How Do College Admissions Officers Evaluate Applicants?
College admissions officers are not at all like what most high
school students imagine. About half of all college admissions officers are
recent college graduates themselves. They tend to be young, friendly, outgoing
and genuinely enjoy working with aspiring college freshman.
school students imagine. About half of all college admissions officers are
recent college graduates themselves. They tend to be young, friendly, outgoing
and genuinely enjoy working with aspiring college freshman.
Considering the heavy workload during January through April
when the majority of applications arrive and must be evaluated, it should come
as no surprise that there's a high rate of burnout among college admissions
officers. How long would you stay at a job knowing you were expected to evaluate
upwards of 100 applications everyday? According to homework help online service many admissions officers move on to
graduate studies in two or three years.
when the majority of applications arrive and must be evaluated, it should come
as no surprise that there's a high rate of burnout among college admissions
officers. How long would you stay at a job knowing you were expected to evaluate
upwards of 100 applications everyday? According to homework help online service many admissions officers move on to
graduate studies in two or three years.
The final admissions decision are generally made by
committees but much of the initial evaluation is done individually.
Applications are generally divided geographically with staff members being
assigned responsibility for specific geographic regions. It's not unusual for
schools to use a two part rating system with the first part being academic and
the second part being extracurricular or non academic. A brilliant student with
no extracurricular activities might rate 1E whereas an all American athlete who
is a lousy student might earn a rating of 5A.
committees but much of the initial evaluation is done individually.
Applications are generally divided geographically with staff members being
assigned responsibility for specific geographic regions. It's not unusual for
schools to use a two part rating system with the first part being academic and
the second part being extracurricular or non academic. A brilliant student with
no extracurricular activities might rate 1E whereas an all American athlete who
is a lousy student might earn a rating of 5A.
After the initial evaluation most applications are examined
a second time by another admissions officer. If the two ratings are close and
the admit or deny decision is clear-cut, the application is forwarded to the
director of admissions for final action which is either an acceptance or a
rejection letter.
a second time by another admissions officer. If the two ratings are close and
the admit or deny decision is clear-cut, the application is forwarded to the
director of admissions for final action which is either an acceptance or a
rejection letter.
That leaves the applicants who will be reviewed further by
the committee. The committee often includes some faculty. There are also some
politics involved. For example, the basketball coach who wants the mediocre
student who happens to be 7' tall to play for his team will put in a strong
word for that the applicant which will likely sway the committee's decision in
his favor. The same is true of other applicants not only athletes. For example,
a music professor may argue in favor of a great trumpet player or someone in
the arts department might put in a good word for an applicant who shows great
promise as an artist.
the committee. The committee often includes some faculty. There are also some
politics involved. For example, the basketball coach who wants the mediocre
student who happens to be 7' tall to play for his team will put in a strong
word for that the applicant which will likely sway the committee's decision in
his favor. The same is true of other applicants not only athletes. For example,
a music professor may argue in favor of a great trumpet player or someone in
the arts department might put in a good word for an applicant who shows great
promise as an artist.
At this point if there are any remaining spots for
perspective freshman, the full committee chooses the final applicants to be
admitted. If your application is in this final batch there's no telling what
the outcome may be. It really all depends on how adamantly and effectively any
admissions officers in your favor argue the case for your acceptance.
perspective freshman, the full committee chooses the final applicants to be
admitted. If your application is in this final batch there's no telling what
the outcome may be. It really all depends on how adamantly and effectively any
admissions officers in your favor argue the case for your acceptance.
So now you have an insider's view of the college admissions
process. Hopefully that insight will be helpful in gaining admission to the
college or university of your choice. Good luck.
process. Hopefully that insight will be helpful in gaining admission to the
college or university of your choice. Good luck.
More resources: