Admission factors listed in the CDS may be rated by the college as very important (counted here as 3), important (counted here as 2), considered (counted here as 1), or not considered (counted here as 0). Some do not fill in the ratings (listed here as unknown / Unk). The average / Avg is the average of ratings other than the unknown ones.
For all colleges and universities:
Factor VI=3 I=2 C=1 NC=0 Unk Avg
HS course rigor 52.10% 15.60% 8.70% 7.30% 16.10% 2.34
HS GPA 63.00% 11.80% 4.30% 1.00% 19.70% 2.70
Standardized tests 47.50% 19.50% 13.10% 3.80% 15.80% 2.31
Class rank 16.30% 19.90% 21.40% 24.10% 18.10% 1.34
Recommendations 14.20% 23.30% 29.10% 16.80% 16.40% 1.41
Essay 15.40% 22.20% 24.10% 21.30% 16.90% 1.38
Interview 6.10% 13.10% 31.70% 31.90% 17.00% 0.91
Level of interest 6.00% 10.50% 27.80% 31.80% 23.70% 0.87
Extracurriculars 3.60% 21.90% 35.40% 21.80% 17.00% 1.08
Volunteer work 1.10% 10.70% 41.70% 27.50% 18.80% 0.82
Particular talent 6.20% 16.90% 37.50% 22.20% 17.00% 1.08
Character/personal 13.90% 15.40% 29.20% 22.60% 18.60% 1.25
First gen to college 0.50% 3.30% 30.30% 42.20% 23.50% 0.50
State residency 0.70% 2.20% 15.20% 64.60% 17.10% 0.26
Geographic residence 0.40% 1.70% 21.50% 57.30% 18.90% 0.32
Legacy 0.30% 3.80% 39.60% 39.10% 17.00% 0.58
Religion 5.70% 2.20% 6.10% 68.90% 16.90% 0.33
Race/ethnicity 0.10% 1.70% 18.00% 62.80% 17.20% 0.26
Work experience 0.50% 5.40% 42.80% 32.30% 18.80% 0.68
Following posts will give similar tables for subsets of interest.
For public colleges and universities:
Factor VI=3 I=2 C=1 NC=0 Unk Avg
HS course rigor 60.90% 13.80% 6.70% 10.40% 8.00% 2.36
HS GPA 74.00% 9.40% 3.80% 1.10% 11.40% 2.76
Standardized tests 67.60% 15.90% 6.70% 1.80% 7.70% 2.62
Class rank 27.10% 15.90% 17.80% 30.30% 8.70% 1.43
Recommendations 4.20% 12.70% 37.70% 36.50% 8.70% 0.83
Essay 7.40% 17.00% 29.90% 37.20% 8.40% 0.94
Interview 1.00% 1.50% 23.70% 64.40% 9.20% 0.32
Level of interest 2.30% 4.70% 21.70% 55.50% 15.60% 0.45
Extracurriculars 2.50% 10.60% 42.50% 35.60% 8.50% 0.78
Volunteer work 0.80% 5.70% 39.70% 44.70% 8.90% 0.58
Particular talent 2.80% 12.20% 42.20% 33.60% 8.90% 0.82
Character/personal 3.10% 7.40% 37.50% 42.20% 9.50% 0.68
First gen to college 0.50% 4.80% 29.60% 51.10% 13.80% 0.47
State residency 2.30% 5.80% 24.70% 58.50% 8.40% 0.47
Geographic residence 0.80% 3.10% 27.40% 59.40% 9.00% 0.40
Legacy 0.10% 1.10% 29.10% 60.90% 8.50% 0.34
Religion 0.00% 0.00% 0.50% 90.70% 8.70% 0.00
Race/ethnicity 0.30% 1.10% 15.90% 73.50% 8.90% 0.21
Work experience 0.30% 4.50% 37.80% 48.10% 9.00% 0.52
For private non-profit colleges and universities:
Factor VI=3 I=2 C=1 NC=0 Unk Avg
HS course rigor 54.80% 18.10% 10.30% 4.80% 11.80% 2.39
HS GPA 66.90% 12.80% 4.00% 0.70% 15.30% 2.72
Standardized tests 44.50% 23.50% 16.00% 4.40% 11.40% 2.22
Class rank 13.50% 25.40% 26.10% 20.40% 14.30% 1.37
Recommendations 21.00% 32.20% 28.40% 6.60% 11.50% 1.76
Essay 20.80% 27.80% 24.90% 13.80% 12.40% 1.63
Interview 7.50% 18.40% 40.50% 21.20% 12.20% 1.14
Level of interest 7.50% 14.40% 35.30% 23.30% 19.20% 1.07
Extracurriculars 4.80% 31.00% 36.90% 14.60% 12.30% 1.29
Volunteer work 1.40% 14.90% 48.80% 19.40% 15.10% 0.98
Particular talent 8.10% 21.80% 40.30% 17.00% 12.50% 1.24
Character/personal 21.20% 21.80% 29.00% 13.40% 14.40% 1.59
First gen to college 0.60% 3.20% 35.90% 40.60% 19.50% 0.55
State residency 0.10% 0.90% 13.20% 73.00% 12.60% 0.17
Geographic residence 0.30% 1.30% 22.40% 60.60% 15.10% 0.30
Legacy 0.40% 5.80% 51.10% 30.00% 12.40% 0.73
Religion 9.60% 3.70% 10.00% 64.40% 12.10% 0.52
