Roadmap to College: What College Admissions Officers Look For

How Do Colleges View the Philosophy of Admissions?

The philosophy of how to build a freshman class varies widely from college to college and sometimes from year to year. For example, if a college needs a football player or an oboist to round out their team or orchestra, and you happen to play that sport or that musical instrument, then you may have a leg up on the competition.

Many colleges post their philosophy of the admissions process on their Web site. When you become interested in a college, you should try to determine what their philosophy is to see if you fit into their parameters. For example, the New York University (NYU) Web site states that NYU is looking to form a “geographically, socially, ethnically and economically diverse” class. It goes on to explain what qualities NYU is looking for in an applicant, including motivation, leadership skills, and compassion. They look at a broad range of indicators from a strong pool of applicants to build an “academically talented” and diverse freshman class.

Rice University has a clearly stated philosophy of what type of student they want to admit. They explain that they use standardized test scores “cautiously” and that they use a “broader perspective” with the goal of “enriching the learning environment at Rice.”

Here’s what our panel of admissions experts tells us regarding the most significant factors they look for in an applicant.

NYU Philosophy:  A large and exceptionally well-qualified applicant pool enables us to enroll a freshman class that is academically talented as well as remarkably diverse. Recognizing that each applicant offers a unique combination of achievements and potential, we carefully consider the entire application. –Excerpt from the NYU Web site

Rice University’s Mission Statement:  We seek a broadly diverse student body where educational diversity increases the intellectual vitality of education, scholarship, service and communal life at Rice . . . We endeavor to craft a residential community that fosters creative, inter-cultural interactions among students, a place where prejudices of all sorts are confronted squarely and dispelled.  –Excerpt from the Rice University Web site

Nancy J. Maly, Director of Admissions, Grinnell College, stresses the following factors:

•  Strong academic preparation for college
• Interest in and understanding of Grinnell College
• Potential to contribute to the institution in meaningful ways
• Interests/activities, both academic and personal, that suggest a potential match with the college

Raymond Lutzky, Director of Outreach, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, looks for:

• Strong performance in high school, particularly in math and science.
• Well-rounded with outside interests/involvement, such as athletics, church involvement, volunteer commitments, student or other civic organizations.
• Entrepreneurial spirit: “Many students have started their own companies before they even enter Rensselaer, such as Karthik Bala ’97, founder of Vicarious Visions, the company that makes Guitar Hero. While most high schools do not teach entrepreneurship, we like to see some interest from the student in commericialization, product design, or running their own small business.”
• Background/diversity brought to the student body: “At Rensselaer, we are looking for students from all walks of life, all socio-economic conditions, all cultures, religions and races. Students with unique backgrounds (everything from an Iowa farm to an Indonesian city) always add to the total Rensselaer community.”

Lauren A. Kay, Assistant Director of Admissions, Indiana University, says,  “The most significant factors are grades and grade trends, the strength of a student’s courses, and test scores.”

Cheryl Brown, Director of Undergraduate Admissions, Binghamton University, State University of New York, says,  “Binghamton uses a holistic approach to reading applications. What this means is that you’re more than just a number and test scores. We look at extracurricular activities, interests and consider other factors. That doesn’t mean that grades and academic performance aren’t important—they are! Binghamton is a top public university and our students’ academic performances reflect that. We admit high achieving, well rounded students, who graduate Binghamton ready to succeed professionally and personally.”