Academics

How Are Academics Classified?

Academics are your GPA, Class Rank, Course rigor, and SAT/ACT Score. They are just numbers for the admission officer to know if you have met the basic requirement to study at their school. Based on your GPA, rigorously of classes, and standardized testing, admission officer will determine if you have the academic potential to thrive in their college.

How do you know you have met the standard for a college?

Most colleges will post their Common Data Set from previous years, which has all the data from average GPA to SAT/ACT scores. Take Yale’s Common Data Set from 2023-24, we can see that 1500 SAT is 25th percentile, 1540 for 50th percentile, and 1560 for 75th percentile. This means that to have a good shot at Yale, you should be having SAT score at least above 1500, the 25th percentile.

How to Improve SAT/ACT Scores?

Sources like Khan Academy have tons of practice problems that are very similar to the actual SAT test for you to do and SchoolHouse World offers free tutoring sessions for people to get ready for SAT. Taking more practice exams would also help improve on SAT scores, Mcelory have over 55 free SAT test from the last 10 years and 96 ACT test to help you practice to perfection.

How to Determine If The Classes You’re Taking is Rigor Enough?

Some people might be stressed because their school didn’t offer any AP or IB classes, but in reality, colleges will check your school profile to see the amount of classes they offer. For example, a school that offers only 5 APs and you take all 5 of them is more rigor than a school that offers over 20 APs and you only took 8 of them. A suggested amount of APs/IBs to take is about 60-70% of classes that the school offers.

Senior Year Course Selection

DO NOT slack off during senior year since colleges will ask for your senior year class and it SHOULD BE EQUAL TO OR MORE RIGOR than your junior year. One suggestion is to take classes in community college which shows the admission officer that you’re desire to learn more and willingly to challenge yourself to higher level. It also gives the admission officer a hint that you can handle college level classes.

If you need help planning your academic year, you can schedule with me here