<p>Is your application "chewed" and "digested" by clerical staff before it is actually seen by the adcom? Is the clerical staff involved in the discussions?</p>
<p>By your definition, the “clerical staff” are only handling clerical duties. If people are involved with discussions, then even if they do some of the preparation and intake of the files, they aren’t just support staff.</p>
<p>Many schools actually scan all materials so the adcoms can read multiple files from offsite or thru their laptops.</p>
<p>Most application files have a cover sheet attached summarizing basic data. Whether the committee (as contrasted with one or two readers) looks inside the file depends on what is on the cover sheet, and what the other applicants have to offer that year. Some committees dig deeper than others. But at every college I have heard of, the complete file is read by a minimum of one reader (and usually two) before any action is taken on the application.</p>
<p>I guess if they use an “Academic Index” type of number it would be on that cover sheet, right?</p>
<p>If such a number is used by a particular college, I would expect that to be on the cover sheet or summary card or whatever that college uses.</p>