Princeton Inside the Admission Office April 07

8/7/2019 Princeton Inside the Admission Office April 07

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Inside the Admission Office:

How Colleges Decide Who to Admit

Don Betterton

Betterton College [email protected]


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Types of Colleges(4200 total)

In the U.S. there is a higher education opportunity for every level of

student interest and ability. My categories:

Register and attend (1900)

Routine enrollment processSpecialty schools (300)

Admit on interest and talent

Meet basic standards (1500)Admit more than 75% of applicants

Competitive (400)

Admit from 40% to 75% of applicantsSelective (100)

Admit fewer than 40% of applicants


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Competitive and Selective

5-year grad rate:

50% or more for publics

80% or more for privates

50% or more of freshmen have SAT over1200,

ACT over24

3.5 average high school GPA

1/3 or more from top 10% of h.s. class


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Competitive and Selective

Although these colleges make up only about

25% of the 4-yr non-profit, much of the college-going

preparation and pressure is focused here.

They are the types of colleges where good admission

planning is needed.

They tend to be more expensive and information about how topay, with or without aid, is important.


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Admission Recruiting Methods Create

Unrealistic Expectations

It is hard to judge where a student stands

because top colleges send We Want You

messages even knowing full well they willonly admit some of the students they

encourage to apply.

This is an unusual buyer(student) seller

(college) relationship.


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What Would Wal-Mart Do If it Behaved

Like a Top College?

Wal-Mart would mount an extensive advertising campaign thatincluded:

Print ads (college catalog)

Internet ads (college Web site) Send salesmen on the road (admission staff)

Invite potential buyers to tour the store (campus visits)

Have previous buyers seek out new customers (alumni recruiters)

Mount a large direct mail campaign (search lists)

Use techniques to get a better product review in ConsumerReports-style publications (U.S. News ratings)


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What Next?

Wal-Marts outreach methods succeed at generating

a very high demand for its product.

But,

It turns out that all along Wal-Mart only had enough productto sell to 1/3 of potential buyers.

Not only that, but Wal-Mart will decide who will be allowed

to make a purchase. Roles are reversed. Wal-Mart

becomes the buyer. The customer must now submit an

application to sell himself.


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And Next

Excited by all the Wal-Mart advertising, the

potential customer wants to judge how he

compares to others who are also interested in

being selected, and asks,

What criteria do you use to choose those who will

be allowed to buyyour product?

At this point,Mr. Walton responds, It depends.


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Welcome to the Admission Process at the

Top Colleges

The current demand for a high quality college education results

in the top schools becoming selective. They get to selectwho

will be able to purchase their educational product.

If the student is striving to go to one of these colleges, it is

important to understand this relationship between supply and

demand.


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Supply and Demand

Supply is steady.

While there are many more students seeking to attend college,the number of openings has remained about the same.

Demand is growing overall.

The number of high school grads has never been higher. Now exceeds 3,000,000

The percent going to college is increasing.

From 45% to nearly 60% since 1980s

The increase in demand is greatest for students wanting to attend agood school.

Yet, of20004-year colleges, only about 500 select fewer than 3 of4applicants.


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Perhaps this is the problem:

Its hard for kids to get into colleges because

they only want to go to colleges that are hard

to get into.


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What to Do

When you are among a great many who want to

purchase the education of a top college, it pays

to know its selection standards.

This knowledge can help in 2 ways:

It can help you prepare, both inside and outside the

classroom, to meet those standards

Courses, grades Achievements, activities

It can help you make a realistic college list


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Life Isnt Easy in Admissions

While admission offices make it hard on

themselves because of their drive to generate

more applications, it does create a problem.

There are more and more students to

evaluate, but it is increasingly hard to choose

among them.


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Consider:

There is academic Bunching

Increased enrollment in hard courses

Honors, Advanced Placement,International Baccalaureate

College courses in high school, summer enrichment

Distinctions are blurred

Grade inflation (3.4 average h.s. GPA)

Multiple valedictorians, other honors

SAT recentering, take the highest score, subject tests, ACT

strategy Test prep courses


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And

There is personal Polishing

Students are more savvy about building a resume

with activities and accomplishments, strategizing the

essay, using summer for extra college prep

High schools feel the pressure -- reluctant to lessen

student chances inflation in teacher and counselor

recs


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To Complicate Matters Further ..

