A new application season has begun! Students entering 12th grade after this summer should start preparing for Fall 2023 admissions. But how exactly are their application materials reviewed?

 

A. League consultants regularly meet with international admissions officers and continually study evidence-based literature to gain a deep understanding of how universities operate. Here, we share insights into the review processes of several universities.

 

 

Yale University

At Ivy League Yale University, 25 admissions officers first review application files from their respective assigned regions. These files are then exchanged for a second review by admissions officers from other regions. If the primary officer believes additional perspectives and opinions are needed, they consult colleagues for a third or even fourth review. After this process, the application files are submitted to the admissions committee.

 

The committee consists of five members, including admissions officers, the Dean of Admissions, the Dean of Student Affairs, professors, or lecturers. The responsible admissions officer presents case reports to the other committee members. The committee discusses select cases that have been screened. Even if the committee lacks the time to thoroughly review every application file, all admission decisions are collectively made by the committee. An applicant must secure at least four out of five votes to be admitted.

 

After all committee votes are finalized, a review team examines new information submitted by applicants. If the total number of admitted students exceeds the school’s enrollment target, the review team re-evaluates the list. They may identify admitted students who are comparatively weaker and waitlisted students who are stronger, redistributing admission or waitlist offers accordingly.

 

 

University of Pennsylvania

At the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), admissions officers traditionally reviewed all application files from their assigned regions and wrote detailed evaluation reports for the admissions committee, which used these reports to make final admission decisions.

 

However, this method was time-consuming and labor-intensive. Admissions officers struggled to manage the increasing number of applications each year, and working day and night, including weekends, was unsustainable. To address this, the Associate Dean and Director of Admissions at UPenn introduced a new review process in 2013. Under the new method, two admissions officers work together, simultaneously reviewing different parts of the same application on their respective screens. The officer responsible for the applicant's region evaluates academic performance, such as grades, test scores, course selection, and recommendation letters. The second officer focuses on the applicant’s voice and unique talents through essays and interview reports. Together, they discuss the applicant's achievements in the context of their background, such as high school or family circumstances, assign a score, write comments, and recommend either admission or rejection.

 

According to UPenn's Dean of Admissions, this approach reduced the average review time from 12–15 minutes to just 4 minutes. Despite the shorter review time, the method is more analytical due to real-time discussions between officers, which minimizes individual biases and increases efficiency while improving outcomes.

 

Since then, many top universities, such as the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Emory University, and leading liberal arts colleges like Pomona College and Swarthmore College, have adopted UPenn's approach. A 2018 report by the College Board revealed that over 30 universities had implemented this new review process by that year.

 

 

Univeristy of Rochester 

According to a 2018 interview with the Dean of Admissions at the University of Rochester, the first reader spends 20 minutes reviewing all aspects of an applicant's file, including academic records, interests, talents, essays, recommendation letters, and interview reports. While reviewing, the reader writes comments and assigns scores based on 20 evaluation criteria, ultimately marking the application as "admit," "deny," or "waitlist."

 

Next, a second reader spends 10 minutes reviewing the same applicant's file and provides a recommendation based on the evaluation criteria.

 

If both readers agree on admitting the applicant, the decision is finalized, and the applicant is admitted. However, if the two readers have differing recommendations, the file is sent to a committee. In the committee, the two readers present their perspectives, and a third party makes the final decision. Statistics show that 60% of application files are reviewed by the committee.

 

 

Santa Clara Univeristy 

At Santa Clara University, admissions officers spend approximately 20 minutes reviewing each applicant's full file, which includes academic performance, course rigor, extracurricular activities, and test scores. They also evaluate the applicant’s character through essays and recommendation letters, forming an impression and recommending whether to admit, waitlist, or deny the applicant.

 

Next, a committee of five members, led by the Dean, votes on the applicants recommended by the admissions officers. If the number of final recommended admits exceeds the planned enrollment capacity, the committee uses the vote tallies to determine which applicants will receive admission offers.

 

Applicants are evaluated holistically, meaning no single strength guarantees admission. Admissions officers consider all aspects of an applicant’s profile, so even exceptional grades cannot ensure acceptance. However, the one factor that leads to automatic rejection is failure to meet the minimum required scores on English language proficiency tests. Applicants who do not achieve the required minimum scores on the IELTS, TOEFL, or DET are not admitted, regardless of their performance in other areas.

 

It’s also worth noting that, as a private university, Santa Clara favors applicants who apply through Early Decision and do not require financial aid.

 

 

University of California 

The University of California (UC) campuses consistently rank among the top in the nation for the number of applications they receive each year. Since adopting a SAT Test-Blind policy, application numbers have surged dramatically, reaching tens of thousands or even over a hundred thousand. This overwhelming volume is far beyond what even a large team of admissions officers can manage.

 

To address this, UC Berkeley has, for over a decade, hired dozens of external readers during the admissions season to conduct an initial review of all applications. Each reader spends about 8 minutes evaluating an applicant’s materials and assigning preliminary scores. These high-scoring applications are then forwarded to the university’s internal admissions officers for a second review and final decision-making.

 

Given the sheer number of applicants, admissions officers often face challenging constraints. For instance, at UC San Diego, when the number of selected applicants exceeds the university’s enrollment capacity, decisions about who receives an official admission offer versus being placed on the waitlist are sometimes made through a random selection process. 

 

 

While application files are reviewed in just a few minutes amidst intense competition, A. League provides guidance from grades 9 to 12, helping students strategically develop their profiles and accumulate personal achievements over those four years.

 

During the application season, they carefully craft and polish application materials, ensuring that these documents deeply reflect the student’s efforts, growth, and unique qualities. This approach aims to showcase the student’s potential in a way that captures the attention of admissions officers, maximizing their chances of success in such a competitive environment.

 

By combining long-term planning with thoughtful presentation, students can effectively highlight their individuality and make a lasting impression within the brief review time.

 

閱讀中文版文章：送出申請後都發生了什麼事？了解美國大學招生官如何審查入學資料

 

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