Who do adcoms compare you with?

Hey CC,

During the first semester, many admissions representatives from different colleges have come to my campus to try and encourage kids to enroll at their schools and to give us some insight into admissions. Most of the college presentations I have gone too have said the same thing in regard to admissions: Students aren’t evaluated against everyone that applies, just those who have gone to my school and in the area. Is this true? I have heard this from the admission reps from USC, UCLA, and Cal Lu. My academic counselor also tells me this.

So when it comes to determining who gets in and doesn’t, are you really compared to the 100k+ kids that apply in total, or just with kids in your area and those in your school?

buuuumppp