College admission offices have a split personality They are a meritocracy

Admit the best

They also practice institutional engineering Admit to meet other objectives

The result is not one, but two admissions processes at topcolleges One for regular applicants

One for special applicants

This is where confusion increases and predictability decreases.


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WhatTo Do

The most common reason a good student does not get admittedto a top college is that he is in the Regularcategory and doesntrealize the admission standards for him are well above thepublished averages.

In fact, there may not be that many average admits.

A public university 700 SAT out-of-state,500 SAT in-state

In making college list, and estimating chances, important to knowifyou are a RegularorSpecial.


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Special Categories

The 4 most common Special categories are:

Listed athlete (+30%)

Underrepresented minority(where not restricted by

legislation)(+28%) Legacy(+20%)

Early applicant (+20%)

One that is growing in popularity: Disadvantaged, low income, first generation college


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Other Special Categories

These tend to vary a great deal by institution.

In-state, out-of-state

Expressed interest

Special institutional need female engineer, cello

player, Latin scholar

Donors and other forms of service

Misc president and trustee lists, faculty child,etc


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Special Categories

Examples: Level 1

Recruited Division I Athletes

Level II

Affirmative action minorities (depending)

Non-scholarship athletes

State residents for publics

Level III

Legacies

Early Decision

Low income, disadvantaged background (may be level II)

Special institutional needs not formal classics, dancer, tuba

Donors, Presidents list (may be level II)

Faculty children Level IV

Geography

Expressed interest

Other: sib enrolled, full pay


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Special Strategies

Minority-- find out if they give a preference

Legacy-- apply to college parents attended(Check grad school, grandparents, service)

Athlete apply to colleges where you will be

listed by coach

Apply early E.D., E.A.

Disadvantaged ask admission rep

Other--


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College List Making Advice

Regular compare yourself to the top 75% of

the academic profile

Special

Minority: 25th - 50th percentile

Listed athlete: the coach will tell you what your

chances are. Div I and II scholarship athletes

have minimum standards. Legacy and E.D.: 40th - 50th percentile


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An Admission Exercise

Top colleges rate applicants on academic

and personal scales.

Because they have to sort through so many

apps, they use a number system.

Assume you are an admission officer and you

are rating your student.

This system is 1(low) to 8 (high) on bothacademic and personal.


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ACADEMIC RATING TABLE

Average GPA Rank SAT ACT Acad

Awards

Courses

8 A+ 4.0 up 1-2% 750-800 35-36 Intern/National

IB or

All AP

7 A 3.9 3-5% 710-740 33-34 Region 4 AP

6 A- 3.7-3.8 6-9% 680-700 31-32 State 3 AP

5 B+ 3.5-3.6 10-15% 650-670 29-30 County 1,2 APHonors

4 B/B- 3.1-3.4 20% 600-640 26-28 School Honors

3 C+ 2.5-3.0 25% 550-590 23-25 None All Pre-College

2 C 2.4-2.8 33% 480-540 20-22 None SomePre-Coll

1 C- 2.0-2.3 Top 1/2 400-470 16-19 None Routine


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Personal Ratings

The personal rating assigned to an applicant is based on acombination of attributes in different areas. They typicallyinclude:

Achievement

Talent

Leadership/positions of responsibility

How you are revealed in the application Service to others

Overcoming obstacles

Personal attributes

Personal attributes primarily come from school and teacher

reports and required interviews.T

he categories are:Respect accorded by faculty, class participation, academic achievement,intellectual promise, writing quality, creativity, work habits, maturity,motivation, leadership, integrity, reaction to setbacks, concern for others,self-confidence, initiative, and independence


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PERSONAL RATINGS

8Achievement/Talent/Leadership: International, national/ rare talent/ extraordinary leader

Personal Characteristics: One of few in career. Essay: will appear in How toWrite Essays book

