Schools can’t factor difficult teachers into their decision. They can only go off your transcript. Look for classes that will be recognized as difficult, but preferably without overly difficult grading. It’s most helpful to take difficult classes and work hard in subjects you expect to continue with in college, because they’ll also make good grades there easier.
Focus on your grades in school. There are sometimes exceptions as colleges also love to see improvement. If your problems were due to circumstances beyond your control, you could attach a supplement to your application about what they were and how you succeeded in spite of them.
Do not repeat the test more than three times. According to Chuck Hughes, a former senior admissions officer at Harvard, the admission panel will notice this and your repeated attempts to get a high score may come off as too focused on scores. [4] X Research source Get good before you take it. Take a test-preparation class or get a few books and practice. Speed and accuracy on these tests is a unique skill which needs to be learned. Start preparing early and keep at it diligently until you can solve the problems without much thinking.
Focus on extracurricular activities. Rather than joining every extracurricular that you can, try to excel in 2–3 of them that really interest you.
Take the time to personalize your application essay. Begin the application process early so that you will have sufficient time to revise anything if needed. Ask adults familiar with prestigious universities’ culture (your school counselor, for example) for advice on what kinds of things from your experience to write about and how to best present them to the school. This can help with interviews too. Be sure to mention reasons why you want to attend the specific school to boost your chances of attending.
Find someone to give you practice interviews. Even if they aren’t familiar with the process, they will help you stay relaxed and articulate. If your interview does not go well, do not worry. Interviews are rarely indicative of whether you will be accepted or not.
Some state colleges guarantee transfer admission to community-college students meeting grade requirements there. This can save you a bundle and even let you get in to a prestigious state college - not quite the Ivies, but close - which might refuse to admit you directly.
A prestigious graduate school can do much more to increase income in a highly-paid profession than a prestigious undergraduate program. For grad schools that focus heavily on grades, a slightly less-prestigious undergraduate program with generous grading might actually improve your chances of admission over more amorphous prestige and the good grades you’ll have to claw for with tougher competition.
