Does Admissions consider how alums from your high school are doing at their college?

College Search & Selection
1

I know from listening to info sessions that most colleges have regional reps who “know” your high school. However, many of the reps for my area seem to be newly hired, recent college graduates. Would they look to see how alums from my high school have done at their college to get a sense of how I might due based on similar stats?

I ask because at one of my top choices, at least two recent grads have transferred or dropped out due to low GPA. Will this affect me? The two students I know about had high GPAs (4.5+), were honored for being in the top 10%, and had okay SAT scores. They were also popular and had ECs like captain of varsity team, class president, etc.

2

If the answer were ‘yes’ what would you do about it? All you can do is make the best possible case for yourself and why you would be a strong candidate for this school.

(And by the way, I’m guessing that the answer is ‘no’ it isn’t relevant. While they may do studies on who drops out or transfers to refine their own admissions criteria or develop better supports for students who are admitted, they are unlikely to hone in on a particular school. Rather they are focusing on the characteristics that might result in a student struggling once they arrive.)

3

Agree, nothing you can do about it. I’d guess that you will be judged on your won merits – but none of us can pretend to know what goes on behind the closed doors of a college admission meeting, and every college approach things differently.

4

This part I agree with

This part I disagree with. AO’s will be aware of a trend of students from a HS underperforming at their college. Whether that ultimately impacts the admissions decision is unknown by the general public. That said, even if true, there is absolutely nothing you can do about it, so block it out of your mind and focus on things that you can affect.

5

Thanks. I appreciate the responses. I guess I am overthinking things. I have ED options at my two top choices. One where alums have struggled a bit and the other where they have been more successful. I just need to make that decision on things I can control. Thanks again.