By David W. Clark, Ed.M.

All college admission departments divide the detailed information submitted by an applicant into three categories of importance:

Essentials

• single most important:   quality of your high school program,
• the best predictor of college grades: high school grades
• the first filter for approximately 75% of colleges in America today: SATs or ACTs.
• what about test-optional colleges? Puts a clearer focus on other pieces of admissions information.

Nice to have

• A wide array of items including community service, application essays and letters of reference from classroom teachers.
• a truth: Strength in this category will not overcome weakness in the essentials.

Tiebreakers

• Something about you that gets the admissions committee’s attention; helps you differentiate yourself from other applicants. Are you a legacy? Do you bring something special to the school-an elite skill that says something about you? Do you offer regional diversity or ethnic/racial/income diversity? Are you an elite athlete?
• a question: Has this category been eliminated in the wake of the recent college admissions scandal?  Perhaps, but there is no way of knowing. Remember this, the non-public colleges/universities in America are under no obligation to accept or reject anyone. They can do what they wish.

Next week’s VISTA. today college admissions posting? College admissions and the elite athlete.

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David W. Clark, Ed.M., is an independent college admission consultant with offices in Paoli and Ardmore who has been working with high school students for more than thirty-five years. His website www.collegesearchnow.net is worth visiting and he can be reached there or by calling 610-304-7119.

Mr. Clark is a full member of the Pennsylvania Association of College Admissions Counselors and the Higher Education Consultants Association.