IT’S ALWAYS GOOD TO KEEP UP to date on what factors admission committees look at and how much weight they put on each factor. The most recent State of College Admission Report from the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC)* provides some interesting information on the most important factors in the admission decision process and how some of them have changed over the years.
THE TOP FACTORS
Although the criteria used by admissions committees can vary greatly from school to school there are some top factors that most colleges and universities classify as being of “considerable importance.” As you might expect grades and test scores are still big factors but others play an important part in whether you’re accepted. The graphic below shows the top eight factors from the NACAC report of what colleges and universities find to be of “considerable importance.”
“DEMONSTRATE” YOUR INTEREST!
Demonstrated interest has increased significantly—from 7 percent in 2003 to 21 percent in 2011. On the other hand several factors have gone down in importance. Class rank has decreased from 35 percent in 2002 to 19 percent in 2011 likely because some high schools no longer rank students. The interview has gone down to only 6 percent but the essay has gone up to 25 percent. Fewer interviews means greater importance is placed on the essay to get a more personal feel for the applicant and demonstrated interest is vital as students apply to an increasing number of colleges. The NACAC survey points out that demonstrated interest is often a key “tip” factor in the admission process—in other words it can tip a decision in your favor!
How can all of this help you when you’re applying to colleges? You still of course need to keep your grades high and do as well as you can on the SAT or ACT. But you also want to show the schools that you’re interested in them. So how do you let an admissions office know you really want to attend their institution?
- Visit the campus and check in at the admissions office. Most colleges track who visits campus. Try to schedule a time to speak with an admissions representative and be prepared with questions and thought-out but unrehearsed answers for their questions. Stay in touch when you go home and send a thank-you note.
- Use part of your essay to mention specific reasons you like the college and feel that it’s the best match for you. (Think of yourself as a suitor trying to romance the institution by telling them why you’re meant to be together!)
- Contact and stay in touch with an admissions counselor to make it clear that you’re very interested in attending the school (without driving them crazy!).
- Apply for early action or early decision. (Just remember that the latter is a binding agreement.)
- Have your recommending teachers and guidance counselor mention your level of interest in the college or university.
- Get in touch with a faculty member in your area of interest to ask questions or sit in on a class and be sure to indicate you’ve done so on your application.
If you already know what you want to major in don’t be afraid to say so on your application as it’s considered a “plus factor” to schools that offer that academic focus.
STATE vs. PRIVATE; SMALL vs. LARGE
As a general rule private colleges are more likely to consider a wider variety of criteria (a holistic approach) when choosing from the applicant pool which tends to be smaller than at public institutions. This is most likely because admissions departments at public colleges have two-and-a-half to three times more applications to read than the private institutions. The NACAC survey found that private colleges assigned greater importance to factors such as the essay/writing sample counselor and teacher recommendations extracurricular activities and demonstrated interest. Smaller schools are also more likely to put importance on these other factors than larger schools.
So consider these top admission factors and the No. 1 take-away tip for applying to your schools of choice: Demonstrate your interest in as many ways as possible. Telling a college why you’re choosing them might be just what they need to hear to choose you!
