What are the majority of college applicants like?

Hey everyone, as I'm starting the process of college applications, I'm trying to get an idea of what the majority of applicants are like. Does anyone have any data or surveys about what the typical applicant's stats and extracurriculars look like? This would really help me understand my competition!

It's a great question! Understanding your competition can indeed help strategize your approach. One thing you should know is that the profile of the "majority" of applicants can vary widely between colleges and universities – one school's "typical" applicant could be quite different from another's.

However, if we consider the landscape of college applicants at a broader level, some trends do emerge. Most applicants to four-year colleges have taken a strong academic program in high school, including courses in English, math, social studies, science, and a foreign language. Common standardized test scores, such as the SAT and ACT, often fall within the mid-range, depending on the competitiveness of the schools to which they're applying.

As for extracurriculars, the typical applicant tends to be involved in a handful of activities, rather in breadth than depth. This includes participating in sports teams, academic clubs, volunteering, or part-time employment. Often, they have notable but not exceptional leadership roles in one or two of these activities.

Let's get specific. In terms of the most competitive universities, successful applicants typically have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.7 or higher (on a 4.0 scale), and SAT scores above 1300 or ACT scores above 28. They usually have taken and done well in several AP classes, and have proven their depth of commitment through a few extracurriculars, demonstrating leadership or initiative. These 'spikes' are highly valued by top schools looking for students with a highly-developed specialty.

In terms of extracurricular activities, these successful applicants generally have 8-10 total activities, but a high level of involvement in a few of them. These activities range from Tier 1 (rare national or international distinctions) to Tier 4 (common activities like general club membership), but successful applicants often have at least one activity in Tiers 1 or 2.

Remember, these are averages or general trends, not rules. There's a wide range of successful applicants, and your unique qualities and strengths might be exactly what a college is looking for! The best strategy is always to depict the most authentic version of yourself in your application.