Elizabeth
What should I be doing to increase my chances for getting accepted into college as class of 2027 ?
Hello,
I have a 3.3 GPA and a 20 ACT. I have done theater all years of highschool and am a Thespian who is also going to ITF. I have been a lifeguard for 4 years. I have a marketing internship that I got in the middle of junior year and I run and manage social media for 2 businesses that are under the same manager. I still have one more trimester before applying to college and I plan to apply early action for all colleges. These are the colleges I am applying to: PBA, UTAMPA, FAU, USF, UMIAMI. I am very worried because my ACT score is very low, but if the school is test optional I will not be submitting my score. I am wondering what I can do to better my chances and make sure I get into these colleges and maybe get scholarships too. I plan to major in marketing and minor in theater only if I get scholarship money for it, if I don't get scholarship money I will minor in advertising and social media.
I have taken all the theater classes my school offers, along with many honors classes and these AP classes: APUSH (C), AP Psych (A), AP LANG (A), AP CHEM (D), and I plan to take AP Stats, another AP English, and APES. I also am taking Marketing and plan to take sports and entertainment marketing next year.
3 answers
Zandy Yeukai Marekera
Zandy Yeukai’s Answer
You’re already on the right track. To boost your chances:
1Go test-optional which is a good call with your ACT
2 Show impact … highlight results from your social media work & internship such as growth, engagement, etc
3 Write a strong essay linking theater & marketing. This will help show creativity & storytelling
4Get solid recommendations from someone who knows your work well.
Lastly, apply early (big advantage) and for scholarships early & widely
Your schools like University of Tampa and Florida Atlantic University are realistic, just make your application stand out.
Thank you for the advice!
Elizabeth
Martha D. Kramer
Martha D.’s Answer
- If you apply "Early Decision" (as opposed to "Early Action"), you are obligated to attend with some limited financial exemptions. So pick one school for Early Decision and use Early Action for the rest.
- You mentioned your GPA but not the courses. If you haven't already done so, you should demonstrate intellectual curiosity by taking advanced courses in your areas of interest in the Fall.
- Have you demonstrated interest in these schools by joining their online communities and following them on social media? If you have the budget to travel, have you visited the schools in person and participated in information sessions and tours? If not, be sure to participate in any presentations in your local area they may make.
- How many times have you taken the ACT? If only once, it may be worth taking it again this summer to see if you could get the score up even a few points. Also, have you tried the SAT? Many students prefer the ACT but some do better on the SAT.
I hope this helps and wish you good luck!
Hello! Thank you so much for the explanation, I changed my question to add some of the stuff you reminded me of! I have toured every single college I listed and I am following a few on social media, how would that help me with my application/how would they know I am following them and toured them? I will think about taking the SAT or ACT again! Thank you!
Elizabeth
Thanks for your thoughtful response, Elizabeth. Below, I have added a link about demonstrated interest. Briefly, it comforts colleges that you are likely to attend if admitted, which is important for planning their incoming class and maintaining/improving admission statistics. For many schools, you have to sign up for info sessions and tours so they could track that way. I assume they could also track subscribers to social media.
This term was mentioned in all the college information sessions I attended with my children and in related college admissions articles so I thought it was common, but it may not be.
Martha D. Kramer
Alan Kozlowski
Alan’s Answer
Remember, colleges are eager to attract students, so you have a lot of power right now. When filling out your FAFSA, list several schools you're interested in. They can see this list and might offer you better deals. It’s a good idea to talk to an expert for guidance.
Best of luck on your journey!
Thank you for the advice!
Elizabeth