<p>My guess is that at the highly selective schools there is a first big whack, based on SAT scores (below a certain number like 2000 at the Ivies) and woefully incomplete applications. Special preferences applications are pulled out of this group and set aside. Then there is a somewhat finer cut of the pool based on GPAs, once they have been normalized. All of these are now the applications that don’t get read, the immediate rejects. I imagine the goal is to reduce the total applicant population in this initial process by 50-60%. </p>
<p>Then, I think, the preferences (athletes, legacies, URMs, etc,) are gone through, as are the rest of the pool. There is probably some overarching direction guiding the readers as to kind of class the school is trying to shape. </p>
<p>All applications that are deemed serious are read by at least two admission officers. A unanimous decision is required for an admission recommendation. These recommendations are then discussed in a committee with one or more of the readers defending the decision. On close calls, where the readers can’t easily come to a unanimous decison, the application is sent to the Director for a vote.</p>
<p>I imagine the process is quite iterative with a lot of horse trading. </p>
<p>See the link below for a sanitized version of the process art William & Mary.</p>
<p><a href=“http://alumni.wm.edu/magazine/spgsum_2007/pdf/admissions.pdf[/url]”>http://alumni.wm.edu/magazine/spgsum_2007/pdf/admissions.pdf</a></p>