How to strengthen your High Point application

Sign up + add your profile to see your specific gaps for High Point.

What High Point weights most

High Point favors students who will take advantage of its career-focused, experiential programs and campus amenities, especially in communications, business, and education. Admissions weights demonstrated practical engagement - internships, portfolio work, leadership in media or entrepreneurial activities - more heavily than purely academic prestige; applicants with SAT/GPA near lower end can be competitive if they show clear vocational fit and sustained, job-like experience. They are more flexible on test scores and unconventional coursework than selective private peers, but expect consistent upward academic trends and evidence you will contribute to campus life and professional networks.

Supplemental essay strategy

Use the "why High Point" essay to reference specific programs and facilities: the brand-new media labs, the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, the DeMoss or Global Studies offerings, or partnership pipelines with local businesses. Tie one concrete element to your past experience and a clear 4-year plan - for example, how the communications practicum or a faculty member’s research aligns with a summer internship you have, or how you will use campus resources to launch a senior capstone or student-run agency.

Recommended competitions

Where to focus next

If you only have time for one thing this month, do this:

1. Read 2 admitted-student essays from High Point (search official admissions site or Reddit r/highpoint). Notice the level of specificity — that's the bar.
2. Write the ‘why this school’ supplement first, before anything else. If you can't fill 250 words with school-specific reasons, pick a different school.
3. Find one current student to ask about their experience — admissions offices often connect prospective applicants with current students. The follow-up email becomes specific essay material.