Movie Review: Admission

Movie Review:  Admission

Last Friday, my admissions advisory team and I saw the movie, Admission, starring Tina Fey and Paul Rudd.  We enjoyed it!  Based on my experience as a college admissions advisor and discussions with current admissions officers, the scene involving the admissions committee deciding who would be rejected or accepted is quite realistic. 

Admissions officers are talented and committed professionals who make decisions based on a comprehensive and holistic understanding of an applicant and their institution’s mission.  They are committed to expand a diverse applicant pool and review every detail of a student’s application and supportive documents.  It takes an admissions committee sometimes 10 minutes to decide an applicant’s fate – DENY or ACCEPT.

What criteria do admissions officers and committees use to reject or accept applicants?

(1) High School Transcript: Did you take rigorous courses offered by your high school?  (2) High School Grades:  What was your GPA and class rank?  (3) Test scores:  How well did you do on the SAT/ACT?  How do these scores compare to other applicants?  (4) Common Application Personal Statement:  Does the essay reflect your specific qualities, such as intelligence, humor, perspective, a desire to learn and the ability to write well?  (5) Special Talents:  Do you have a special talent that can improve the quality of life on campus?  (6) Extracirricular Activities:  In what activities do you participate in?  For how long and why?  (7) Letters of Recommendation:  Does the person really know you?  (8) Interview:  Do you present yourself to your interviewer as someone who will contribute positively to campus quality of life and the prestige of the university? Do you express a desire to attend the school? Is your knowledge of the university evident? Do you communicate well in person? (9) Diversity:  Are you a member of an affinity group that the college is trying to recruit to enhance on-campus diversity?  (10) Alumni Relation: Are you the relative of an alumnus, particularly, the child of an alumnus?  (11) Geographic Residence:  Are you from a state or country the college is trying to recruit from?  Is there a glut of applicants from your area or your school?  (12) First Generation: Are you the first in your family to go to college?  (13) Campus Visit: Have you made an official campus visit (through the admissions office)?  (14) Being You:  Are you really being you? Are you presenting yourself in a positive, enthusiastic and meaningful light?

College admissions is not formulaic.  It’s not just about numbers and statistics. It’s not about gaming a system.  It’s about students being who they really are, their passions and energy and presenting them in a positive light to a group of experienced, well-informed professionals.  It’s about being you!  This is easier said than done in a society where everyone is encouraged to be “unique” just like everyone else.

Dr. Lowe is President of Pinnacle Educational Center and Managing Director of the Admissions Advisors Group.  He is the lead admissions expert at the Admissions Advisors Group: Woodbridge Admissions Advisors (www.woodbridgeadmissionsadvisors.com) (203) 387-1574 and Greenwich Admissions Advisors (www.greenwichadmissionsadvisors.com) (203) 542-7288, Manhattan Admissions Advisors (www.manhattanadmissionsadvisors.com) (212) 829-4341 and International Admissions Advisors (www.internationaladmissionsadvisors.com).