As Tahoma students scramble to sign up for every club and sport and push themselves for an exemplary GPA, college admissions may be ignoring the very aspects which they believe will guarantee them a spot at their favorite university. While it is important for university-bound scholars to be involved in their school and community, it is far more essential to have a challenging schedule instead of a bulky amount of extra-curricular activities. Your high school record is 35-50% of your admissions factor. What does this mean? Students need to enroll in AP/college courses while dropping a few of the after school activities to maintain a decent grade-point-average. Counselor Mr. Hanson advises to “challenge yourself as much as possible while maintaining your GPA.” It is worth the risk to take demanding courses and have a slightly lower GPA, however don’t over do it if a student “has a 2.0 universities won’t even look at the level of classes they took.” Work hard to maintain a steady grade-point-average by not overloading on too many tough classes.



Don’t be fooled, clubs and activities are still an important admittance factor, however they should be chosen wisely. Try to “focus on organizations that allow you to develop, give you responsibility, and offer leadership potential;” universities are adamant about management and leadership skills, these are the first they look for when examining transcripts. Also, mix it up by being involved in both sports and clubs, “be well rounded-that includes sports, clubs and volunteer services” says Mr. Hanson.



Between grades, classes and extra-curriculars many teenagers forget about the smaller details that could be the deciding factor in getting admitted and facing rejection. One of these details is gradual improvement in grades “whether you have a 3.8 or a 2.8 GPA, [admissions] highly value[s] your ability to improve over time. Students who increase their level of focus and motivation in their senior year stand out as serious candidates” says Michael Barr of Western Washington Admissions. “Write a personal statement that helps us get to know what is important to you, what excites you, what is important to understand about your academic record, and any circumstances that have helped or hurt your academic achievement;” it makes a vast impression upon colleges when a student takes the initiative to make contact and show they are dedicated.



Getting prepared for the final steps to becoming an undergraduate is confusing and exhausting, but with the right steps and helpful guidance from family and friends getting into that dream college posted on the bedroom wall is an obtainable reality!