MYTHS, FACTS, AND NUANCE The answer to this question varies widely; each institution has its own unique set of qualifications it is looking for, and its own way of arriving at a decision. How schools evaluate applications can vary based on factors such as the size of the school, how selective it is, and the institution’s philosophy. Admissions goals can also vary over time, even from year to year, due to changes in administration (a new president or new admissions director, for example) or changes in admissions goals (was the school over- or under-enrolled last year?). Further, admissions goals can even vary within a particular school – state universities may evaluate in-state and out-of-state students based on different standards. Every year, the National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC) conducts a survey asking colleges what factors they consider to be most important in influencing admissions decisions. The results of a recent survey follow.
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WHAT DO COLLEGES LOOK FOR?
