What's new — and what's not — in college admissions
Admissions officers say some things will never change, but applying to college these days does have a few new wrinkles. Like the move many universities in the U.S. are making away from requiring standardized test scores. Or the states that are short-cutting the application process for top-ranked graduating seniors. Or grade inflation at some high schools, which compromises the reliability of a GPA as a predictor of academic success.
What's Changed
Developments like these are changing the way admissions officers view applicants and, in turn, affecting how students prepare their applications.
Less Testing.The publication Inside Higher Education notes that colleges across the nation, including Creighton University, Evergreen State College, the University of San Francisco, and Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff have made submitting ACT or SAT scores optional. “For undergraduates, the Arizona Board of Regents has decided that we’re not a ‘test-required’ school,” says Chris Mott, director of university admissions at Northern Arizona University. Instead, NAU has a core of 16 standards by which applications are evaluated. “We’re looking for high-aptitude students,” he says. That decision is borne out by a 2013 Institution of Education Sciences study finding that other markers are just as useful as test scores in determining student readiness for college.
Assured Admission. The Education Commission of the States lists several states — among them Arizona, Montana, and Idaho — that offer admission to students who meet certain criteria. In Texas, for one, the top 10 percent of high school students are guaranteed admission to any state school (except UT Austin, which is more selective). Individual schools like South Dakota School of Mines, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, and Tulane also offer assured admission to certain qualifying students.
Grade Inflation. The Education Resources Information Center has noted a rise in grade inflation. Faced with pressure from parents and students who want to show colleges a high GPA and school boards that want to demonstrate academic strength, some high schools are skewing grades upward.
Beyond the Numbers. These findings are slowly leading to more colleges taking a different approach to admissions. These days it’s about more than test scores and grades, says Heather Wofford, Cherokee and Salish, the assistant director of admissions at Oregon State University. “We’ve noticed a more holistic approach to how admissions work,” she says. Admissions professionals might evaluate a prospective student on, say, how she overcame adversity. Another factor, she points out, is how likely the student is to feel comfortable and have a successful academic experience at a particular school, which entails looking at the whole student. “There has to be a mutual fit for the college and the student,” she says.
Oregon State is not alone in taking a closer look at the individual. Brian Sandusky, chief enrollment officer at Ottawa University’s Surprise, Arizona, campus, points out that admission is not always a cut-and-dried decision. “If a prospective student doesn’t meet the criteria, then the application is reviewed by a committee,” he says. “We look at the student’s background, grade trends, personal challenges they may be going through, and whether he or she seems active in the community.” Those students may be accepted on a provisional basis and placed in Ottawa’s Student Success Academy.
Wofford adds that universities have also made changes in how they reach out to students. In addition to site visits and other traditional outreach, colleges are using email, social media, and even texting, while students are turning to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to learn more about the institution. “Colleges are looking to meet students where they’re at,” she explains. “Those pages encapsulate our experiences.”
What Hasn’t Changed
The application review process at many colleges is being affected by these developments. And, in turn, the changes are influencing how students prepare to apply to the college — or colleges — of their choice. Yet, as admissions professionals stress, there are tried-and-true elements of the application process that won’t change anytime soon.
Find Your Fit. While how you get there might be changing, achieving the right fit remains the goal of both applicants and admissions officers. Mott points out that the fit should be social as well as academic and financial. A first-generation college grad himself, Mott understands how Native students may not have family to set expectations about the college experience. He points out that NAU’s Office of Indigenous Student Services offers individualized support, and encourages students to look at schools that have similar programs in place. Oregon State has a Native American Longhouse, which serves as a home away from home for Native students, and Ottawa University offers members of the Ottawa Tribe free room, board, and tuition.
Be Prepared. Another factor that U.S. admissions officials say hasn’t changed is that students need to start preparing for college early. Mott recommends identifying potential colleges before senior year. “We see students struggle because they don’t feel they fit,” he says. It will be easier to find that fit by researching colleges well before you start the application process.
Wofford recommends that as students get organized, they look to admissions professionals for advice. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions,” she says. “We’re there to help you figure out that process.” She also recommends that students do their homework when it comes to learning terms used by universities so they can be better prepared for both the application and the academic experience. And she says that students could consider online learning. “Not every student can move to Oregon,” says Wofford, “but the e-campus allows for a high-quality educational experience.”
Build Relationships. Even in large universities, students can get a head start on success by building a relationship with their academic advisor, professors, and teaching assistants — they are a built-in resource. Go to office hours, ask good questions, and don’t hesitate to ask for help. Melissa Padfield, interim vice-provost and university registrar at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, recommends that students introduce themselves even before they get to campus. “The best thing a prospective student can do,” she says, “is to contact a student advisor or reach out to their department or program of choice and start to build a relationship.”
Getting In in Canada
Admissions to Canadian institutions differs in some ways. Melanie Howard, director of Aboriginal Access to Engineering at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, says, “Education is a province-by-province affair here in Canada, so requirements can vary.” For example, Canadian universities don’t require ACT or SAT testing for Canadian citizens, but Howard points out that some colleges may require American citizens to provide those scores.
“Admissions at the University of Alberta has largely stayed the same,” says Melissa Padfield, interim vice-provost and university registrar at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. “However, we see more programs looking to expand admissions practices to be more culturally inclusive, where possible.” While the University of Alberta has a competitive admissions process based on course requirements and GPA, they do emphasize diversity, equity, and inclusion and offer a Transition Year Program, where admission criteria are more flexible. “The TYP is a university access program for Indigenous students who may not be prepared to enter a faculty through the regular admissions route,” Padfield says. “It offers extended support in the first year of studies.”
And just as in the U.S., Padfield emphasizes early preparation. “In the end it is your educational pathway,” she says. “By taking a lead, finding out who can help support you, and getting clear about the expectations, you will set yourself up for success.”
