Applying for college may not be the easiest process. Hidden amidst the application process is a multitude of college misconceptions.

This year, University of California applications opened on August 1st. This is the first time these applications have been readily available this early to hopeful high school students.

In the past, students had just one short month to complete and submit their applications, bringing stress to many seniors and their parents.

UC college admissions officers realize the heavy loads students may have their senior year and want to see phenomenal effort in the application process.

According to the reputable National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), the majority of students think that the most important factors a college looks at in an application are the SAT and ACT test scores. While these scores are very important, NACAC states that the two most important factors colleges look for are college prep course grades and the strength of curriculum.

NACAC also says that students are “evaluated based on all of the attributes they bring to campus, including special talents, academic interests, and personal characteristics.” Other factors they may consider are a students geographic location, gender, ethnicity, whether a student is the first in their family to go to college, or a student’s relation to alumni.

Furthermore, the size of the college also plays a factor in the application process.

Smaller colleges pay more attention to all of the aspects of your application, large colleges pay more attention to numbers (GPA and test scores). Selective colleges have a more universal review process, and accept fewer than half of the students who apply.