Race/ethnicity 0.00% 2.30% 22.20% 62.70% 12.50% 0.31
Work experience 0.80% 6.60% 50.20% 27.10% 15.00% 0.77
For private for-profit colleges and universities:
Factor VI=3 I=2 C=1 NC=0 Unk Avg
HS course rigor 14.70% 7.30% 5.50% 12.90% 59.40% 1.59
HS GPA 12.90% 12.90% 7.30% 2.70% 64.00% 2.00
Standardized tests 11.00% 7.80% 15.20% 6.40% 59.40% 1.57
Class rank 2.70% 0.90% 5.50% 28.10% 62.60% 0.41
Recommendations 4.10% 3.20% 10.10% 20.20% 62.20% 0.76
Essay 7.30% 5.90% 4.10% 20.20% 62.20% 1.01
Interview 11.90% 15.60% 5.90% 4.10% 62.20% 1.93
Level of interest 7.30% 5.00% 3.60% 15.20% 68.60% 1.14
Extracurriculars 0.40% 2.70% 8.70% 24.80% 63.10% 0.42
Volunteer work 0.00% 1.30% 8.70% 25.80% 64.00% 0.32
Particular talent 5.00% 2.70% 9.60% 20.70% 61.70% 0.79
Character/personal 3.20% 2.70% 8.70% 21.10% 64.00% 0.66
First gen to college 0.00% 0.00% 1.80% 28.50% 69.50% 0.06
State residency 0.00% 0.00% 0.90% 35.90% 63.10% 0.02
Geographic residence 0.00% 0.00% 1.30% 34.50% 64.00% 0.03
Legacy 0.00% 0.00% 5.50% 31.30% 63.10% 0.15
Religion 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 36.80% 63.10% 0.00
Race/ethnicity 0.00% 0.00% 0.40% 35.90% 63.50% 0.01
Work experience 0.00% 0.90% 16.10% 18.80% 64.00% 0.50
For USNWR top 25 national universities:
Factor VI=3 I=2 C=1 NC=0 Unk Avg
HS course rigor 92.00% 4.00% 4.00% 0.00% 0.00% 2.88
HS GPA 80.00% 16.00% 4.00% 0.00% 0.00% 2.76
Standardized tests 80.00% 16.00% 4.00% 0.00% 0.00% 2.76
Class rank 48.00% 24.00% 16.00% 12.00% 0.00% 2.08
Recommendations 68.00% 20.00% 4.00% 8.00% 0.00% 2.48
Essay 76.00% 20.00% 4.00% 0.00% 0.00% 2.72
Interview 0.00% 16.00% 68.00% 16.00% 0.00% 1.00
Level of interest 0.00% 8.00% 28.00% 64.00% 0.00% 0.44
Extracurriculars 40.00% 56.00% 4.00% 0.00% 0.00% 2.36
Volunteer work 4.00% 32.00% 64.00% 0.00% 0.00% 1.40
Particular talent 44.00% 44.00% 8.00% 4.00% 0.00% 2.28
Character/personal 72.00% 16.00% 12.00% 0.00% 0.00% 2.60
First gen to college 4.00% 4.00% 92.00% 0.00% 0.00% 1.12
State residency 0.00% 0.00% 44.00% 56.00% 0.00% 0.44
Geographic residence 0.00% 0.00% 72.00% 28.00% 0.00% 0.72
Legacy 0.00% 8.00% 80.00% 12.00% 0.00% 0.96
Religion 0.00% 0.00% 8.00% 92.00% 0.00% 0.08
Race/ethnicity 0.00% 4.00% 88.00% 8.00% 0.00% 0.96
Work experience 4.00% 12.00% 80.00% 4.00% 0.00% 1.16
For USNWR top 26 national liberal arts colleges (#25 has a two way tie):
Factor VI=3 I=2 C=1 NC=0 Unk Avg
HS course rigor 100.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 3.00
HS GPA 84.60% 11.50% 3.80% 0.00% 0.00% 2.80
Standardized tests 26.90% 61.50% 11.50% 0.00% 0.00% 2.15
Class rank 53.80% 38.40% 7.60% 0.00% 0.00% 2.46
Recommendations 65.30% 34.60% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 2.65
Essay 42.30% 53.80% 3.80% 0.00% 0.00% 2.38
Interview 3.80% 19.20% 61.50% 15.30% 0.00% 1.11
Level of interest 3.80% 11.50% 42.30% 38.40% 3.80% 0.80
Extracurriculars 42.30% 53.80% 3.80% 0.00% 0.00% 2.38
Volunteer work 3.80% 19.20% 73.00% 3.80% 0.00% 1.23
Particular talent 26.90% 61.50% 11.50% 0.00% 0.00% 2.15
Character/personal 69.20% 26.90% 3.80% 0.00% 0.00% 2.65
First gen to college 3.80% 15.30% 76.90% 0.00% 3.80% 1.24
State residency 0.00% 3.80% 38.40% 57.60% 0.00% 0.46
Geographic residence 0.00% 7.60% 76.90% 15.30% 0.00% 0.92
Legacy 0.00% 11.50% 80.70% 7.60% 0.00% 1.03
Religion 0.00% 0.00% 3.80% 96.10% 0.00% 0.03
Race/ethnicity 0.00% 23.00% 69.20% 7.60% 0.00% 1.15
Work experience 0.00% 11.50% 80.70% 7.60% 0.00% 1.03
What is the distinction between state residency and geographic residence? Is that a domestic v international thing?
