Tips to help you get into your top college

(InvestigateTV) — Applications to college increased 41% from school year 2019-2020 to 2024-2025 according to Common App, a non-profit that aims to streamline the college application process. But many families are still in the dark about what factors gets a student accepted.

Robert Farrington with The College Investor said while it’s absolutely true some colleges look at a student’s grades, clubs and activities, many others take a broader approach, evaluating a variety of factors to assemble a diverse class that aligns with the school’s objectives.

“And I think that a lot of people ignore the fact that these schools have goals,” Farrington said. “And sometimes those goals include, ‘we’re trying to build out a science, math and engineering program,’ or ‘we just built this brand-new music theater and we need more music majors’ or, ‘we have the brand new engineering lab, and we want people that are going to use it.’”

Farrington said understanding a school’s priorities can give applicants an advantage in the issions process by allowing them to tailor their applications accordingly.

He suggested putting together a list of about seven to nine schools of interest.

“Three or four of those should be really reach schools. And these are ones that they might be a little bit unaffordable,” he explained. “But maybe you’re going to get scholarships. They might be very competitive, but you’re hoping to get in there. Then you should have about three or four schools that they meet your fit like you’re nailing what the school is looking for in of their priorities. Your grades are exactly what they’re looking for in students. And you can afford this school.”

Farrington said your child should also have on their list two or three safety schools. And this is probably a local community college or local state college schools that are affordable, and most have a very good chance of getting into.

Farrington also said schools are tracking applicants as well. Create a , sign up for the mailing list. They know if applicants have gone on a campus tour and are interested in them.

Copyright 2025 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.