What are colleges actually looking for when choosing which students are accepted and which are denied? There is no blanket answer that covers all institutions.

Campus of Monmouth University
Campus of Monmouth University in West Long Branch, NJ (Townsquare Media)
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There had been much focus recently on boosting high school students' records with extra-curricular activities, as well as achievements outside of school, but performance in the classroom still appears to be the primary factor for admission teams when evaluating candidates.

"Grades are still the most important criterion for us," said Dr. Bob McCaig, vice president of enrollment management at Monmouth University in West Long Branch. "They are the best indicator of academic persistence through graduation."

Performance on standardized testing, such as the SAT, is another predictor of success that the private university considers.

According to McCaig, "co-curriculars" are the third piece of the puzzle. However, the school is not only looking at whether or not an applicant is involved in activities beyond the school day, but what their role is in the extra program or organization.

"We're looking for distinguishing contributions to the school and their fellow students," he said. "Do you know how to lead and do you know how to take instructions from others?"

More than 1,100 students are expected to make up Monmouth's incoming freshman class.

Montclair State University, meanwhile, is welcoming a record 3,326 first-year students this fall. Nearly 12,000 applications were submitted.

"We believe very strongly that four years spent in a classroom is more of an indicator than four hours spent taking a test," said Jeff Indiveri-Gant, MSU's director of undergraduate admissions.

Instead, the school focuses most of its attention on a student's grades and GPA, and it takes into account the level of difficulty with which students challenge themselves. The rest, including extracurricular involvement and recommendations, is reviewed afterwards.

A written essay, or personal statement, is a requirement for many institutions of higher education. According to McCaig, students can use this portion of the application to make a big impact on school officials.

"I would say for every 300 I read, five stand out," McCaig said. "They're memorable. There's something richly introspective about them that makes me think this young woman or man has an intellect and a character and is thinking about his or her world."

Wannabe students can also help themselves by essentially flattering the school that they are targeting.

"Short of stalking, let them know that you're interested in that institution," McCaig said. "Schools want students who understand and want them."

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