Here’s evidence that race is a significant factor for top colleges (last OP post), as important as things like interview and legacy status.
The tables comparing the top 25 National Universities and the top 26 LACs clearly reflects the standardized test optional admissions option of some LACs.
@Hoggirl Good question.
Perhaps private schools or public magnets that are in a wealthy area and applicant comes in from a different city ot town with different characteristics.
Or magnet school in a lower ses area and student is from a town that is noted as wealthier perhaps?
Or boarding schools. Live one place, school in another ?
The CDS definitions have “Geographical residence (as admission factor): Special consideration in the admission process given to students from a particular region, state, or country of residence.” However, there is no CDS definition for state residency. The most obvious definition of state residency would be a special case of geographical residence (i.e. concerned only whether the applicant resides in a particular state, as opposed to region or country).
What is more noticeable among the top 25 lists is the greater importance of basically all factors other than the basic academic stats that are generally considered important to very important by a wide range of colleges and universities.
Whereas, for all colleges and universities, only HS rigor, HS GPA, and standardized tests have average scores >= 2.00 (and class rank is the only other factor with average score >= 1.00), the top 25 lists add class rank, recommendations, essay, extracurriculars, particular talent, and character/personal to the list of factors with average scores >= 2.00. Note that several of these are essentially opaque to most applicants, in that they (and most who assist them) have no idea how (for example) their recommendations and essays compare to the rest of the applicant pools at highly selective colleges and universities.
Legacy and race/ethnicity also get more important than at colleges and universities overall, but not as important as the numerous other factors, including the opaque ones. But most people ignore the opaque ones and focus only the visible easily-known easily-comparable ones (including legacy and race/ethnicity).
@ucbalumnus also made me think that in a pool where so many students have comparable scores, GPA, EC’s etc. the easily compatible factors like legacy, race/ethnicity while listed as less important over all, might act as the tipping points. Once a candidate checks all of the boxes and proves themselves a worthy candidate, those smaller factors might end up ultimately acting as deciding factors. Just as being full pay can be an advantage (wasn’t listed in the stats but several colleges have admitted it is indeed a factor they are forced to consider.)
The data point that surprises me the most is the how much the recommendations matter for the USNWR top 26 national liberal arts colleges. Recommendations are above standardized test scores, class rank, ECs, and the student’s essay. The one thing students normally don’t see in the college application process being ranked that high? Wow…
Re: #11
Indeed, the importance of recommendations in the top 25 lists is probably the biggest “appears random to the applicant” factor. Consider:
A. Applicant usually does not see the recommendation.
B. Applicant (or anyone else, including the recommender) does not know how good the recommender’s recommendations are, compared to those of other recommenders for the same quality of student.
C. Applicant (or anyone else, including the recommender) has no way of comparing the recommendation to those of others in the applicant pool.
Now, there may be exceptions at prep schools with privileged connections to the colleges, where dedicated college counselors can know C and train teachers to improve recommendation quality for B.
But that does not apply to most students and schools, so most applicants and other outsiders will rely only on visible and easily comparable factors like stats (particularly test scores), legacy, and race/ethnicity, ignoring the “appears random to the applicant” factors like recommendations (and essay, etc.).
Another opaque/subjective one is “character/personal” - ripe for bias and/or different interpretations. Are introverts biased against? How do the colleges gleam this from college app? LOR and/or interview, I guess.
Note that “character/personal qualities” does not have a specific definition in the CDS definitions section.
Keep in mind there is no oversight on the Common Data Sets (it would be difficult and expensive to do). Legacy status ranks low in all these charts, but we all know it can be a HUGE hook.