Just as the application process for students is multifaceted, so is the job of the college admissions officers. For you, it is one application, but for the AOs, it is thousands of them. Processing applications is a highly complex process involving multiple steps. If you are wondering what happens after the application has been submitted, this blog will help you visualize the entire process. Here’s what typically happens in the college admission room after applications are submitted:
Phase 1
Processing
The admissions officer staff enters the data into their system. They painstakingly verify all details and components of transcripts, recommendation letters, test scores, etc. They confirm if the applicant has paid the fee or has requested a fee waiver. They are required to go through the documents to verify if the student is eligible for a waiver or not.
Each applicant’s materials are compiled into a digital file. Since applications come from various parts of the world, they coordinate with specific admissions counselors based on geographic regions, high schools, or other factors.
Phase 2
Reading and rating
The admissions offices do an initial read-through of the application. They look for key information, taking into consideration academic achievements, personal qualities, extracurricular involvement, essays, and recommendations. In this phase, the AOs might assign a preliminary rating or score based on certain academic metrics, personal achievements, and other qualitative aspects.
Phase 3
Committee Reviews
The next phase is for the application to go to the committee of admissions, which comprises admissions counselors and also faculty members. The application is further scrutinized, evaluated, and reviewed holistically. Behind closed doors, the committee discusses applicants’ strengths and their potential. They review applications keeping institutional priorities in mind, such as diversity, legacy, and first-generation students, and match applications to the mission and values that the school upholds.
Phase 4
Decision Making
After weeks of going through the applications, it is time for the committee to make the final decisions. They need to decide on who they would admit, defer, waitlist, or deny. Since the aim is to have a well-rounded class, this makes the AOs, job immensely tough. They decide so that the admitted cohort is a balanced mix of students, each coming in with their uniqueness.
Phase 5
Decision Notification: What follows is the routine administrative duties of preparing notification letters and ensuring the appropriate communication regarding their application status is sent to the students.
Waitlist Management: Once the time comes for students to send in their decisions of accept, decline, or defer, the admissions offices are required to monitor the enrollment numbers. If they are falling short of the expected numbers, they activate the waitlist and begin making offers from the remaining spots.
The final phase is when the officers ensure that enrollments and deposits are made by the admitted students. Following this, they transition to onboarding activities, getting ready for orientation, and ensuring that new students are ready to begin this new phase of their lives.
