How Admissions Decisions Are Made

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How Admissions Decisions Are Made?
???/Wan IvyClimbing Education Services www.IvyCli
mbing.com
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Which College Is This?

• Best liberal art college in the west
• Average class size is 14 students
• Sent more students to Harvard Law in 2005 than
  Brown or Duke
• Need-blind in admissions
• Overlaps with Stanford, Harvard, Yale
• Engineering plan w. Cal-tech Wash U.
• Five-college system
• (1st quiz!)

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Which College Is This?
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Questions Puzzles

• Why do colleges make decisions that are sometimes
  hard to understand?
• Is there a perfect way to evaluate students?
• Are there admissions hooks?
• How do public private colleges make decisions?
• What information do colleges want from the
  counselor and the school?
• Why do colleges with similar standards make
  different decisions?

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Acceptance Rates Ivy League
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Acceptance Rates Highly Selective
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As a result of low acceptance rates...

• Many applicants with strong GPAs and test scores
  feel that they have been treated unfairly.

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Common Beliefs

• I am the valedictorian of my high school.
• I have top SAT scores.
• I am a great athlete and musician.
• I am my high school class president.
• I can afford to pay the tuition.
• I can fill out 20 applications!

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Goals for Every College

• The ultimate goals for every college are the
  same
• Admit a freshman class with many different
  dimensions
• Admit students who will make good use of the
  available resources
• Admit students who will help meet the
  institutions needs.
• All schools look for a national student body

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Whats the Bottom Line?

• Admissions decisions often reflect the effort
  on the part of an admissions committee to build
  in this diversity, and that sometimes results in
  some students with better numbers (i.e. SAT
  scores or class ranks) being denied in favor of
  students who can bring a special talent or
  geographic, cultural, ethnic background to
  campus...
• Princeton University

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But Ive Always Had Straight As!

• The primary criterion for admission is
  academic excellence, and the most important
  single credential is the transcript. Our ablest
  candidates have mostly As in their courses, but
  we do find that some students with lower grade
  averages may show more real promise for strong
  college level course work than some students with
  high averages. We find the same may apply with
  regard to test scoresvery high scores, though
  they may in many cases confirm scholastic
  promise, do not guarantee admission to Stanford.
• Stanford
  University

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Perfect Test Scores?

• In each of the past few years Harvard has
  received more than 500 applications with double
  800 scores and has accepted just under half of
  them.
• Harvard University

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Why Didnt I Send Him to Mali?

• Youre a parent watching your child, so proud,
  and so worried. Your neighbors son was a
  nationally ranked swimmer, straight As, great
  boards, nice kid. Got rejected at his top three
  choices, wait-listed at two more. Who gets into
  Yale these days anyway? Maybe they should have
  sent him to Mali for the summer to dig wells,
  fight Malaria, give him something to write
  about in his essay.

Who Needs Harvard? Time Aug. 2006
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Reality Check

• 25,000 high schools in the country, each with top
  ten list of students
• 250,000 students applying to the same group of 8
  Ivies and highly selective schools
• Top West San Jose and Cupertino students become
  typical-looking in this group
• Perfect scores on the ACT/SAT not unusual in
  this group

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Admissions Index
Academic Profile
Note 9 is the highest possible score in one
area.
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Admissions Index
Personal Profile
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Test Score Index
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Are There Course Requirements for Harvard and
Others?

• The strongest candidates choose rigorous courses.
  A four-year preparatory program
• 4 years of English
• 4 years of math
• 4 years of science, with lab
• 4 years of history/social science
• 4 years of one foreign language

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Course Requirements for UC?

• 4 years of English
• 3 years of math
• 2 years of science, with lab
• 2 years of history
• 2 years of one foreign language
• Plus
• 1 year of visual and performing arts
• 1 year of college prep electives

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Course Requirements for High School Graduation?

• Yes! They vary from school to school.
• 3 years of English
• 3 years of math
• 2 years of science
• 2 years of history
• 2 years of one foreign language

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Course Requirement Comparison
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Stanfords Ratings of Heavy and Light
Student A Extremely Heavy 36 or 21 solids!
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Stanfords Ratings of Heavy and Light
Student B Heavy 25 or 18 solids!
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Stanfords Ratings of Heavy and Light
Student C Medium 20 or 14 solids!
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Stanfords Ratings of Heavy and Light
Student D Light 13 or 8 solids!
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How Applicants Are Evaluated?

• The Academic Performances
• The Evaluative Measures
• Personal Background
• Geographic Considerations
• Extracurricular Activities
• Extenuating Circumstances
• Recommendations
• Fit/match Considerations
• Education Environment

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How Applicants Are Evaluated?
The Reading Process

• Each applicant is given two numerical grades
• Academic
• Extracurricular
• The application is read by two readers.
• The application is discussed in a subcommittee.
• The application is discussed in a full committee.
• A final vote is taken.
• (Majorities rule!)

