How Much Time Do Admissions Officers Spend on Each Application?
As college applications increase, admission officers are under immense pressure to make a certain number of decisions each day.
When asked how much time admissions officers spend on each application, the answer varies by school and is dependent on several factors.
Typically, an applicant’s application goes through at least two readers and a committee. Each reader takes 10-15 minutes to read the application, write a report for colleagues who review it before making a final decision.
The first read
The initial read of your application is when an admissions officer first takes a look at your files. This could be just a quick scan through everything submitted on your application; they’ll take notes and offer their initial assessment before creating an application summary card with key details about each applicant. Depending on their level of experience, assessments and opinions might differ – science readers might take more of an overall view of accomplishments and extracurriculars while music or athletic readers focus more on specifics within these areas.
Before an admissions committee decides whether to admit you or not, their assessment usually includes factors like academic record, personal strengths and weaknesses, as well as how well you fit with the university culture.
The second read
A second read (as the name implies) is an ideal way for admissions officers to express their appreciation for your application. A second reader will add additional notes and input into your file based on their own knowledge of the university, enabling them to make more informed decisions about your chances of acceptance based on all available data – such as high school class rank, college test scores, extracurricular activities, essay comments and recommendations. It’s essential that all these elements play a role in their decision-making process and always keep your best interests in mind when making their decisions.
The third read
Admissions officers and readers typically read 50 applications a day. This involves reviewing student transcripts, test scores, extracurricular activities and more in order to make admission decisions.
Most colleges and universities employ part-time or seasonal readers to work up to full time during the application season. These analysts review prospective students’ standardized test scores, transcripts and essays in order to assess whether or not they will fit within the institution’s enrollment goals.
On average, college admissions officers spend 15 minutes reading each application and may be working on up to 10 applications simultaneously. This process allows them to quickly digest information about an applicant and quickly make a determination whether they are suitable for the college.
After their initial review, some admissions officers will send the application on to a committee for further consideration and recommendation. This committee then makes their final determination whether or not to admit, deny, defer, or waitlist the applicant based on academic record, supplemental essays and letters of recommendation.
The second read provides the admissions officer with an opportunity to examine the application in greater depth, making additional recommendations and notes for the committee. This is especially crucial if they will be making decisions regarding a student’s future plans and financial aid eligibility.
At some schools, the initial and second reads are done in person; however, many have digital versions of this process that allow for home completion. While this task takes time, it ensures a comprehensive and well-rounded review of the application before it moves on to committee.
At this stage, an officer will collect pertinent data and write it on a card that tracks the application from officer to officer and ultimately to committee. They then present their recommendations to the committee and advocate for both academic and extracurricular qualifications of the applicant.
Some schools allow the first and second reads to be completed simultaneously. Other institutions have teams of two readers read an application simultaneously, coming to a decision together before sending it on to committee.
The final read
In the admissions world, it’s best to take an individualized and holistic approach when evaluating candidates. This involves looking into each applicant’s academic credentials, athletic prowess, personality traits as well as standardized test scores like SAT or ACT scores. While this process can seem overwhelming at first glance, a little preparation will go a long way in creating an impressive application that makes the cut.
Keep in mind that each evaluation requires time and energy from admissions officers, some of whom will be reading multiple applications simultaneously. The most sought-after applicants have high chances of acceptance to their dream school; that’s exactly why these highly trained professionals exist. In the end, it will be up to you to decide which college fits you best – but don’t be surprised if your heart skips a beat when learning whether you have been accepted or denied.