Following the release of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA)’s ranking of “What Colleges Look for in High School Students” in May, Certified College Counselor and Newtown resident Dana Roth shared her perspective in August to help students applying to colleges this fall.

IECA, out of Fairfax, Va., compiled its ranking from surveying nearly 2,000 independent educational consultants. According to a release from IECA, the leading criteria schools look for is evidence a student took rigorous curriculum. The second and third thing the survey said universities look at are grades and standardized test scores. The fourth thing colleges look at is the essay portion of an application, according to the release. Essays should be grammatically correct and formatted correctly, but essays should also show insight in the student’s personality, IECA recommends.

One thing Ms Roth said colleges are paying attention to is “demonstrated interest.” While she said larger universities are less likely to track demonstrated interest, she explained it has become a key point in determining whether to accept a student at some colleges. Ms Roth said colleges track demonstrated interest by finding out if the student simply submitted an application or if the student submitted an application and visited the college or reached out in another way, which can mean meeting with a college representative. Last school year Ms Roth said she knows of incidences when schools did not accept students who only submitted an application.

For students, beginning the college application process early is better, according to Ms Roth, who advised starting the process in August or September.

“The earlier an application is submitted in the process, the better it is received,” she said.

Ms Roth also advised Newtown students to take advantage of applying for early action deadlines if colleges offer that option. Early action means the student will be accepted to a college, but the student will not have to choose to attend that college until later in the process. Early action is different than early decision applications, she explained. Early decision applications offer a binding agreement that the student will attend that school if accepted, according to Ms Roth.

Ms Roth also said students should make sure to include any paid employment in their applications when describing participation in activities.

“Colleges really look to see that kids do work and contribute to their family,” she said, whether that means babysitting, lifeguarding, or any other job.

More information about Ms Roth and her services is available at collegecounselorct.com.