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How Applicants Are Evaluated?
The Reading Process Academic Scores (1 5)

• Academic 1
• A student who has taken 56 solids, has 5-7
  scores over 700, probably a 4.0 GPA, and at least
  20 solids. (AP schedule)
• Academic 2
• A student who has taken 5-6 solids, has 5-6
  scores over 700, probably a 3.9 GPA, and at least
  20 solids. (AP/honor schedule)

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How Applicants Are Evaluated?
The Reading Process Non-Academic Scores (1 5)

• Non-Academic 1
• You must have done something truly exceptional.
• Non-Academic 2 State and regional
  accomplishments.
• Non-Academic 3 Class President Team
  Captain Paper Editor
• Non-Academic 4 Club VP Active, but not a
  leader
• Non-Academic 5
• Little or no achievement

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How Applicants Are Evaluated?
Non-Academic A Case Study

• Jasons ActivitiesThree years as a member of
  the French Club, and one year as Vice President,
  first violin in the orchestra, and two-year as a
  cashier at a pharmacy.
• Jennifers Activities
• One year as a member of the Spanish Club,
  one year in the band, one year playing on the JV
  volleyball team, and three months volunteering at
  the Childrens Discovery Museum.

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How Applicants Are Evaluated?

• What are the readers looking for?
• Represent the school council
• Distribute monthly student publications
• Sit on committee to improve the quality of food
• Provide the glue that holds the community
  together
• Show a leaders concern for people other than
  himself

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How Applicants Are Evaluated?
Academic Performances

• Re-calculated academic GPA
• Pattern of grade improvement in high school
• Quality of curriculum
• Solid college-prep curriculum (4 yrs in each
  subject)
• Strength of senior year courses
• Core courses beyond core curriculum
• AP, IB, and honors/college courses
• Test scores (ACT, SAT, II, TOEFL, etc.)
• Academic interest
• Class rank

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How Applicants Are Evaluated?

• Re-calculated academic GPA (Scale of 0-4)

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How Applicants Are Evaluated?
Grade Improvement
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How Applicants Are Evaluated?
Grade Pattern
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How Applicants Are Evaluated?
Grade Pattern
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How Applicants Are Evaluated?
Is it better to take easier courses and get As?
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Is a B in a Hard Course Better Than an A in
an Easy Course?

• Be careful not to assume that the world is
  divided between students who take difficult
  courses and get Bs and the students who take easy
  courses and get As. Most of our applicants are
  able to take difficult courses and receive As.
• If you can handle the work in honors and AP,
  take at least a few of them. If it is obvious
  from your transcript that you are taking a
  lighter load than you can handle, admissions
  officers at selective colleges are going to
  wonder about your motivation. Grades from the
  junior and senior year are most important.
• Stanford University

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How Applicants Are Evaluated?
Evaluative Measures

• Academic recognition and awards
• Artistic, writing, and other talent
• Depth in one or more academic areas of student
  interests
• Evidence of academic passion
• Grasp of world events
• Independent academic research
• Intellectual curiosity
• Writing quality content, style, originality,
  risk taking

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How Applicants Are Evaluated?
Personal Background

• Alumni, faculty, and staff connections
• Cultural awareness/experiences
• Socioeconomic and educational background
• First generation to go to college
• Low economic family background
• Economically disadvantaged region
• Underrepresented minority
• Underrepresented high schools
• Personal disadvantage
• Academic diversity
• Military veteran/Peace Corps, American Corps, etc.

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How Applicants Are Evaluated?
Geographic Considerations

• In-State resident
• Under-represented geographic area
• From schools with few or no previous applicants

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How Applicants Are Evaluated?
Extracurricular Activities, Services, and Other

• Awards and honors (athletic, artistic, musical,
  civic)
• Quality and depth of involvement
• Leadership
• Community services
• Impact students involvement had on school and/or
  community
• Scholarship athlete
• Work experience

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How Applicants Are Evaluated?
Extenuating Circumstances

• Overcome personal adversity/unusual hardship
• Language spoken at home/ESL
• Frequent moves/many different schools

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How Applicants Are Evaluated?
Recommendations

• Character
• Civic and cultural awareness/diverse perspective
• Commitment to high ideals
• Intellectual independence/enthusiasm for
  learning/risk taking
• Creativity/other talent
• Concern for others/community
• Motivation/determination/effort/initiative/persist
  ence
• Leadership potential/maturity/responsibility

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How Applicants Are Evaluated?
Fit Considerations

• Demonstrated interest in college
• Good match

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How Applicants Are Evaluated?
Educational Environment

• Strength of curriculum (incl. availability of AP,
  IB, Honors)
• Average SAT I and/or ACT scores
• Percentage attending 4-year colleges
• Competitive grading system in high school
• Competitiveness of class
• Academically disadvantaged school

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How do you know all of the high schools in the
country?
High School Profile

• School information community, location, study
  body, faculty
• School size and graduating class
• Comparative data on GPA distribution
• Average test scores
• Course options, including of AP and honor
  courses
• Extracurricular opportunities
• College placement information

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High School Profile Silicon Valley High School

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High School Profile Silicon Valley High School

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High School Profile Silicon Valley High School
Grade Distribution Class of 2007 (100 Students)
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Whats another name for Ivy League?
2nd Quiz!
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A Freshman Class at Harvard
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Admitted Student Profile

