Going to college can open up so many doors in life and, whether you are just finishing high school or you an adult in later life that wants to change careers, a degree can really help you get ahead. But the best colleges in the country are very competitive, and more people than ever are choosing to go into higher education. If you want to earn a place, your grades are not always enough, and you need to do something to set yourself apart. These are some of the best tips to help you get into your dream college. 

Get Good Grades 

Although grades aren’t the only thing that will get you into your dream college, you do need to perform well academically if you are going to be considered. If you are still in school, it is important that you apply yourself and if you are struggling in certain areas, consider a tutor to help you get the grades that you need. If you are applying later in life as an adult, and your grades were not great, you may need to retake some of your high school courses to boost your chances. Once you have the right grades, you can get your foot in the door, but you will need to do a lot more if you are going to get into the school of your choice. 

Prep Well For SAT Exams 

The SAT exams are tough, but if you perform well, you will massively increase your chances of getting into a good college. That’s why it’s so important that you prep well so you know your stuff. There are some great sites where you can find a list of the best SAT exam prep books. These books will give you a lot of example questions so you know what to expect and you can brush up on the right areas. 

Choose Multiple Dream Schools 

College admissions are so competitive and even if you do everything right, there is a chance that you could miss out on your dream school. That’s why it’s important that you choose more than one dream school so you have others to fall back on. Start looking at the best colleges in your chosen area and pick a few alternatives that you would also be happy to attend. Over 90% of students get into one of their top 3 schools, so if you have 2 backup options, you are likely to get into at least one of them. 

Consider Legacy Advantages 

If your parents or grandparents attended a school, you will have an advantage when applying. In some cases, this advantage can be the equivalent of getting an extra 50 points on the SAT exam, so you should definitely consider applying to schools that your family members attended. Even if it is not your first choice, you can put some of these schools down as a backup option to increase your chances of getting accepted. 

If you follow these simple steps, you can increase your chances of getting into your dream college.