Admission Criteria for Colleges
Approximately 85 percent of Boulder High students continue their formal education immediately after graduation. Should your plans include a college education, keep in mind that college admission decisions are based on the following criteria.
What Are Colleges Looking For?
Academic Units for Admission to Colorado Colleges & Universities
1. High school graduation requirements are different from college entrance requirements. Here are the general requirements for Colorado public colleges (the Higher Education Admission Recommendations, or “HEAR”). It is critical to check each college admissions website for specific requirements they may have.
2. Please note: In general, colleges do not consider Ds for meeting their admission requirements. Consider taking credit recovery to replace any D grades for college admission requirement courses.
3. Out-of-state and private colleges may have different requirements. Refer to the individual college websites, usually on the Admissions page under "High School Preparation." For example, California public universities require a full year of art or music for admission.
4. When you check admission requirements on the college website, aim for the higher number of years in the "suggested" requirements to be most competitive.
*Currently, the HEAR math recommendation is that students should complete up through Algebra 2. However, some college programs require freshman students to be ready for calculus. If you know which program or area of study you wish to pursue in college, contact the admission or academic advising office at the institution you are considering for specific information.
Factors in College Admissions*
*Percentage of colleges attributing different levels of importance to various recruitment strategies for first-time freshmen.