Applying to college? You may have thought once or twice about who is on the other side of the college admissions process and what they're thinking about when they read applications. Today, we'll answer common questions students (and parents) have about college admissions officers, who they are, what they think, and how this valuable insight can help you craft a strong application.
A college admissions officer, also referred to as an admission reader, is an individual who works in a college's admissions office. One of their main responsibilities is to review college applications and determine who is a good fit for their institution.
Many students imagine an admissions counselor as a very distinguished person who sits behind a big, beautiful mahogany desk, making grand decisions. The truth is, these are very real, average individuals who, in some cases, are not much older than the very students submitting applications.
The responsibilities of a college admissions officer vary from school to school, but typically their duties include:
In short, a college admissions officer (not to be confused with a college counselor) is both an evaluator and advocate, working to ensure the relationship between a college and a student is a successful one.
It's natural for students to wonder who's on the other side of the college admissions process. That curiosity often comes from fear, fear of rejection for some, and fear of not being perfect for others. But here's the truth: there's no such thing as the perfect applicant. Every admissions officer reads applications differently, every college has different priorities, and every student is unique. Instead of focusing on perfection, students should focus on presenting the best version of themselves.
Is this student academically ready for college? Not only are admissions officers evaluating if a student meets academic requirements, but they're also evaluating how a student explores their intellectual curiosity. If students are concerned that their grades and test scores aren't perfect, they shouldn't panic. Context matters, in life and in college admissions.
Remember that local outreach responsibility we discussed in the last section? Admissions officers are expected to consider the context of a student's environment when evaluating them academically:
As a student building out their academic transcript or selecting courses each year, consider these questions as you make your decisions.
Admissions officers also ask: What does this student do outside of the classroom? After transitioning to college, students are surprised to learn that they spend very little time in the actual classroom. Students will spend much of their time studying or engaging in extracurriculars on campus. That's why admissions officers aren't just evaluating how many extracurriculars you've explored; they're more concerned with the quality of them.
Admissions officers are usually looking for depth, commitment, and impact.
Admissions officers are looking for certain patterns to learn more about your character and the contribution you may make on campus.
A college application without personality is incomplete. It's important to put your soul into your application and share with admissions readers who you authentically are. Grades and test scores do not speak to the type of person you are. Extracurriculars, essays, teacher recommendations, and interviews help reveal your character and how you contribute to the community around you.
Why is this important? Colleges want to invite students on campus who will contribute to their growing community and help them create a welcoming environment for everyone.
The main way admissions officers evaluate personal qualities is through the Personal Statement and supplemental essay questions. In fact, as you start to research colleges, pay close attention to the types of questions a college asks in its supplemental essay prompts.
For many years, the University of Chicago asked students to write a letter to their future roommate as part of their supplemental essay questions. A bizarre request, don't you think? More recently, the college asked students to answer this question:
"How does the University of Chicago, as you know it now, satisfy your desire for a particular kind of learning, community, and future? Please address with some specificity your own wishes and how they relate to UChicago."
Before diving into college essay writing, take some time to reflect on why a college may be asking these questions and what they hope to learn from your answer. By doing this, you'll uncover a key strategy to crafting a strong application.
Just like admissions officers are real people, they're also not naïve. The Common App has made it easier than ever for students to apply to multiple colleges, but as we've already discussed, they have a duty to determine fit before all else.
Readers want to know why you've selected their college and if your goals align with what they can offer. It's not just about determining if a student belongs on their campus; they also need to think about whether a college is the ideal place for that student. Some students have unique ambitions, and others require special care and attention to feel their healthiest. If a college cannot provide the space or resources to accommodate these students, it's not a good fit. These are the things an admissions officer thinks about when evaluating fit.
The admissions process today is the most competitive it has ever been. Many colleges are seeing a record-high number of applications received, which means that admissions officers are reading more applications in less time. How much time do admissions officers spend reading each application? There is no concrete number, but admissions officers will only spend a handful of minutes before moving on to the next application.
