What Are Admissions Departments Looking For?

Colleges Go Beyond GPA to Cull Applicants (a recent article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer) provides insight into what Admissions departments are looking for in applicants to selective colleges. It makes the point that most applicants to the selective schools are "qualified", yet only a small percentage get in (e.g. at Yale 75% of applicants are academically qualified, 9% are accepted). This leaves the final decision to the judgement of the admissions professionals, largely deciding based on other less intangible factors.

The article cites a recent study by the National Association of Admission Counseling that breaks the factors considered in the admission process into three buckets:

Most Important: Grades, test scores
Mid-Importance: Class rank, writing ability, teachers' recommendations
Least Important: Interviews, work history, extra-curricular activities, applicant's demonstrated interest in the college.

Since many applicants still 'tie' based on these tangible factors, getting accepted comes down to more subjective factors, like 'community-building' and the applicants' 'hooks'. Every college is trying to build or maintain a certain community. Admissions is looking for that mix of traits and experiences among the applicants to help achieve it. They're also looking for 'hooks'. Hooks are those characteristics that make an applicant stand out and help differentiate him or her from the crowd. Does he have some special artistic or athletic skill? Is she from an under-represented part of the country or the world? Is there some special community service or entrepreneurial experience that stands out?

The article finishes with a behind the scenes peek at the Oberlin College admissions process (Oberlin is ranked #40 on the College Admission Forum list of most selective colleges with an acceptance rate of 33.9%).

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