How can we fix the college admissions process?

Here are 10 of their ideas—some easy to implement, others just meant to start a conversation—to reform the status quo.

1. Get rid of rankings.
2. Limit the number of colleges to which students may apply.
3. End preferential treatment for legacy applicants.
4. Stop giving athletes a leg up.
5. Rethink recommendation letters.

What do college admissions officers look for?

Admissions officers look at “hard factors” (GPA, grades, and test scores) and “soft factors” (essays, extracurricular activities, recommendations, and demonstrated interest) to gain a full picture of applicants.

Are college admissions getting harder?

Selective colleges saw an overwhelming increase in the number of applicants. The nation’s most-selective four-year colleges and universities saw a record-breaking 17\% increase in applications this year, according to the Common App. This included both selective public and private schools.

Who decides if you get into college?

Standards are usually based on test scores, GPA, enrollment quotas, and other predetermined criteria. Student applications that move forward then go to committee, where college admissions counselors read applications and determine who gets accepted or rejected.

How do colleges tell you you’re accepted?

These days, most college acceptance letters will arrive as either an email or application status update on a college’s own application portal. Afterward, you’ll usually receive a hard copy of your acceptance letter in the mail and further updates via email or mail.

Is early decision illegal?

Early decision acceptances are not legally binding, but they do reflect a “moral contract” with students, securing peace of mind in securing a spot at their first-choice school in exchange for a commitment that they won’t shop around for other admissions packages.

Should colleges and universities be transparent and fair in their admission process?

Colleges and universities should be transparent and fair in their admissions process and maintain an academic standard in order to ensure fairness for all applicants. Every hardworking student who wants to pursue higher education should have a chance to do so.

Are admissions systems paying attention to race and class?

Ironically, admissions systems that do not pay attention to the nuances of race and class oftentimes defend themselves under the guise of “fairness” or “meritocracy.”

What does the college admissions scandal mean for student athletes?

The admissions scandal also undermines the work of student athletes – many of the families involved fabricated entire athletic profiles in order to legitimize their attendance at the universities, going so far as to photoshop faces onto the bodies of different athletes.

Is college admissions biased against the wealthy?

On top of the scandal, other troubling practices such as legacy admissions and donor preferences remind us that admissions is biased toward the wealthy. Some might also think that getting rid of any recognition of an applicant’s race/ethnicity, so-called “race-neutral” admissions, is a step in the right direction.