• An honor student, Kate Ting was president of her
  class for three years, captain of the tennis and
  soccer teams, and president of the National Honor
  Society. She was co-chairperson of the Citizens'
  Scholarship Fund and on the school newspaper for
  three years (editor her junior year). For three
  years, she participated in the Chemistry Olympiad
  and the New England Math League, and was a member
  of the Taconic quiz team. She was presented a
  leadership award from her community and was
  selected to study at RPI during the summer

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Admitted Student Profile

• Sean Yang, who finished first in his class, was
  the winner of the Archie Roberts Award presented
  annually to the top scholar/athlete in Western
  Massachusetts. He was president of the National
  Honor Society, a member of the Student Council,
  and a delegate to Boys' State where he was
  elected to the House of Representatives. A
  National Merit Scholarship finalist, Sean won the
  Mass Book Award, and medals for the highest
  academic achievement in six different subjects.
  He was an All-Star League defensive back in
  football

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Admitted Student Profile

• Jessica Owen who finished third in her class, was
  the vice-president of the class and the
  representative to Massachusetts Girls State.  She
  was the winner of numerous awards including the
  "Classmates Today/Neighbors Tomorrow" Award, the
  Bausch Lomb Science Award, and the College Book
  Award.  She participated in track field, was a
  member of the first place team in the Academic
  Decathlon, and won the first place for Graphic
  Art at the National Latin Conference (as well as
  the silver medal on the national Latin
  examination).

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Admitted Students Things in Common

• Scholars
• Sustained commitment
• Increased level of responsibility
• Leadership
• Sheer ability
• Positive image

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IvyClimbing Advice

• Do you have special talents?
• Academic, non-academic, and personal
• Do all the pieces of your application fit
  together?
• Others see you as you see yourself
• Would you make a good addition to campus?
• In the classrooms, labs, dorms, activities, and
  organizations

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Which College is This?

• Option to take any course pass/fail.
• Take anything you want.
• 8-year liberal/medical education
• (3rd Quiz!)

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Which College is This?
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Reflections

• Top students are denied admission every year
• This process is an art
• Look outside your universe
• Dont confuse the local with the universal

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Last Minute Thoughts

• Remember, this college application process is
  unlike anything you or your kids have
  experienced.
• The stress level for applying to college is
  high.

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Look Beyond the Ivies

• In a kind of virtuous circle, the second tier
  schools got better as applications rose and they
  could become choosier in assembling a classwhich
  in turn raised the quality of the whole
  experience on campus and made the school more
  attractive to both topflight professors and the
  next wave of applicants

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Look Beyond the Ivies

• Just because you havent heard of a college
  doesnt mean its no good, argues Marilee Jones,
  the admissions dean at the MIT and an outspoken
  advocate of the idea that parents need to lighten
  up. Just as you have changed and grown since
  college, colleges are changing and growing.

Who Needs Harvard? Time Aug. 2006
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Interesting Facts

• Only 7 CEOs from the current top 50 Fortune 500
  companies were Ivy League undergraduates.

Who Needs Harvard? Time Aug. 2006
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The Reality of It All

• You are being judged according to criteria that
  you would never use to judge another person and
  which will never again be applied to you once you
  leave higher education

Who Needs Harvard? Time Aug. 2006
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The Reality of It All

• For example, colleges are taking a hard look at
  your SAT scores. But if at any moment in your
  later life you so much as mention your SAT scores
  in conversation, you will be considered a total
  jerk. If at age 40 you are still proud of your
  scores, you may want to contemplate a major life
  makeover...
• Who Needs Harvard? Time Aug. 2006

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To Rising Seniors

• So remember, the letters you start to get in
  mid-December dont determine anything!

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More IvyClimbing Advice

• Look for a good fit
• Challenges you, makes you stretch, allows you
  to grow
• Dont go to a place where youll have to study
• 24/7 just to keep up

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Final Words of Wisdom

• Keep an open mind
• Dont take shortcuts
• Be realistic, but dont be afraid to aim high
• Dont rely on myths, rumors or anecdotes

• Dont stereotype people or colleges
• Seek advice, but make up your own mind
• Make appointments with your counselor

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More Words

• Dont rule out a college because of cost
• Be yourself (ok, yourself at your best)
• Keep things in perspective

• Have a sense of humor
• Make sure your application is your own work, but
  seek out feedback from adults
• Read the instructions first

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Keep in Mind

• You are probably far more interesting just as you
  are, than any ideal applicant you are likely to
  imagine colleges are looking for
• College is really a 7 year experience in terms of
  those you will meet
• Those in your freshman class
• Those in the three classes ahead of you
• Those in the three classes that follow your
  class

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And finally

• Keep in mind that no matter which college you
  attend, its a good idea to remember that
  Batteries Are Not Included and Assembly is
  Required.
• However much you sweat over the college
  admissions process, be sure to take the long
  view. Nowhere is it written that life begins or
  ends with the college admission process!

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Thank you for coming!Any questions? To
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Email help_at_IvyClimbing.com