How College Admission Works

UC 10 Campuses
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/campuses/welcome.html
- Recent neighborhood parents said fee+all expenses around $25k/year in these UCs which are Public universities ( It seems good private universities costs around $50k/year like USC university of southern California LA )

With the help of Duke University director of undergraduate admissions Christoph Guttentag, we will use Duke University in Durham, N.C., as a real-world example of how college admission works in America.

Duke uses these mailing lists as a recruitment tool, according to Guttentag. It definitely has an effect -- about 25 percent of the undergraduates accepted at Duke each year come from these defined lists.


Competition in the College Application Process--Myth vs. Fact

Colleges want to see that students have tried to challenge themselves by taking the toughest courses their high school has to offer. This means that you're better off pulling a B in an advanced or honors course, than pulling an A in a regular course. Colleges need to determine how well you can perform in college-level or advanced classes. If you don't take any, admissions officers won't have enough information to go on.

Your SAT's are obviously important, but not as important as the high school transcript. Not even perfect SAT scores will get you admitted to a highly selective college if your transcript is weak. Your classes are your number one priority. If you can remember this, you're way ahead of the game.

Math and science are important in this process. If you've got your eye on one of the top schools in the country, plan on taking four years of math and four years of science. Even if you plan on becoming a playwright, an art historian, or a fiction writer, keep taking math and science. This will strengthen your application and give you an edge up in the competition.

There's an ever-growing number of senior class presidents applying to college, along with editor's-in-chief, and club founders. Do yourselves a BIG favor and keep the focus on your classes. Colleges want to see students who get involved, and they like students who can commit to their involvements over the course of a several years, but most importantly, they like to see students who do well in their classes. Don't get over-involved if it means you don't have enough time to study. Two or three activities that you've been consistently involved in, is just fine. Being class president won't get you admitted to your first choice school if your transcript is weak.