how much do letters of recommendation influence admissions into a college?
448330
I have already dealt with this in Yahoo Answers.However I am repeating it here for your convenience:\n\n\nImportance of Recommendations depends on three factors:\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
744672
They usually do count. When you apply for colleges, they look at your transcripts which has every single class and grade listed. Good Luck!!
503786
Generally the folks on the appeals board don't want to hear excuses so much as your plans for improving your grades.  Keep in mind - the University doesn't make any money by kicking you out, so they'd rather keep you there, but rules are rules.  So, you have to go through this appeals process.  For the most part, if you show some sincere effort in putting together the petition, your odds of the committee deciding in your favor are much higher.  I recommend, at a MINIMUM, three letters of support regarding your ability to succeed at college classes - only one of which (if any) should be from a family member.  If you can get the reference to give the letter to you in a sealed envelope (don't open it, of course), so much the better - it helps convince the committee that you didn't forge it.  (Which doesn't make much sense, after all - why couldn't someone just put a forged letter into an envelope?  Anyway, all I know is that it seems to help) Also, put a lot of thought into your personal essay - I'm assuming that the petition requires one.  If it doesn't, write one anyway.  You basically want to explain why you failed this semester as truthfully and briefly as possible.  Then, explain IN DETAIL your plans for improvement, (such as how much time you plan to devote to studying per week, where you're going to study, what changes you plan to make in your lifestyle, etc.).  If you do all that, I'd be shocked if they don't let you back in.  After all, Madison does have a bit of a reputation as a party school.  If they kicked everyone out for violating probation, I don't think they'd have many students left. :)    Oh, and by the way - should your appeal be rejected, look into other schools in the area.  Generally being suspended from one school does not prohibit you from taking classes at another, especially if you enroll as a non-degree seeking student at the other school (the credits will transfer regardless).  If you do well in those classes, you could appeal the suspension again at the end of that semester, with an almost guaranteed success, since you could prove you're capable of decent grades.  Feel free to ask me any questions you may have, either on here or by email:  crazyophelia42@hotmail.com  Good luck!
710741
You should have a pretty decent chance, assuming your SAT/ACT scores are good and you've taken some AP/IB classes.\n\nThat said, showing interest in a school is great but you should never act like that college is your only option; colleges don't like to admit people they perceive as desperate.  Mailing list sign-ups count for almost nothing (if I could get accepted for everybody's mailing list that I'm on, I could probably attend over half the universities and colleges in America) and really, interviews are the only concrete way to show significant interest (and they also can gauge your personality and interests).
45559
Depends on the college. Read.
315477
it depends on where u want to go, but your act and sat score determine alot of getting accepted any college u want to go to will have a web site with the acceptance criteria
449851
Well, I don't know the policies and practices of the particular colleges to which you are applying. What colleges look for, though, is evidence that you can succeed in college. Having good SAT scores (which you do) suggests that you have ability to succeed in college. That you are involved in some honors classes, that you are involved in some activities outside the classroom that indicate responsibility, is great. \n\nNow, what we are worried about when we see a student with good SAT scores and low GPA is that they are smart but lazy or otherwise unmotivated. So, to get in the door of college you need to explain in a cogent way why your grades are so poor, and explain it in a way that shows colleges that whatever is the issue now won't affect you in college (or you've come up with a way to resolve the issue). The really tough part is to make sure that your application is read, as some schools use grades and SAT scores to make the first cut in considering applications. There are some schools that read all applications, no matter what the credentials are. So, look for these schools to apply to.\n\nFinally, you can always go to a community college for a year or two and transfer. Get very good grades, get to know faculty who can write you great recommendations, and you can go to a great school.\n\nOh, and yes, get very good grades the rest of your high school career.....
68198
Of course you should apply. You'll never know if you will like it unless you try it first. I know you are busy, but college is supposed to be a chance to try everything you want to see if something is a good fit for you. Good luck in your pursuits.
1049107
All colleges prefer students who have been involved in extracurricular activities. It may make the difference between getting in and not getting in.
270467
That depends on the college.  Contact the admissions office of the school you want to attend and ask.
228642
I really think they focus on your GPA and SAT scores.  I was accepted with a 3.8 GPA (through my Junior year anyway).  I also got an SAT score of 1190.  I didn't do many sports or extracurricular stuff, but I did have a part time job.
