Gaining admission to a college or university doesn’t depend on any single factor. A student’s grades, test scores, extracurricular activities, or personal statement likely won’t make or break their application in isolation because colleges and universities typically employ a “holistic” evaluation process to determine whom to admit. That is, they evaluate applicants as a whole instead of on a single quality. Understanding how this process usually plays out can help a student position themselves well to gain admission to the school of their dreams.
Can You Do the Work?
At the core of a student’s application lie their grades and the rigor of their coursework. Indeed, the most recent survey of colleges belonging to the National Association for College Admission Counseling reveals that 74.1% of colleges consider high school grades of “considerable importance” (the highest level on the survey) in their admissions decisions. Just behind grades comes strength of high school curriculum, with 63.8% of colleges surveyed indicating it, too, is of “considerable importance” in their decision-making process. This result makes sense since colleges and universities want to accept applicants who can keep up with college-level coursework.
What if a student doesn’t feel their high school transcript truly reflects their abilities? Competitive standardized test scores can help. In fact, one recent Dartmouth study found standardized test scores a better predictor of academic success in college than high school transcripts.
And if a student doesn’t have a near-perfect score on the ACT or the SAT? Fortunately, what constitutes a “competitive” standardized test score largely depends on the school(s) to which a student is applying. For example, a student applying last year to University of Illinois Chicago’s Liberal Arts and Sciences college with a 30 on the ACT would be in the 75thpercentile among that school’s applicant pool, likely giving their chances of admissions a boost. If that same student applied to Northwestern University, their ACT score would fall below the 25th percentile among that school’s applicant pool, probably not affording them any advantage.
What Will You Contribute Outside the Classroom?
A strong academic foundation may not be enough to gain acceptance to a school. Particularly when it comes to highly selective colleges and universities, it is likely that many or even most applicants possess impressive scholastic backgrounds. If a student only highlights their academic credentials, it is more likely their application will end up on the LMO pile, a shorthand some admissions officers use to indicate that a given application is “Like Many Others.” A student will increase their chances of being admitted if they can stand out outside the realm of academics.
Admissions officers want not only to know whether an applicant can do the classwork but also how an applicant will contribute to life on campus. After all, admissions teams seek to build vibrant, well-rounded communities on their campuses—not just societies of scholars. So, character and interests can assume vital importance in the admissions process. For example, a student’s position as leader of an investment club or baritone in the school choir may be the deciding factor in a school’s decision to grant them admission; their high school transcript full of straight As and Bs might just be a prerequisite for consideration.
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How can a student communicate their character and interests? In any number of ways, but primarily through extracurricular activities, summer jobs and activities, the college essay, and letters of recommendation.
More is not necessarily better in this regard; admissions officers usually value depth over breadth. So, if a student can find their niche and commit to it, they will often end up better off for it. An application with a cohesive theme—whether it be champion of animal rights, dedicated bassoonist, or pickleball extraordinaire—is more likely to leave an impression on admissions officers (who, by the way, have an average of six minutes or fewer to read an applicant’s entire file).
In a Nutshell
Most colleges and universities evaluate applicants wholistically, meaning no single factor usually makes or breaks an application. Many admissions officers regard a strong academic record as a prerequisite for an impressive application. However, a demonstrated ability to complete college-level coursework may not be sufficient to gain admission to a school; colleges and universities are also concerned with the contribution a student will make outside the classroom. Students can and should demonstrate their character and interests in their applications and will often be better off if they can do so in a cohesive, unified manner.