UNIVERSITY STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS
University standards are uniformly high throughout the United States. The key is taking a rigorous high school course load.
If you came a little late to the university standards party there is still hope for you—you can start by going the junior college route or perhaps there is a special talent you have that might make the university give you a second look.
Whatever the case, your best case scenario is to take care of business in high school so you are in line with university standards.
What does this mean? University standards generally require that you have a high school diploma or its equivalent. If you are a local resident that is another plus since university standards are usually higher for students who don’t live locally or at least in the state.
Let’s take a look at what the university standards are for some of the top schools. And remember—as we will discuss in some detail—there are other colleges that have less competitive university standards, but these numbers reflect what you have to achieve at a top school.
A competitive school usually likes to see your class rank in the 85th percentile or above. Your grade point average should be at least 3.5 with an ACT score of at least 27. Your SAT will need to be above 1800 at most of these schools.
Many of the university standards are built around the eligibility index, which is a combination of grades and test scores. This will vary from school to school.
Even at the less selective schools you will need to qualify by having successfully completed certain courses in high school. These include a foreign language; math through at least the level of geometry; U.S. History; physical and biological sciences and a lab; and English that includes grammar, composition and literature.
Despite normally stringent university standards there are other factors many colleges will consider. Among them are extracurricular or leadership activities, recommendation from a teacher or counselor or a written personal statement.
Many schools will include in their university standards structure additional factors that demonstrate the likelihood of success in a college environment. Perhaps a stint in student government or a unique dedication to one’s community.
University standards will be different for transfer students. Transfer students are generally required to complete lower-division general education courses.
What about foreign students? Since most American university classes are taught in English, many colleges require international students to prove their English proficiency. Where space is limited, international students must have a higher grade point average and test scores to gain entrance.
University standards help parents to know how well their student is progressing. They also set high expectations that will provide a constant challenge and motivate students to achieve their peak performance.
Early in high school is the time to plan for a difficult set of courses that will conform to university standards. University standards will continue to evolve as more students go to college than ever before. Understanding university standards will help you compete.