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What are your chances of acceptance?
Your chance of acceptance
Duke University
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UCLA
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Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

What are crucial facts you should know about your college?

I've been accepted to a few colleges. I've researched the majors and locations, but what are some other important things to find out about a college? Are there some less-obvious things that can affect my college life a lot?

a year ago

Absolutely, knowing more about a college beyond academics can significantly impact your experience. Here are a few less-obvious but important factors to consider:

1. Student-to-faculty ratio: This number can give you an idea of how much attention you're likely to get from your professors. Smaller ratios often mean smaller class sizes, more chance for one-on-one time with professors, and possibly more support.

2. Graduation and retention rates: The graduation rate can point to how well a college supports its students academically. A high retention rate can indicate that students are generally happy with their experience.

3. Campus culture: Do students mostly stay on campus during weekends or go home? What are the major traditions or events? Understanding the vibe can give you a sense of whether you'd enjoy living there.

4. Housing options: Where will you be living? Do most students stay on-campus or off-campus? How difficult is it to find off-campus housing?

5. Study abroad options: If you're interested in studying abroad, find out what programs your school offers, where you can go, and what the process looks like.

6. Availability of internships and job opportunities: Does the school provide plenty of resources and opportunities for students to gain real-world experience before graduation?

7. Financial factors: Beyond tuition, look at the cost of living in the area, the average financial aid package, and the conditions of any financial aid offer you have received.

8. Support Services: Investigate the quality of the school's career services, mental health resources, and academic support services.

9. Alumni Network: A strong and engaged alumni network can provide you with valuable connections, internships, and job opportunities in the future.

10. Diversity: Consider the demographic makeup of the student body if diversity is important to you.

Last but not least, try to chat with current students or recent alumni to get a first-hand account of what life at the college is truly like. This can be a goldmine of information that may not be publicly advertised.

a year ago

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CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.