Article Written By: Chase Wilson
Former Admission Counselor, Loyola University Chicago
Admission criteria can vary by college. Some college admission criteria can be strictly based on academics, some are based on how well-rounded a student is, and even who you know. It truly depends on where you decide to apply. The admission criteria can also be very strict or flexible; you may only check some of the boxes of the criteria, but they are still willing to give you a chance. The criteria can also vary depending on if the college you are applying to is public vs. private or a 2-year junior college vs. a 4-year university.
Academic Focus
When thinking about an academic focus of college admission, factors that will weigh on decisions are courses you have taken and the grades you received, class rank (if your school does it), and your scores on the ACT or SAT standardized tests (if the school(s) you are applying to require them).
Well-roundedness
Numerous college admission offices are now focusing their criteria on being a well-rounded student. This means you are involved in and out of the classroom. You are an active participant in class discussions, you have good grades, you have joined clubs and/or sports, and even volunteer around your local community. You may not do everything I just mentioned, but you successfully balance your academics and extracurricular activities. I think the shift to include this in admission requirements is due to this being more realistic with the real world and how people try to live in today’s society; having a work-life balance.
Optional Materials
I wanted to make sure I included a section on optional materials because a lot of colleges are making more of the admission components optional for the applicant to submit. Materials like an essay, resume, and letters of recommendation are becoming more of a choice for applicants. As a past admission counselor of a 4-year private university, I want to let you know that it is best to still include those optional pieces of information if it will help paint a better picture of who you are.
Just as an example, if you only submitted your transcript and none of the optional materials, but you happen to have a huge drop in your grades during a semester or year of school, the admission staff reviewing your application will question what happened to cause that drop, but will not have any evidence to answer that question. If you were to submit an essay explaining the drop in your grades; you had an injury, you were sick, you transferred schools or something to put a reason behind the drop in grades, that would help the staff tremendously in your application review.
Who You Know
Another component of the admissions process that is not too common, but does happen occasionally, is getting assistance or a “good word” put in on your behalf by someone that is connected to the college or is a powerful figure in some aspect that is recognized by the institution. An example of this is being a legacy; a close relative of yours graduated from the school, knowing a high-level employee of the school, or being the family member of a well-respected or famous person that can recommend you be admitted to the institution. Each of these may make your admission process smoother depending on the school you are applying to.
Athletic Advantage
If you are going to a college based on an athletic opportunity or scholarship, this may provide you with a boost in the admission process. Since you are going to the school to play a sport and you have been handpicked to play on the team, that sports program is going to try to make sure that you are admitted formally and join their team without any issues. This can include endorsements, advice from the coaches, lower academic standards/criteria, or an early decision for admission. This is not always the case for student-athletes, but it does happen.
