<p>I was talking to a friend today from high school who is applying to colleges this year, and somehow we brought up the issue of who reads the applications. I'm sure it's different people for each of us, since she's a first year and i'm a transfer applicant. Is it just a group of faculty, or do the deans from each school have input, or is it pretty random? I found out that here (VT) groups of faculty are assigned to each school, and an assoc. dean or dean sits over the group, and they pretty much sit around and just debate each one. A little scary =P</p>
<p>They bring in a big group of work study kids to put all numerical data on the applications onto scantron sheets. Then they feed the sheets into a big computer named "Dean Blackburn". Dean spits out a total of about 6,000 names, and those kids get in. It's really a very quick process, and you should get your decision a lot sooner, but Dean J and the other admissions deans are hard at work spending application fees to make their party yacht the best damn yacht in Saint-Tropez.</p>
<p>Hahahah I always enjoy reading your posts, but this one definently hit the spot. I assume you are also up this late doing work for classes, so it's nice to have some humor.
And they don't bring in work study kids. They're paid. They bring in the unpaid interns instead. And without a yatch, what is Dean J and the rest of the admissions gang suppossed to do over the summer when kids are fretting about college, but are waiting until the last minute to hit submit? </p>
<p>Oh, and you forgot their Sunday comics: the essays! =P</p>
<p>Eh, it's a random question, I know. I've just never really explored into it beyond my own pictures in my head of a bunch of colligiate looking adults with Masters and PhDs flowing out of them like water, sitting around at a giant oak table debating between Johnny D and Susie Q, while drinking water out of crystal pitchers.
Like I said, this is why I asked =P</p>
<p>The "draft" model of admission is not used at UVA. The majority of files do not go to "committee".</p>
<p>We all read first year and transfer applications. Files are randomly put in bunches and given to each of us every day. When the first read is done, the folder moves on to a second reader. That ends the first phase. We try to be strict in that first round.</p>
<p>For the second round, we see where we stand and then go back through the students we originally waitlisted to fill in each part of the class. For example, we'll need x00 VA engineers and x00 OOS engineers and so on. We fill in the class with this third review.</p>
<p>Folders go to committee when readers can't agree on a decision or if the file presents and interesting case. The committee is comprised of all readers (no faculty).</p>
<p>I've worked at schools where faculty and other staff have read and served on committee. The process really varies from school to school.</p>