how much do letters of recommendation influence admissions into a college?
470984
Importance of Recommendations depends on three factors:\n\n1.The program for which you are applying.\n2.Your aim for applying.\n3.The university you are considering for application.\n\nIf you are having research experience and are applying for a research program or a Research Assistantships than recommendations play an important part.\nSimilarly for Teaching Assistantships.\n\nIf you are considering a top ranked program then also recommendations play an important part. \n\nCorollary of this is your  recommendor's credentials should be impeccable.The recommendations should site some   specific experiences and should not be generic in nature.\n\nAccording to a recent Survey following factors play an important part in an application mix.\n1.Academics\n2.Standardized Test Scores\n3.Recommendations\n4.Essay\n\nAll are important ingredients of the application mix.\n\nI have not mentioned TOEFL because it has a different role to play. For\nadmission if you have a decent TOEFL score it is sufficient.Every university\nor even a program specifies a minimum TOEFL score. If you meet it along with\ngood credentials it is enough.\nHowever it does not imply that if one has  a high TOEFL score it does not\nhave a positive affect on ones application.\nAmong the other credentials the importance of each depends  on the rank of\nthe university you are applying. For Top Universities Academics is more\nimportant and second weightage is given to GRE.As we go down the ranks\nimportance of academics goes on shrinking and GRE starts playing more\nimportant role. This is for a normal student.\nBy my saying this I am not decrying the role of other items in the\napplication  mix i.e. Recos and Essay.\nSufficient it to say that the importance of each item depends on each\nindividuals circumstances.\n\nIf you have a low GRE score it is important that you have good academics.To\nsome extent the negative impact of low GRE score can be balanced by a high\nacademic score.\nThe importance of high academics can be realized when you note that while\nyou can dispense  with low GRE score by taking the test again you cannot\novercome with low academics.\n\nSimilarly if you have low academic score you can be excused to some extent \nfor this by scoring high in GRE. Along with this you should be able to\npresent your case well in your SOP and your Recos should also support your case.\n\nThus you will see from the above that\n\nThe active ingredient in the application mix are\n1. GPA\n2.GRE / GMAT/ SAT\n\nThe supporting ingredients are\n3.RECOS\n4.SOP\n\nThe dormant ingredient is\n5. TOEFL.\nTOEFL comes to play when there is a tie.\n\nIn the case of Business Studies experience is another important aspect. More of it later.\nThe importance of each lies with your circumstances and your choice of a program.\n\nYou can find more details at \nhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/ADMISSIONSOURCE/\n\nGood Luck\nNBS
997811
I think the only time it has an effect is if all other factors are the same, and even then it might not matter.  Otherwise, I don't think it really matters what school you graduated from.  If it did, not too many people would have jobs, because not too many of us went to Ivy League schools.  Use your interview to really win them over.  They want to be able to connect with the people they are working with!
383790
Colleges use your gpa to gauge how well you will function in their perspective schools. They also look at SAT scores as well. Do your best to achieve the best grades and scores you can. You will have more success in getting accepted in schools that you prefer....good luck!!
379150
College choices depend on what your intended major is.  Some schools are better known for specific programs.
270467
That depends on the college.  Contact the admissions office of the school you want to attend and ask.
813204
Your GEPA score has nothing directly to do with college admissions. However it probably will be considered in placing you in high school classes, and this will in turn influence what colleges you can get into.
45559
Depends on the college. Read.
1099319
In theory, no.  I think the reality is that it depends on what college your child is applying to for admittance.  I think that this would especially be true if your child is applying to an out of state college.  Many colleges are currently raising their standards for entrance.  Having a academically recognized paper trail would certainly make the process easier.  This would also help if your child is applying for financial assistance.  My advice is to contact the colege(s) of choice directly, and talk directly to the people who are responsible for making these decisions.
