An “Education Life” supplement published by the New York Times featured a cover stating, “Admissions is unfair: Here’s why.” Surrounding the cynical title were clues as to the criteria that might swing a college applicant to the acceptance or rejection pile.
Before slumping into a depression, college bound students should take comfort from the fact that the vast majority of colleges accept at least half of their applicants. In fact, U.S. News & World Report lists 100 colleges and universities that accepted between 95 percent and 100 percent of applicants for last year’s freshman class. Included are many “specialty” schools, such as the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY, the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, CA, and Boston Architectural College in Boston, MA.
It’s the world famous institutions that, each year, collectively reject hundreds of thousands of students who could actually thrive at their schools. This scenario plays out not only at all of the prestigious Ivy League colleges and universities, but also at other popular institutions. The 2018 acceptance rate was 15 percent or lower at Johns Hopkins University, Amherst College, Vanderbilt University, Northwestern University, Duke University, University of Chicago, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a host of other schools.
What college bound students need to do, therefore, is be aware of the criteria that college admissions officers are taking under careful consideration. Some of these benchmarks are outside a student’s control. Many of the top colleges favor “legacy” students – those with an alumni parent. Many colleges give preference to “first generation” students – those whose parents do not have a college education. Many colleges value geographical diversity – seeking a freshmen class that represents all 50 states and as many foreign countries as possible. According to a report by the National Association for College Admission Counseling, about half of all colleges and universities indicated that an applicant’s ability to pay played a role in their admissions decision. If students can use any of these criteria to their benefit, they should highlight the information in their applications.
Of course, high school grades, the rigor of a student’s course load, and SAT/ACT scores still carry the most weight in the admissions process. Most colleges believe that students’ grades and standardized test scores are the best indicators in predicting the likelihood of their success in college.
Also of key importance, and a criteria that students can control, is “demonstrated interest.” Colleges recognize that most students apply to several institutions, and they assess the likelihood that a student, if accepted, will actually enroll at their school. The strongest expression of demonstrated interest is for a student to apply “early decision” to a college. This assures the college that, if accepted, the student will actually enroll. Colleges also look favorably on students who interact with them in a number of ways: campus visits, contact with an admissions officer, response to an email.
It’s important for students to go into the college application process with their eyes wide open, aware of the assets that they can use to their benefit and diligent enough to present themselves in the best possible light.
Susan Alaimo is the founder and director of SAT Smart in Hillsborough that has been offering PSAT, SAT and ACT preparation courses, as well as private tutoring by Ivy League educated instructors, for more than 25 years. Visit www.SATsmart.com or call 908-369-5362.