How do colleges look on an ESL student? Does the fact that the student has not taken advanced courses weigh against the student?
"Possibly, but we would look carefully at the Testing Of English as a Foreign Language in assessing credentials."
- Tony Strickland, Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
"Admissions committee generally do not hold things against students. Students are looked at in an effort to determine the academic match with the college or university. Being an ESL students would not eliminate a candidate from consideration to a college or university."
- Roland M. Allen, Associate Director of Admissions, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Do you consider the foreign languages taken by the student to be a big part of the admissions process? If so, which languages do you look at most?
"Again, this answer will vary from college to college. MIT has no language requirement."
- Roland M. Allen, Associate Director of Admissions, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
"Yes, because each major at UNC-CH requires at least one foreign language. We have no preference between modern and classical languages, except in mathematics and the sciences, which prefer modern languages."
- Tony Strickland, Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Do colleges look more favorably at applicants from competitive high schools (public or private) than from other schools?
"Somewhat; but an important factor is the extent to which one has taken advantage of what was offered her or him."
- Tony Strickland, Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
"This is a tough one. The answer will vary from college to college. At MIT, you are looked at in your context. You will not be compared with any other applicant for any other school."
- Roland M. Allen, Associate Director of Admissions, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Is there anything a high school freshman or sophomore can do to help gain an advantage?
"MIT has actually designed a brochure for 9th and 10th graders. We feel that it is important to plan for college early. Waiting until 11th grade is too late. You should begin taking the more challenges courses in your high school curriculum as early as you are able to handle them. It is awesome if you are able to take advantage of opportunities for summer programs (academic or personal enrichment) that you know of. Also, most colleges like to see sustained involvement in extracurricular activities over the long term in high school. So, find things that interest you, and commit to them."
- Roland M. Allen, Associate Director of Admissions, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
"Take the toughest courses the school will allow, particularly in mathematics and foreign language, and get involved in substantial activities. The latter admonition applies to developing his or her own interests outside class, not to padding an admissions resume."
- Tony Strickland, Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Is it true that the junior year of high school is the most important?
"No. All years of high school are important. The junior year is often the final grades an admissions committee will see. So, the sustained effort is important."
- Roland M. Allen, Associate Director of Admissions, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
"Probably, as it is most likely to reflect trends and culminations."
- Tony Strickland, Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Is there any difference in the way you handle, from start to finish, applications from kids in underrepresented groups?
"One of the responsibilities of the Office of Admission at Carnegie Mellon is to build a community of freshmen with a diverse set of attributes, talents, abilities, geographic, and economic backgrounds that are representative of an international community and society at large. That means that many factors are taken into consideration when admitting a freshman class. While there are no differences in the way applications are handled from students in underrepresented groups, race and gender are among the many factors that are taken into consideration when making admission decisions."
- Michael Steidel, Director of Admission, Carnegie Mellon University
"Every applicant is given the same thorough review by a minimum of three members of the admissions committee. The academic and non academic factors are noted in the same way for all students. That is not to say that we do not recognize the alumni status of a parent, an interest from the development office, a talented athlete or musician. In the same way, we note the ethnicity of a student as we try to admit the most academically talented and diverse (in the broadest sense) student body possible."
- Daniel J. Saracino, Assistant Provost for Enrollment, University of Notre Dame
"Every candidate is evaluated in the same way."
- Roland M. Allen, Associate Director of Admissions, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
"Mechanically the applications go through the same procedures; philosophically, one does not work to increase the enrollment of such groups by making it more difficult for them to get accepted."
- Tony Strickland, Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
