Inside College Admissions: FAQs
How has the college admissions landscape changed in recent years, particularly for selective schools?
While the average acceptance rate for four-year, not-for-profit colleges is around 73%, there's a stark contrast at a small set of highly selective "Wild Card" schools (those admitting 25% or fewer), which represent less than 5% of U.S. colleges. These about 100 schools receive an average of 29,000 applications each, leading to fierce competition and significantly lower admit rates. Total applications increased in recent years, driven by a combination of factors including a peaking number of high school students and the temporary adoption of test-optional policies during COVID, which broadened the applicant pool. As a result, even large public universities that previously had much higher acceptance rates have seen significant declines in recent years, making admission more challenging across the board.
What is the most important factor colleges consider when reviewing an application?
Academic preparation is the primary and most important factor considered by colleges. This includes your transcript, focusing on grades and the rigor of your coursework within the context of your high school - as well as a positive grade trend over your high school career. Colleges prioritize seeing strong academic performance and challenging coursework as it indicates a student's potential for success at the college level. While other factors are considered in a holistic review, academic performance is what initially gets your application to the table for further consideration.
How do colleges evaluate the rigor of a student's high school curriculum?
Colleges assess rigor by looking at the types of advanced courses a student has taken, such as Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Dual Enrollment (DE), and Honors courses. AP and IB courses are generally treated equally in rigor calculations, with a full IB Diploma often receiving the maximum rigor score. Dual Enrollment courses may also be considered equally depending on the program and institution. Honors courses are typically not on the same level as AP/IB but may still contribute to a rigor assessment. Colleges prefer to see students increasingly challenge themselves in core subject areas each year, demonstrating a readiness for college-level work. They generally consider the courses available at the student's high school (provided by the School Profile) when evaluating the rigor of their schedule.
How do colleges review an application and how long does it typically take?
The application review process varies between colleges, but for most selective institutions, it often involves multiple steps. Applications are typically reviewed by one or two readers, often beginning with a regional representative familiar with the applicant's high school. Readers often assign proprietary ratings based on the college's criteria before sending the application to the next stage, which may be a committee review. Some applications may be filtered into deny or likely deny piles before reaching a committee. The time spent reviewing an application is typically less than 10 minutes on average, with rapid admit or deny decisions happening quickly. The goal for applicants is often to present a compelling story that encourages a longer, more thorough review.
Aside from academics, what other factors are important in the holistic review process?
When a student clears the academic preparation hurdle, colleges use holistic review to understand the whole person and their potential contributions to the campus community. Factors considered include positive character attributes, the personal statement essay, student's interest in attending, counselor and teacher recommendations, and extracurricular activities. Extracurriculars are viewed as reflections of character, values, priorities, interests, and commitment. Colleges evaluate factors such as a student’s authentic involvement, depth of engagement over time, leadership development, and impact on groups, the school, or the broader community. They also consider how a student has made the most of the opportunities available in their family, high school, and community context.
What is the significance of Demonstrated Interest in the college admissions process?
Demonstrated Interest refers to a college's assessment of an applicant’s genuine interest in attending. While some colleges don't factor it into admissions decisions, for others it can be critical. First, remember that colleges are businesses, and thus they track every point of contact, starting with initial inquiries through their website, to optimize their sales funnel. This can include campus visits (virtual and in-person), attending webinars or information sessions, building relationships with college representatives, and participating in post-application opportunities like interviews or supplemental essays. Demonstrating interest signals a higher likelihood of enrolling if admitted, which helps colleges make selective admissions decisions to achieve their enrollment goals and improve their yield.
How do different application plans (Early Action, Early Decision, Regular Decision, Rolling Decision) impact a student's chances of admission?
Different application plans have varying deadlines and levels of commitment. Early Action (EA) is non-binding with earlier decision releases, while Early Decision (ED I & II) is a binding commitment to attend if admitted. Regular Decision (RD) has later deadlines and is non-binding. Rolling Decision means applications are reviewed as they are received, making it still important to apply early. Applying early, particularly through ED, can be advantageous as it demonstrates strong interest and can potentially increase the likelihood of admission at some institutions. Colleges often use early plans to manage their yield and build their incoming class more predictably. However, applying early should only be done if the student is ready and the college is a top choice. Stay tuned for key Early Decision considerations in the next blog post.
Want to learn more? Check out our webinar Inside Admissions: The Application File Review Process. For a personalized review & strategy session, check out our College Prep Checkpoint package, an ideal summer checkup for rising 9th - 11th graders.
