<p>I read an article a few days ago that said that in top schools like the Ivy Leagues, there is NO way you can get accepted just by luck. It mentioned how in top school admissions, 25-35 admissions staff would sit around a table and each one would read the same application. Then, they would take a vote and at least 13 of them had to say yes for that person to get accepted, meaning there is no luck because even though 1 out of the 35 lets say is biased against the applicant, he alone cannot get that person in or out.</p>
<p>Is this really how it works? Cause it sure sounds plausible.</p>
<p>Admissions officers don't have enough time to examine each application at a board meeting. What really happens, apparently, is you have a regional admissions officer that looks through your application. If your regional officer thinks you have a shot of getting some votes, he or she will plead your case to the board. The board then, as the original poster mentioned, has the ultimate say in whether or not someone is accepted.</p>
<p>Certainly a vetting system exists. A "first read" is done by two regional reps. Then everyone is sorted to 1) very likely, 2) committee and 3) very unlikely</p>
<p>If any 3)s are otherwise prominent apps (like legacies), they might get a third read by the admissions dean. Otherwise they're gone.</p>
<p>1)s get a few more reads and will either get the nod or will drop down to 2). The 2) pile gets presented to committees.</p>
<p>Obviously there are variations of this but in general, this is how it goes...</p>
<p>An addendum to Greens: I've heard that essays are graded. It's possible that recs are graded too (as in helpful or not helpful -- not necessarily level of support ("My best student in my 40 year career") but useful in an evidentiary sense (arguments supported by anecdotes versus being formulaic))</p>
<p>Contrary to statement in above post, Category 1 does not exist (at least among elite colleges). No students are admitted without coming in front of of the committee, however strong their qualifications. There is simply no way that even a couple of regional reps could decide on their own to admit an applicant. Some very strong applicants may be fast-tracked for a vote but they still get a vote. There would be too much risk of abuse or favoritism otherwise.</p>
<p>cellardweller, great article: thanks for sharing it with us. </p>
<p>However, did I just read it to fast, or was there only one instance where a student's essay was used as a determining factor? Otherwise, the essay seemed to be ignored. And this is at UPenn!!</p>
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Admissions officers don't have enough time to examine each application at a board meeting.
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<p>A Harvard admission officer has said that EVERY name of every student who applied is read in committee. Perhaps that is just to confirm a unanimous agreement not to consider the application further, but every file is considered by more than one admission officer. </p>
However, did I just read it to fast, or was there only one instance where a student's essay was used as a determining factor? Otherwise, the essay seemed to be ignored.
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<p>The article is from 1998...things have changed</p>
<p>Ooh, there was this book that I once read by a lady who worked at admissions. She explained the entire process including the "formula" they use for ranking. The title escapes my mind, but once I remember I'll be sure to post it for you - it was a truly invaluable piece of writing.</p>
<p>Don't expect the essay to be a major factor in committee. The purpose of the esay is to grab the attention of the regional rep so that he/she can be a strong advocate for you when your file comes up in committee.</p>
<p>EVERY college has a different process. While H may send every app to Committee not all Ivies do the same. Others may have the regional rep do the first read, and a second rep do the second read. If both reps recommend strong admit, the app can go directly to the Dean of Admissions for approval. If the Dean approves, that app bypasses full committee.</p>
<p>btw: Which Ivies have 35 reps in Committee?</p>
<p>As Michele Hernandez describes it at Dartmouth (and the Director of Admissions she worked for only recently retired), very few applicants go to a committee. Most are clear admits or rejections after 2-3 readers. The committees are somewhat ad hoc, consisting of 5 or 6 admissions staff.
From what I read, at Brown every applicant goes to committee. As a result there is seldom any discussion, and the regional head effectively makes the call.
Does anyone actually imagine that one large committee talks about each of 20,000 or so applicants?</p>