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What is admissions?
If you want to get into a college, university, community college or vocational school, you have to go through the admissions process. Admissions is the process of a college or trade school looking over your application. They use the provided information to decide if you are eligible for that particular school. The criteria differ from school to school.

Here are some deciding factors for 2- and 4-year colleges or universities:
• Test scores (ACT or SAT)
• Grade point average (GPA)
• Activities and accomplishments
• Essays and recommendations

There are other factors as well. For example, if your mother or grandfather went to that school, you might have a greater chance getting in.

What are my chances?
Acceptance rates differ from school to school. If you pick a more selective school, like Harvard or Princeton, your chances of getting in are slim. In 2004, Ivy League schools accepted on average about 10% to 13% of the applicants. And, about 83% of 4-year not-for-profit colleges and universities accepted more than half of the applicants, according to USA Today.

Better your chances
Early preparation is key for getting accepted to your college of choice. You can start preparing for college as early as junior high, especially if you are looking to enter an Ivy League university. Most students start preparing for college in high school. You can start with taking the necessary entrance exams, like the SAT or ACT. Applying to more than 1 college or university helps your odds of being accepted. You can narrow down your search by campus visits and learning more about the schools’ programs. Decide where you want to go and then apply.

Filling out the application
After you have decided on the schools you want to apply to, you have to fill out the application. Depending on the school, some applications can be as a little as 2 pages. However, some applications look more like a 20-page research project.

Here are some important things to remember when filling out your application:
• Fill out the entire application
• Be neat
• Include all materials (letters of recommendation and essay, if required)
• Make copies
• Turn the application in on time
• Be yourself

It is never too late to go to college. Whether you are in high school or want to improve your life, you can start your college career by filling out an application.