This information is important for students to understand. In the short time they can award each application, they aren't looking to judge or criticize the student. They're looking for reasons to say yes.
It can feel intimidating to know you only have mere minutes to "impress" the reader, but with a focus on clarity, authenticity, and reflection, students don't need much time to get their point across.
Admissions officers don't enjoy turning students away, especially when they see how hard a student is trying in high school. Many chose this profession because they have a deep passion for student success and believe in education. Believe us, we have plenty of former admissions officers on staff. Not only have they been in your shoes, but they also recognize how challenging high school and the college admissions process can be for students. So rest assured that admissions officers approach every application with empathy and an open mind.
Related: Is a College Counselor Worth It?
Even strong students can make mistakes in their college applications. A typo here and a missing quotation there. These are small errors that anyone can make because we're all human. However, there are crucial mistakes students can make because they think they can outsmart an admissions officer. Some of those red flags include:
Some students believe they can play the admissions game by telling a reader what they think the reader wants to hear. This is a foolproof way to rejection. Stuffing keywords from a college's mission statement into your supplemental essay response or referencing superficial, easy-to-Google facts about the school doesn't show genuine interest. It shows that you're attempting to be strategic without truly considering if that college is the right place for you.
Instead, take the time to research specific programs, learn more about campus activities, and dig deeper into the campus culture to show admissions readers that you've done the research and still choose them.
Students who look "perfect" on paper are not the individuals admissions officers want to admit. It seems counterintuitive, but a flawless transcript can quickly raise eyebrows and question a student's authenticity.
Not only does this approach not work, but it also takes away from your high school experience. Many students who take this route leave high school with a lot of regret because they didn't have time to explore their passions or discover themselves.
Students should focus on spending as much time in high school discovering their interests and sharing that journey with their readers. This may look like a computer science student who started an after-school painting program for middle school students. It could also look like a student who made the decision not to take that extra Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) course because they felt burnt out during junior year. Through this authenticity, students can leave a genuine impression on the reader.
The short answer: no, absolutely not. Having to deliver bad news is the worst part of any admissions counselor’s job, so they try to avoid it as much as possible. We know how easy it can feel like an admissions officer is out to get you, especially after being redirected (what we call rejections), but they aren't gatekeepers standing in the way of your future.
That said, the college admissions process is competitive. When an application isn't successful or a student is not admitted, it's less about that student "not being good enough" and more to do with the college's priorities for that year or the wider applicant pool.
Admissions readers are human, they care, and they're often rooting for you to succeed.
The college admissions process, although conducted by trained professionals, is not free from human subjectivity. Admissions officers don't have a bias against you personally, but they may read something that brings out an unintentional bias. However, students will be glad to know that colleges have safeguards in place to ensure that the evaluation process is as fair as possible.
No admissions officer is the single decision maker. There are often multiple readers and a hierarchy of individuals that collectively decide who is and is not admitted. This is referred to as a committee review. So, while there is no way of eliminating bias from the process, colleges take precautions to ensure that each student has a fair chance.
The college admissions process can be intimidating, but it helps to remember that admissions officers are not out to reject students. We've outlined the main duties of an admissions officer and cleared up some misconceptions, but that's only one piece of the puzzle. Your job as the student is craft a meaningful college application and give admissions officers a reason to admit you.
If you're early in the college admissions process or applying this year, now is the perfect time to connect with Collegewise and learn more about how we work with students and help them apply to college with less stress and more success. Schedule a free consultation now and get paired with one of our former admissions officers, teachers, and higher education experts.
About Us: With more than twenty-six years of experience, Collegewise counselors and tutors are at the forefront of the ever-evolving admissions landscape. Our work has always centered on you: the student. And just like we’ve always done, we look for ways for you to be your best self - whether it’s in the classroom, in your applications or in the right-fit college environment. Our range of tools include counseling, test prep, academic tutoring, and essay management, all with the support of our proprietary platform, leading to a 4x higher than average admissions rates.