Scribd
Upload
37 views

Naca Net

Grades in high school, especially in college preparatory courses, are the most important factor in college admission decisions according to a survey by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). The survey found that students' grades and academic rigor of their course load weighed more heavily than standardized test scores, class rank, or demonstrated interest in attending. Additionally, for transfer and international students, overall GPA at prior institutions and English proficiency were the top factors in admission decisions respectively.

Uploaded by

Kady Bass
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
37 views

Naca Net

Grades in high school, especially in college preparatory courses, are the most important factor in college admission decisions according to a survey by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). The survey found that students' grades and academic rigor of their course load weighed more heavily than standardized test scores, class rank, or demonstrated interest in attending. Additionally, for transfer and international students, overall GPA at prior institutions and English proficiency were the top factors in admission decisions respectively.

Uploaded by

Kady Bass
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

NACAC Survey: Grades Matter Most in College Admission ​

nacacnet.org/news--publications/newsroom/nacac-survey-grades-matter-most-in-college-admission-/

Media Contact:
Shanda Ivory
Director of Communications
703-299-6803

Arlington, VA (Sept. 8, 2016) — A student’s high school record continues to be the most
important factor in college admission decisions for prospective first-time freshmen, according
to new survey results from the National Association for College Admission Counseling
(NACAC).

Data in the 13th annual edition of NACAC’s State of College Admission​ report show students’
grades and the academic rigor of their course loads weigh more heavily in decisions to admit
than standardized test scores, high school class rank, or demonstrated interest in attending.

College admission can be a stressful time, complicated by an abundance of sometimes


conflicting information about the process. The association offers this report to help students
and families focus on what NACAC members say is important.

“Year to year, we find that getting good grades in challenging courses is what college
admission offices value most when reviewing applications from first-time freshmen,” said Joyce
E. Smith, NACAC’s chief executive officer. “Similarly, admission professionals pay close
attention to academic achievements when reviewing applications from international and
transfer students.”

For high school seniors applying to college, performance in core classes is especially
significant, with 79.2 percent of institutions attributing “considerable importance” to grades in
college-prep courses. In comparison, 55.7 percent of colleges placed the same level of
significance on admission test scores for first-time freshmen applicants.

NACAC’s State of College Admission — an annual report examining the transition from high
school to postsecondary education — features survey data collected from colleges and
universities across the country. This year’s report marks the first time the publication has
included comparable data examining the factors that influence admission decisions for transfer
and international students.
According to the report, the top factors for transfer applicants are a student’s overall GPA at
prior postsecondary institutions, followed by grades in transferable college courses. English
proficiency is the top factor in admission decisions for international students, followed by
grades in college-prep courses.

Other noteworthy findings include:

1/2
• Colleges Accept Nearly Two-Thirds of First-Time Freshmen Applicants: Students and
families might find it reassuring to note that students stand a good chance of getting admitted
to a four-year college or university. The average selectivity rate at four-year colleges for Fall
2014 was 65.8 percent, edging up from 64.7 percent in Fall 2013 after reaching a low of 63.9
percent in Fall 2012.

• Decline in Average Yield Rate for First-Time Freshmen Stabilizes: The average yield rate
(percentage of admitted students who enroll) increased in Fall 2014, hitting 36.2 percent after
a long and steady decline from 48.7 percent in 2002 to 35.7 percent in Fall 2013.

• Application Growth Continues: Between the Fall 2014 and Fall 2015 admission cycles, the
number of applications from first-time freshmen increased 6 percent; applications from
prospective transfer students increased by 4 percent; and international student applications
increased by 23 percent, on average.

About NACAC
The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), founded in 1937, is an
organization of more than 15,000 professionals from around the world dedicated to serving
students as they make choices about pursuing postsecondary education. NACAC is
committed to maintaining high standards that foster ethical and social responsibility among
those involved in the transition process, as outlined in the NACAC Statement of Principles of
Good Practice (SPGP).

2/2

You might also like