News article from The Gavel (CMU Student Government) Shows Admissions Strategy

Colleges and Universities A-Z Carnegie Mellon University
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<p>This was published in The Gavel, the Undergraduate Student Senate newspaper over here at CMU. </p>

<p>The article is not available online, but I've typed up the relevant portions here.</p>

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applications were over 22,000 in '08, and project (sic) to be over 23,000 in '09.

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"about 70% of the people who apply could do the work here", proving that competition for entry into CMU is very high.</p>

<p>With all this competition, Mr. Steidel [Director of Undergraduate Admissions] said that President Cohon advised the Admissions Office to focus on applicants' leadership skills in addition to just test scores. Mr. Steidel went on to say that the admissions officers aim to admit applicants who will "create a well rounded freshman class but are not necessarily well rounded themselves",

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<p>I'm not so sure about the last part (and terrible proofreading on the part of The Gavel, but oh well) but essentially what they're saying is most of the people who apply can get in; it's just that they really, really, need those extra things in there to make the class more interesting. </p>

<p>Whether or whether not you have that thing they want, of course, is about 99% chance.</p>

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<p>-necrobump- Whoa… is this saying… GPA barely matters :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :D</p>

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<p>This is what a few of the parents, alum and current students have already been posting for months…</p>

<p>Eurozn-- wishful thoughts-- bluntly, your logic is way off.</p>

<p>The information means that there’s a gpa threshold…but once that is met-- there’s multiple applicants to accept. The way to separate and make a choice are the ECs – those that make an applicant unique, interesting and future leader on campus and beyond.</p>

<p>You still need the gpa, test scores, rigorous classes…but there will be many many many applicants with those features.</p>

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<p>awwwwwwww :stuck_out_tongue:
I guess I’ll have to panick about my 3.55-3.6 (idk what it is) UW some more… D:</p>