Why selective colleges appreciate a rigorous course load

Watch Video: Why selective colleges appreciate a rigorous course load by Susan Eiges Hansen, ...
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Why selective colleges appreciate a rigorous course load

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What are selective colleges looking for in their applicants? The biggest factor is taking a rigorous course load in high school. Everyone thinks it's the SAT or the teacher recommendation or it's the essay or it's the extracurricular. Really the overriding factor, the thing that college admissions really look for is that GPA and the rigor of the curriculum. They really want to see students that have taken advantage of the opportunities that have been presented to them. If their high school offers 15 AP Classes and Honor classes, they really want to see students that have really tried to tackle those courses. Now if you live in a small town in the country or you go to a school that doesn't offer AP classes, they are certainly not hold that against you. They want to see you do well with the opportunities that are presented to you. If they see an applicant that's been at a large suburban high school or private high school that offers tons of APs and Honors, that student hasn't taken a rigorous curriculum, that student isn't going to be as attractive as someone who has really stretched themselves.
TEEN, Education, Applying to College

Watch Video: Why selective colleges appreciate a rigorous course load by Susan Eiges Hansen, ...

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Susan Eiges Hansen

College Consultant

Susan Eiges Hansen, president of Hansen College Strategies, is an Independent College Counselor based in Santa Monica, California. Since 2007, Sue has been committed to helping students both in California and throughout the United States navigate the college admissions process and develop optimal strategies for college placement. Sue began her practice working with student-athletes and experienced so many successful placements that she frequently received requests to work with all types of students. She has since expanded her practice and welcomes all students who are seeking knowledgeable and comprehensive college planning. Sue received her Bachelors degree from the University of Florida and Masters from California State University Northridge. She has her certificate in Independent Educational Consulting from the University of California at Irvine and stays up to date with trends in higher education by attending several college counseling conferences per year. Sue is a member of WACAC (Western Association for College Admission Counseling) and an Associate member of IECA (Independent Educational Consultants Association). She is a frequent contributor to various higher education and college admissions websites as an author, panelist, and blogger and regularly presents seminars and talks for students and families about preparing for college. Prior to launching her college counseling career, Sue worked for twenty years at three major hospitals in the Los Angeles area as a program director, medical educator, and research librarian. Sue is the parent of two recent college graduates. Her older daughter graduated from the University of Virginia and her younger daughter from Stanford.

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