If your kid is outdoorsy, wants to be at a big school, and likes to keep their mind open and engaged, then the University of Colorado, Boulder might be the right pick for them. We’re going to talk about how they might snag a spot at CU Boulder, but first let’s look at what makes it such a special school. 

About the University of Colorado

The University of Colorado’s flagship campus is in Boulder, which is one of the most scenic cities in the United States. It’s right at the base of the Rocky Mountains with immediate access to the Flatirons. If your kid likes the sun, well, Boulder gets around 300 sunny days a year. In part because of its avid hiking culture, it has a reputation for being one of the healthiest U.S. cities. 

In keeping with the city that surrounds them, CU Boulder students tend to be interested in sustainability, environmental science, medicine and health science, and tech. But, with over 30,000 undergraduate students, there’s something for everyone at CU Boulder. Their Aerospace Engineering program is a strong player in the field with a major research output, and Boulder’s Leeds School of Business consistently churns out industry leaders. 

The University of Colorado, Boulder has an acceptance rate of 76%. This means it’s not what we at Ivy Coach consider a competitive school in terms of admissions. But still, with its beautiful surroundings and vast resources, it’s a great place to be. 

University of Colorado Admissions Requirements 

We want to make one thing clear first: there’s no readymade template for a successful application to CU Boulder, which holds true for all colleges. It’ll come as no surprise to you that a high GPA, great test scores, and impressive extracurricular achievements are the trifecta of any strong application. Let’s take a gander at what these three facets look like for Boulder students, then we’ll get into even more nitty-gritty aspects of the CU Boulder application process. 

What Kind of GPA Is Necessary To Get Into the University of Colorado?

The following is the GPA breakdown of the members of the CU Boulder Class of 2029:

GPA	Percentage of University of Colorado Boulder Class of 2029
4.0	44%
3.75-3.99	23%
3.5-3.74	18%
3.25-3.49	10%
3.0-3.24	4%
2.5-2.99	2%
2.0-2.49	0%
1.0-1.99	0%

44% of the CU Boulder Class of 2029 had a perfect GPA. Well over half of the class (67%) were top GPA earners at their high schools, breaking the 3.75 mark. All this is well and good to know, but statistics like this only tell us so much. For example, like many state schools, CU Boulder’s acceptance rates differ for in-state applicants and out-of-state applicants. For the Class of 2029, the acceptance rate was 84% for in-state applicants, but only 65% for those applying from elsewhere.

But that’s just one plot twist. The University of Colorado Boulder does often reject some applicants with stellar grades and standout test scores. This is why we decline to answer parents who share their child’s GPA during complimentary consultations with Ivy Coach, as though numbers alone are a crystal ball that can foresee their child’s chances of getting into CU Boulder. Without context, including the high school attended, the rigor of the student’s coursework, their extracurricular activities, essays, letters of recommendation, etc., the answer would be meaningless.

We also are willing to bet that these numbers reflected weighted GPA as opposed to unweighted GPA. Given CU Boulder’s high acceptance rate and the quite low SAT scores cited in the next section, it doesn’t seem that likely to us that CU Boulder students really knocked it out of the park as much as these numbers imply. 

Boulder, like most good schools, doesn’t just want kids with spotless report cards. If they did, the admissions committee’s job would be easy, and they could fill their halls with dull, regurgitating automatons. Boulder also cares about personal integrity, special achievements, and students who are going to leave a lasting mark on their campus.

What Kind of SAT or ACT Scores Are Needed To Get Into the University of Colorado?  

The average SAT score for the CU Boulder Class of 2029 was 1300, and the average ACT score was 30. CU Boulder is test-optional; only 25% of students submitted SAT scores and only 7% submitted ACT scores, which perhaps accounts for why these scores place Boulder students in different percentiles. 

While only 32% of admits to last year’s freshman class submitted scores, we believe that it’ll always substantially boost your application to get good SAT/ACT scores and submit them, even to supposedly test-optional schools. 

What Classes Do Students Need to Take to Get Into the University of Colorado?

While CU Boulder does not explicitly state any minimum high school course preparation for applicants, we at Ivy Coach know that colleges want to see students excelling in each core subject (English, history, math, science, and foreign language) all four years of high school. In fact, they expect to see five years for foreign language since most students begin their first level of foreign language in eighth grade.

What Kinds of Extracurriculars Does the University of Colorado Like To See?

We’re going to play MythBusters for a moment: highly selective colleges are not looking for well-rounded students. That is an urban legend, a false prophet! What schools are looking for are well-rounded student bodies comprised of uniquely talented students, each contributing some different achievement to the greater whole. 

So, rather than shuttling your kid from soccer practice to Russian Math lessons to cello lessons to West Side Story rehearsal to robotics club, maybe decide to save on all that gas money and encourage your child to zero in on their own unique talents. Maybe they’re a thespian: have them write a play, work with their school’s drama department to put it on, and then use the funds from ticket sales to support arts education in underfunded areas of the United States. Maybe they’re a Classist: have them found a Latin Club at their school, translate niche texts beyond The Aeneid and Caesar, and contribute original research to a scholarly journal on Roman Studies. You get the gist. 

University of Colorado Application Requirements

CU Boulder accepts The Common App. They ask for one letter of recommendation from a teacher. Finally, applicants must respond to the following supplemental question: 

What do you hope to study, and why, at CU Boulder? Or if you don’t know quite yet, think about your studies so far, extracurricular/after-school activities, jobs, volunteering, future goals, or anything else that has shaped your interests. (250 words) 

Who Should Students Ask For Letters of Recommendation For the University of Colorado? 

University of Colorado applicants should ask a junior year teacher in a core subjects. Obviously, the applicant should have a good relationship with the teacher or at least have performed well in their class. In addition, the recommender’s subject area should be related to the student’s hook: if a student’s singular hook is studying fruit fly DNA, it wouldn’t make sense if their recommenders were their History or English teacher.

Does the University of Colorado Require an Interview? 

CU Boulder does not require an interview, and, in fact, they don’t even offer one!

What Are the University of Colorado’s Application Deadlines? 

Early Action applications to CU Boulder are due November 15th. Regular Decision applications are due January 15th.  

How Ivy Coach Helps Students Get Into the University of Colorado

If you’re interested in discerning if your child has a shot of getting into the University of Colorado, we recommend setting up Ivy Coach’s Strategy Session. Not only will you find out if your child has a chance of getting into the University of Colorado, but you’ll receive a game plan of how your child can optimize their admission to the best school possible.