796502
It depends on which school you Apply to. No problem getting in to some of the schools at U Conn, but science, biology, premed, engineering, math, ....requires more.
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!!
941312
Perfect grades, SAT scores, etc.... THEN, you have to add on the extras. Get involved, really involved. Don't just volunteer somewhere and log a few hours on a resume, become critical to an organization (and get a great letter of recommendation). Take college courses early, for fun and for the challenge of it. No fluff will be allowed... you really have to be the top, best, brightest, and most genuine thinker to even be considered. If you are not, don't waste your time applying, you will be just one of many wanna-bees. Yale is no joke.... you have to be at a level that scares most people... it is not like a purse to show your friends ("Hey, look, I go to Yale... isn't that neat!")!
1181064
I'm not sure either.  Perhaps you're talking about the admissions counselors?  Admissions is the office that recruits students for the colleges.  Is that what you mean?
1132589
There are many factors that affect admissions at Ivy League colleges such as Harvard and Princeton.  While GPA is one of the most important factors, it is NOT the most important one, let alone the one that determines whether an applicant is admitted or rejected.  College admissions officers at Ivy League schools consider many other factors, including SAT/ACT scores, SAT II scores, strength of high school curriculum, extracurricular involvement, awards, and financial/social background, to name a few.  (Incidentally, there is no “required” GPA.)\n\nOn the other hand, one can increase -- dramatically increase, in some cases -- his/her chances of being admitted to Ivy League schools by achieving a high GPA.  For instance, with a perfect 4.0 GPA, or 100, or the highest cumulative GPA in a graduating class, one has a much better chance of being admitted to Harvard or Princeton.  This is evidenced by the fact that, while Ivy League colleges do not admit all valedictorians, applicants with the best academic records from their respective high schools tend to be admitted at much more propitious rates than students who rank near the top of their classes but are not quite perfect academically.  \n\nAs I said before, though, GPA is not the only factor in college admissions.  If an applicant with a 3.6 GPA -- unweighted (which means "not accounting for honors/AP courses," which add extra ) -- scores extremely well on the ACT or SAT (for example, in the ranges of 34-36 and 2300-2400, respectively), his/her slightly lower GPA -- relatively, of course -- might be overlooked, provided he/she demonstrates evidence of superior abilities/talents, which I will discuss in the next section.\n\nAdmissions at Harvard, Princeton, and, in general, highly selective schools, is often misunderstood by the public.  Admissions officers at such schools are not hired to admit students with the best academic records, but those who have talents that few of their peers have.  They want teenagers who have achieved things that most people will not achieve in a lifetime -- winning national science competitions, publishing bestselling books, presiding over national youth forums, founding a nationwide organization for the betterment of humanity; the list goes on and on.  These students may not be perfect academically, but they are no doubt more appealing than students who get perfect 4.0s and 2400s, but have not a real achievement to their name.\n\nMy advice to you is to study hard, but not devote too much time to perfecting your GPA.  If you are Harvard material – anyone who dreams “it” can achieve “it,” so you probably are – I advise you to find a niche.  What are you good at?  Where can you shine?  Utilize your talents and you will achieve something BIG.  By then, being admitted to Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Stanford, or any other big-name school will merely be a byproduct of your true accomplishments.\n\nThere are many sites with advice on college admissions.  One favorite among students as well as parents is www.collegeconfidential.com, which provides college admissions-related information straight from experienced adults, as well as a forum for parents, counselors, and students to discuss all things related to college admissions (be wary of discouraging information, though!)  Good luck!\n\nJust a note: Many "normal" students are admitted to Harvard and Princeton...  You don't necessarily have to accomplish the things I mentioned.  For the most part, though, admissions is a "crapshoot" for normal students.
665380
Colleges look at you as a whole person, so it's a combo of your grades, your test scores, the degree of difficulty in your high school program (did you take a lot of "easy" classes, or did you challenge yourself?) as well as the letters of recommendation and your essay.  In your essay, focus on why you want to go to the school you are applying to, why that particular institution will help you meet your long term goal.  Be sincere, don't try and write something you think the committee wants to hear.\n\nGood luck!