Here’s What the Admission Officer will Look For: Non-Academic Indicators
Test scores and GPA’s are only part of the equation. In reality, admissions officers aren’t looking for the applicant with perfect grades and test scores. Many students accepted to some of the top universities are average students. How did they gain acceptance over the supposed “perfect” student?
College is all about learning—not only between teacher and student, but student to student. When admissions officers are sifting through piles of applications, one of the things they look for is someone who is bright, and has something to contribute and/or learn from the institution.
There is no one formula for determining which student has what it takes. Admissions officers have repeatedly stated that students should focus on being well-rounded. There are a few standard characteristics that admissions officers look for in a potential college student. These are called non-academic performance indicators.
To answer this question, let’s look further into these non-academic performance indicators. Transcripts are numbers and letters that tell admissions officers nothing about the candidate. That is why college applications ask for one or more essays, as well as lists of talents, achievements, and interests. This portion of the application reveals a great deal of information about each student.
When reading through the application, the admission officer will look for the following:
· Motivation
· Confidence
· Creativity
· Aspiration
· Association
Colleges want to see that you are not only capable of fulfilling the academic requirements, but that you can also handle the pressures and responsibilities that go along with a college education. For example, essay questions that ask about people you admire, and obstacles that you have overcome, both reveal student motivation. Sections on interests, talents and achievements are all places where you might emphasize your level of motivation toward life and education.
Confident students can withstand the pressures of college. They are active in the campus community. Clues to a student’s confidence are also found in the extracurricular section. Confident students are usually, but not always, outgoing individuals. They are also leaders. Essay questions on goals and achievements also shed light on a student’s confidence level.
Innovation and creativity go hand in hand. Universities thrive on new research, discoveries, and ideas. Creative students are vital to a college institution. This applicant will stand out from the rest. They have original responses to the essay. These students may also have unique goals, interests and achievements.
Rising stars are not only an asset to the academic environment; they also bolster the school’s reputation. They help to motivate fellow students. The admission officer looks into the goals essay, interests, extracurricular activities, and achievements to gauge an applicant’s aspiration.
Review your application and look at your answers to each section. Do they show your creativity, aspiration, and so on? Will an admission officer see the real you in your answers? What non-academic performance indicators do you exhibit?