<p>How does the admissions office make the final decision for acceptance? is it a committee vote, dean of admissions' decision, etc.? If anyone knows, that would be great.</p>
<p>Committees of 4 or 5 people. They read the applications...10 minutes each and then take a majority vote. So don't fill your app. with too much junk.</p>
<p>As stated, there are several small groups of adcoms. Applications are divided largely (if not entirely) by random to each respective group.</p>
<p>IMO, this system highlights the inherent arbitrariness of college admissions. It's certainly possible for your application to be viewed in a better light by one group than it would be by another group.</p>
<p>The real answer:</p>
<p>The application is read once by one's regional representative, and then again by a randomly selected other staff member. The vast majority of files never go into committee; we really only read troublesome or confusing cases in committee, and in that case the committee is with the entire reading staff, around 20 people. Putting more or less "junk" in the file will not effect the committee vote, because the person presenting the file will merely skip over it and get on to the meaningful stuff.</p>
<p>A dean or an associate director does the third read, and signs the decision. Since they are signing thousands of decisions, they have the chance to see across the entire pool, and so one file that seems out of place with the decision it has been given definitely stands out.</p>
<p>It feels good having you here Ms. Pearson.</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>well said robertson. thanks a lot, libby pearson!</p>
<p>That's why I'm here! You're welcome.</p>