How extracurricular activities are used in college admissions
Understanding holistic review, unwritten evaluation rules, and the strategy of building a sincere activity portfolio
Salah Assana
I’m a first-generation college student and the creator of The College Grind, dedicated to helping peers navigate higher education with practical advice and honest encouragement.
How high school GPA really works in college admissions
How colleges read GPA in context, not as a standalone score, to assess true academic strength.
What are colleges looking for in applicants
The core factors admissions officers prioritize and how they evaluate what makes an applicant stand out.
What are “school groups” in college admissions? Why you’re not competing against everyone
How school groups shape admissions decisions and why you’re not competing with everyone.
How college admissions actually works
How universities use class building, institutional priorities, and enrollment management to make decisions behind closed doors.
How to build a strong college application portfolio
How to build a standout college application portfolio that highlights your strengths, achievements, and unique story.
Comprehensive list of free tuition programs at US universities
List of U.S. universities with free tuition programs and how they actually work for students.