to know about your entire school record and personal history.
- What two-year community and technical colleges look for
Two-year community and technical colleges (schools with open admissions) also want to make sure you’ve got the basic skills you need. They’ll do that by making sure you have a high school diploma. Once you get into the college, you have to show you’re ready for college-level classes. You do this by taking placement tests. These don’t determine whether or not you get in but tell the college which level of English, math or world language you should take. If for some reason you’re not ready for college-level classes in some subjects, you can still attend and take the classes you need to prepare.
