Compiled by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.

Starting in 2003, the staff at Quintessential Careers decided to start an annual study with a small number of college admissions officials to track and discuss key trends and issues related to helping students get admitted to college. Here is the report for 2003.

[Looking for the most current report? Go to: Answers to Common College Admissions Questions.]

The 2003 Questions
After meeting with numerous high school students, reading several books on the subject of college admissions, and reviewing current trends and concerns related to the college admissions process, we developed these questions for our 2003 study:

1. Are home-schooled students at a disadvantage when applying for admissions? How can these students best positions themselves as top candidates for admission? Read the responses.
2. How heavily does your staff weigh the personal essay portion of the application? What are the best pieces of advice to students who want to make a statement with their personal essay(s)? Read the responses.
3. What is your current view on the importance of standardized test scores in the admissions process? Do you think some form of standardized test will always be used in the admissions process? What are some alternatives? Can students overcome a "weak" score? Read the responses.
4. What are some of the important trends that you see in admissions that would be important for prospective students to know and understand? Read the responses.
5. There are always stories of great admissions supplements and stunts. Do you advise a marginal student who is making a reach to attend your college to send supplemental material or try other attention-grabbing stunts? Read the responses.

Finally, any other words of wisdom you can offer prospective students as they begin the college evaluation and application process would be greatly appreciated. Read the key tips.

The 2003 Participants
We solicited the opinions of top admissions officers from a wide spectrum of colleges and universities -- both academically diverse (from liberal arts colleges to large state universities) as well as geographically diverse (from every corner of the U.S.). Each institution is highly regarded and ranked among the best in the United States.

Here are the wonderful admissions officials who responded to our study. Please feel free to follow the link to learn more about each person and his/her college/university. (Some of our participants were more forthcoming than others!)

• Lisa Knodle-Bragiel, Director of Admission, Linfield College
• Allen S. London, Associate Vice President & Director, Undergraduate Admissions, Mercer University
• Chris Ellertson, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, Trinity University
• Chris Lucier, Associate Director, Undergraduate Admissions, University of Michigan
• John A. Blackburn, Dean of Admission, University of Virginia
• Marc M. Camille, Dean of Admission, Xavier University

Get More College Planning Resources
Quintessential Careers is your source for college, careers, and job-search information, resources, tools, and links. Go to our Go to College -- College Planning Resources section.