How I Got Into College

PG-13

1989

1 hr. 27 min.

Romance

Comedy

List

43%

7 Reviews

Tomatometer

42%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

High school senior Marlon Bowne (Corey Parker) is smitten with overachieving classmate Jessica Kailo (Lara Flynn Boyle). But, if he wants to have a shot with her, he'll have to find a way to get into Ramsey College, Jessica's top choice of schools. It won't be easy, since the college is highly selective and Marlon's grades are hardly impressive. That means the lovelorn teen will have to find a way to score high on the SATs and win over the college admissions committee.

Read More

Read Less

Audience Member

This is my favorite 80's movied that anytime it came on HBO I had to watch it. The sub-plot of A and B was amazing as well. This film includes several future stars as well. While it isn't very realistic, how many of the other 80's films truly were?

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Another bomb by Savage Steve Holland.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A pretty good flick about the pains of getting into college. While I myself waited a few years after High School and it was a mellow process, I do remember people I knew the few years before stressing over what colleges they could get into. Now, some of the stuff is a tad too cheesy: mostly admitting animals into college as jokes. I doubt people do this. Or the lead guy only going to college as a way for his crush to fall for him, as that seems highly implausible. But the cast is what sells this movie, as many of my favorite character actors show up in this, as well as favorites from other movies from that time. You've got Richard Jenkins and Diane Franklin as Corey Parker's parents, and Parker himself was a favorite part of mine in Friday The 13th 5. Philip Baker Hall as the Dean, Laura Flynn Boyle as the crush, Brian Doyle-Murray, Rhonda from Tremors, Gilbert AND Booger from the Nerds films. And a few of my fav 80's scream queens: Patrick's Sister from Monster Squad, Teresa from Cheerleader Camp and that Waterbed girl from Elm Street 4. Not to mention Bathroom Guy and Eakian from Summer School. I actually thought the story of the minority McDonalds worker was a nice touch too...feel good part of the film. And the soundtrack was great too.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I like Savage Steve Holland movies and this follows his aesthetic to a T. Entertaining to the max but not as great as Better Off Dead or One Crazy Summer.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Who ever wrote this synopsis has no sense of humor and puts far too much thought into comedies. Get a life buddy.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Fun to watch, but the last few scenes were a little disappointing.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Savage Steve Holland

Director

Anthony Edwards

Kip Hammett

Corey Parker

Marlon Browne

Lara Flynn Boyle

Jessica Kailo

Finn Carter

Nina Sachie

Charles Rocket

Leo Whitman

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Aug 21, 2005

Full Review

Caffeinated Clint

Film Threat

Lots of fun, Lots of familiar faces

Rated: 3/5

Mar 11, 2005

Full Review

Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Surprisingly clever and agreeable.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 2, 2004

Full Review

Michelle Alexandria

Eclipse Magazine

Rated: 2/5

Nov 20, 2003

Full Review

Tony Toscano

Talking Pictures (U.S.)

Rated: 1/5

Aug 14, 2003

Full Review

Jeffrey Westhoff

Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

Rated: 2/5

Aug 9, 2002

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

High school senior Marlon Bowne (Corey Parker) is smitten with overachieving classmate Jessica Kailo (Lara Flynn Boyle). But, if he wants to have a shot with her, he'll have to find a way to get into Ramsey College, Jessica's top choice of schools. It won't be easy, since the college is highly selective and Marlon's grades are hardly impressive. That means the lovelorn teen will have to find a way to score high on the SATs and win over the college admissions committee.

Director: Savage Steve Holland
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 1, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.3M
Sound Mix: Surround