In the frenzied quest to investigate schools and be admitted to their top choices for college, sometimes families and students overlook what the admissions departments are actually looking for in applicants. Somewhat similar to an athlete’s highlight reel, it is important to give the college what THEY want, not what we think is cool or what we think they SHOULD want from us.

There are a lot of great articles out there detailing what colleges are actually looking for, but it all boils down to a few areas where colleges tend to focus the most.

It may seem top secret, but colleges are generally willing to reveal their most important admission factors. Know where to look. College admissions committees read through thousands of applications and it is easy to get lost in the shuffle if you don’t showcase what it is that colleges are looking for. Admissions committees assess applicants and decide whether they are a good fit on their campus.

Serving your country is a big honor and a big responsibility. Talk to cadets and graduates, investigate the options, and always make sure you are diligent before making a decision.

If you are starting a college search process, you have undoubtably heard the term “Liberal Arts”. Liberal arts colleges give students access to a wide range of academic subjects and career options. This broad-based area of study includes the arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and mathematics.

One of the many things you’ll hear on school visits and from college recruiters is a school’s student-to-faculty ratio. While colleges hope that their ratio will encourage students to apply, many prospective applicants are not exactly sure how this statistic can affect their experience. A low or high student-to-faculty ratio can impact it in many ways.

We have all heard a lot in the news recently about colleges and universities merging or closing. This is not a new phenomenon, and higher education certainly is not “going away”. Does it need to be constantly evolving, and traditionally move at a glacial pace? Absolutely, to both.

But looking over the list, none of colleges and universities who have merged or shuttered have really been a shock, at least not to date. Struggling, niche religious schools and for-profit schools dominate these lists.