239975
I would say that "welcomingness" is more a product of size than selectivity.  At a small liberal arts college you'll have more individual contact with your professors that at an ivy league school or similar university, but you'd have even less at a big state school.  I go to a small liberal arts school, and I can tell you that I've only been there a semester and a half and I think at least eleven professors know my name (my mom says she graduated from a state school without a single prof knowing her name) and in the big required freshman intro class that everyone takes after every paper we turn in we meet one-on-one with our prof to discuss the paper.  From what I've heard, I think that at bigger schools (ivies and similar) you can certainly get to know your professors if you try, but you have to go out of your way to make that happen.  \n\nAnother thing to think about is emphasis on teaching vs. research.  My school is very focused on teaching, and pretty much all our profs like to teach and want to get to know us.  And we don't have a graduate school, so we're not competing with grad students for our professors' time (the grad students tend to win).  There certainly is plenty of research and such that goes on, but I haven't encountered any profs who are more concerned about their research than their classes.
547067
they do....\nHarvard won't take most people thought so you better look at the admissions standards and apply other places
943594
No, it won't affect you college transcripts as you are still in high school. (hey, you worded the question!)\n\nAs far as it affecting your ability to get into a good college, it won't that much.  It just depends on where you go and their criteria.  For example, the University of Michigan does not look at freshman and senior grades, only the sophomore and junior years.  My daughter was accepted with a 3.55 GPA for those 2 years, but a 3.89 overall.  \n\nJust get all A's in the future and you will be fine.
632367
Something that will make you stand out among all the other applicants.  Something that will make them remember you.  If your educational goal has to do with something you experienced, discuss that.  Explain how it brought you to your decision to major in whatever.  Try to relate a personal story with your decision.  Don't forget to include why you want to go to that particular university.  This isn't a statement all about you - it's about you and why you want to go there.  Is their a particular program you are interested in - and why.  A particular instructor's research?  Why this university?  Tailor your statement to each particular university you are applying to.  \n\nMost importantly - don't forget proper grammar, sentence structure and spelling.  Have someone else review your final copy.  No errors!
193771
it depends on what school you want to go to.
730270
I think that someone like you would be the better student, and looked at better than the first.  When colleges look at grades and courses, they want to know that you know what you can handle.  They want good GPAs.  Great grades that keep you in the top of your class will get you into college.  What will help even more is if you went a step above just classes and participated in activities.  A person who just had great grades will not look as good to a college as someone who does well and has involved themselves in other activities, especially volunteering.  If you have that as well, then you are a shoe in.
382474
It really depends on what else you're bringing to the table. These schools get so many candidates, most of them excellent candidates with fabulous grades, great extracurriculars, good test scores - so they look to other things to help certain candidates stand out. If you were able to highlight some of your uniqueness in your application, then that certainly helps. But based only on your grades and test scores, I'd say that it's unlikely - again, unless you brought something special to the table, which you didn't mention, above. \n\nIf you haven't already done so, you should apply to some very strong, but second choice schools as well. Then also to at least one third choice school. So, if you liked the Ivy's that you mentioned, you could also consider the "baby Ivys", like Amherst, and a less-competitive Ivy, like Cornell. And then at least one school a step down from that, like Boston College or Boston University. These are great schools with fabulous reputations, and admission there is also highly competitive, but just slightly less overwhelming than Princeton, Yale and Stanford. \n\nSome other options - if Princeton is your #1 choice, you may also like to look at the following: Amherst College, Brown University, Northwestern, Georgetown, Duke, Boston College, Boston University, New York University, Notre Dame, Syracuse or Tufts. \n\nWith the grades and scores you mention, I think you have a strong chance at Syracuse. \n\nIf Princeton, Stanford and Yale are the only three colleges you have applied to, I strongly suggest that you also consider applying to others from the above list. \n\nGood luck.
766305
i personally think it matters because it doesnt matter how smart you are, if u do bad on your acts, even the top ivy league schools will reject you, no matter how hard you try. also ACT does matter because you need a minimum number to qualify for certain colleges, certain programs, and certain scholarships. schools do care
798602
It depends on where you plan on attending and the amount of classes that you plan to take. You need to research the schools that you may be interested in attending for more information.