What do colleges want? It’s hiding in plain sight

The college application process can seem pretty mysterious to the uninitiated.

But what colleges want from their applicants isn’t a secret. Schools telegraph what they’re after in the form of big data that’s available online to anyone. High school students can use that data to apply where they will be strong candidates, boosting their chances of admission and financial aid. Here’s what to look for.

Use the data to find your best match

Each year, colleges supply reams of admission and financial aid statistics, known as the Common Data Set, to satisfy the demands of various education publishers, says college consultant Lynn O’Shaughnessy. The information can be found by searching for the college’s name and the phrase “common data set,” or at college comparison sites such as CollegeData.

Among other figures, the statistics for each school include: • The cost to attend. • How much student loan debt the average graduate incurs.

• What percentage of applicants are accepted.

• Average grades and test scores of incoming freshmen.

At Stanford University, for example, 75 percent of incoming students for the 20162017 academic year scored 700 or above on their math SATs (the top score is 800), 94 percent had grade point averages above 3.75 and 95 percent ranked in the top 10 percent of their high school class.

Top-flight grades and scores don’t guarantee entrance into any selective school, of course. Stanford accepts just 5 percent of those who apply. But knowing the stats of the incoming class can help students eliminate long-shot choices and focus on schools where they’re more likely to gain admission.

Target the schools that want you

Having grades and test scores that are above the school’s average can help with