Thinking Bigger – What Do Colleges Look for in Students and College Admissions
What do colleges look for in students? Our goal at ReadyEdgeGo is to help students destress from the pressures of high school. The leading cause of this stress is misinformation. We have encountered countless students and parents who have misconceptions about the “steps” they need to take in order to gain admission into a certain college or groups of colleges. This misinformation is the real cause of the stress and pressure. 
Whichever university admissions rate you’re looking at, there’s no one set path for getting in. In this post, we’ll tackle some of the misinformation out there to help you make wise decisions that will set you up for success.





What Do Colleges Look for in Students for 99% of Universities



What Really Sets a Student Apart?



It’s not the numbers, that’s for sure, despite SAT requirements for colleges starting to come back. Stanford rejects around 69% of perfect SAT scorers every year, and we’ve seen the same trend apply to all the top universities in the United States. So, what gives? Why is it that so many students spend so much time and money on numbers, yet don’t always see the results?
Intellectual Depth Outside of Class



The first thing that comes to many people’s mind when they think about intellectual depth is “weighted classes” and AP tests. Students should absolutely take weighted courses in your areas of interest. However, what sets you apart is how far you went into studying it outside of class.
The type of extracurricular study you invests in matters. Sure, summer programs are nice, but they are also extremely common and expensive. Instead, we suggest reading more and asking meaningful questions about what you read. While everyone is spending $5,000+ on the same summer programs, you can spend $5 on a book and get the same value, if not better. That’s how you truly set yourself apart, since no one reads anymore.




Meaningful Leadership



Leadership is defined by convincing others to do something that they otherwise wouldn’t have done. Thus, starting an AI club for your friends who are already interested in technology doesn’t really count. The same thing goes for becoming a class president who merely does what the advisor tells you to do. 
So what do colleges look for in students when it comes to leadership? The key is whether you influenced others to achieve something they otherwise would not have accomplished.
To truly stand out, you have to encounter challenges and map out your own path. Don’t aim to follow the path that you’ve seen or heard numerous other students follow. In our 15 years of mentoring students, we haven’t encountered a single leadership experience that wasn’t challenging. By nature, leadership experiences require a challenge – it’s the only way we lead ourselves, and others, to something greater.



Service and Genuine Care for Others



This isn’t about completing your service requirement. It is also not about how many hours you accumulate or earning the Gold Award, the Presidential Service Award, Eagle Scout, etc. You may ask, “What makes me stand out from other applicants?” Students who serve only for the sake of benefiting their community because they genuinely care about others shine with the kind of nobilit...