Service/Obstacles: Extraordinary contribution, major effect/ overcame severe obstacles

7Achievement/Talent/Leadership: Regional, state/ unusual talent/ very strong leader

Personal Characteristics: Outstanding, top 5% Essay: passed around admission office

Service/Obstacles: Significant role in important service/ quite difficult road

6Achievement/Talent/Leadership: County, league-wide/ strong talent/ admirable leadership qualities

Personal Characteristics: Excellent. Top 10% Essay: impresses reader

Service/Obstacles: Well beyond typical service/ some obstacles

5

Achievement/Talent/Leadership: Major school/ above average talent/ solid leader

Personal Characteristics: Very goodE

ssay: adds to applicationService/Obstacles: Well meaning contribution/ none

4Achievement/Talent/Leadership: Minor school, good class/ typical talent/ occasional leader

Personal Characteristics: Good Essay: typical

Service/Obstacles: Typical contribution/ none

3Achievement/Talent/Leadership:Average class/minor talent/ minor roles at best

Personal Characteristics:Average Essay: fair

Service/Obstacles: Only whats required/ none

2Achievement/Talent/Leadership: Nothing stands out

Personal Characteristics: Below average Essay: doesnt add anything

Service/Obstacles: none/ none

1Achievement/Talent/Leadership: None

Personal Characteristics: Some questions Essay: negative impression

Service/Obstacles: none/ none


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Acad

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

1

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

8

PERSONAL/ACADEMIC COMBINED

Personal


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14 HYP, Stanford,MIT, Cal Tech

13 Columbia, Brown, Dartmouth, Penn, Duke,Wash U, Rice, Amherst,Williams

12 UVA,William & Mary, Cal,UCLA,USC, Cornell, JHU, NW, Vandy, ND,Gtwn, Claremont-McKenna,Middlebury, Carleton,Wesleyan, Haverford,

Chicago,Emory, Carnegie-Mellon, Bowdoin, Vassar, Davidson,W&L

11 Michigan,UNC,Maryland,Wake Forest, BC, NYU, GW, Colgate, Oberlin,Colby, Hamilton, Bates, Bucknell, Trinity, Richmond, Conn College

10 SUNY Binghamton,Wisconsin,Illinois, F&M, TCNJ, RPI, American,Villanova, BU, Smith, Holy Cross, Stevens, Lafayette, Gettysburg,Union

9 UConn, Rutgers, Ohio State, Penn State, Delaware, Syracuse, Loyola,Northeastern, Fordham, Providence, Fairfield, Skidmore, Babson

8 SUNY Buffalo,Minnesota, Rowan, Clark,Ithaca, Quinnipiac, Drew, StLawrence, VMI, BYU, St Lawrence,Wooster

7 St Josephs, Vermont,UNH,UMass, Catholic, Susquehanna, Clarkson, NJTech, Hofstra, Purdue, Colorado

6 Minimally competitive


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Specials

The rating system is a constant. Thedefinition of an Academic 6 or a Personal 5

does not change.

What does change is who, at a given rating,gets admitted, and who doesnt.

Strong specials, i.e. minorities and athletes

might move up 2 levels, legacy and E.D. 1

level. (For example, a listed 10 athlete has a chanceat a 12 college.)


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HowTo Improve Your Chances

Make a realistic list,3-5-2. Be enthusiastic about match schools.

Take good courses

Plan test taking strategy, including ACT

Add colleges where you might be a Special

Look at personal side. Avoid resume fillers, try to distinguishyourself. The 2 strong profile is appealing.

Pay attention to teacher recs, essay, evaluative interview

Below top level expressed interest can be important

Essay answer the question, make it about you, show attractivequality, endearing flaw better than bragging, something you careabout


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Conclusion

Plan ahead to present the best version of who youare, not a makeover. Look for polish, not plasticsurgery.

Dont try to become a different person for the sakeof college admission.

Have a number of strike zone colleges that you willbe pleased to attend.

Finding a college that fulfills your academic potential

and is a good fit personally is more important thenattending the better school.

Documents

Princeton Inside the Admission Office April 07