How Do Colleges Make Their Decisions

Admission officers review academic work and personal experiences outside the classroom.  They look at a transcript to see if a student has gone beyond the requirements, at grade point average and class rank to asses a candidate in the context of the graduating class, plus standardized test scores to evaluate subject specific achievement.  Leadership positions in activities and community projects manifest commitment and garner the attention of an admission committee.  Summer experiences can build personal talent and skill, as well as distinguish a student in a competitive pool of applicants.   But the personal essay on the application tells the real story!  The essay remains the best way for the committee to get a snapshot of a student's mind at work.  Most colleges take a holistic approach to making decisions - seldom does one part of the equation drive an acceptance.