Help Me Understand Big University Process

[Anonymous]

So big universities get so many thousands of applications. UCLA got around 150,000. Without the sat/act as a starting point to weed people out, how do they do it? I mean, like, physically how could they possible look through them all? Does some computer algorithm take a first pass and kick out the applications that don’t have certain keywords? Even if they hire a bunch of people to do first reads, what are they looking for?

There must be so many similar applications. I just don’t get it. How is it possible?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So big universities get so many thousands of applications. UCLA got around 150,000. Without the sat/act as a starting point to weed people out, how do they do it? I mean, like, physically how could they possible look through them all? Does some computer algorithm take a first pass and kick out the applications that don’t have certain keywords? Even if they hire a bunch of people to do first reads, what are they looking for?

There must be so many similar applications. I just don’t get it. How is it possible?

Do we need another dumb thread about the test optional?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So big universities get so many thousands of applications. UCLA got around 150,000. Without the sat/act as a starting point to weed people out, how do they do it? I mean, like, physically how could they possible look through them all? Does some computer algorithm take a first pass and kick out the applications that don’t have certain keywords? Even if they hire a bunch of people to do first reads, what are they looking for?

There must be so many similar applications. I just don’t get it. How is it possible?

At the UCs, they have a formula for recalculating the GPA. They also require A-G classes (you can look it up), so if there’s no fine arts class, the app gets booted. The new GPA + A-G requirement weeds out many apps. From there, they have hired tons of temps to read the application.

You are right though - a pile of apps like that is would be a beast to process!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So big universities get so many thousands of applications. UCLA got around 150,000. Without the sat/act as a starting point to weed people out, how do they do it? I mean, like, physically how could they possible look through them all? Does some computer algorithm take a first pass and kick out the applications that don’t have certain keywords? Even if they hire a bunch of people to do first reads, what are they looking for?

There must be so many similar applications. I just don’t get it. How is it possible?

At the UCs, they have a formula for recalculating the GPA. They also require A-G classes (you can look it up), so if there’s no fine arts class, the app gets booted. The new GPA + A-G requirement weeds out many apps. From there, they have hired tons of temps to read the application.

You are right though - a pile of apps like that is would be a beast to process!

This is exactly the kind of insightful info I was hoping to get. I had no idea about A-G classes. I just looked it up. But yes … still tons of students must fulfill those requirements. It just seems impossible to truly look at every application. So it’s all people, then, not computers? I figured they ran them through some computer program.

Any other insight like PP’s would be truly helpful.

[Anonymous]

What are the temps looking for when they read? Do they get training first?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are the temps looking for when they read? Do they get training first?

Yes, there are rubrics and training.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the temps looking for when they read? Do they get training first?

Yes, there are rubrics and training.

Just hope none of them toss aside rubics and embrace the chaos of randomness when scoring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the temps looking for when they read? Do they get training first?

Yes, there are rubrics and training.

Just hope none of them toss aside rubics and embrace the chaos of randomness when scoring.

They use a quality control process very similar to AP exams — 2 readers, if there’s a discrepancy it goes to a third, if a reader is consistently out of line they get booted.

[Anonymous]

There is a reason people say there is a lot of luck involved in college admissions.
It is a subjective process. Did the reader pick up your application when they are in a good mood or when they are in a bad mood?
Maybe you mentioned a book or a topic that they either loved or hated.
Kids just need to be authentic and do the best they can. All you can do is hope for the best

[Anonymous]

There's lots for them to consider:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1100202.page

[Anonymous]

UMD from a few years ago:

"How are applicants judged?

The university lists on its website 26 factors it considers, including grades in academic subjects, SAT or ACT scores, community involvement, extracurricular activities, residency status, gender, race and ethnicity. The university says these factors are "flexibly applied," but the most important are course rigor, student performance, academic GPA and test scores. (U-Md. says it does not consider whether applicants have family who are alumni.)....

The applications are randomly distributed among 35 people on the admissions team, including 14 seasonal hires, who read transcripts, essays, teacher letters and other materials...

The files are then grouped by high school for a second review by admissions officers familiar with those schools and regions within the state and beyond. Finally, Gundy and her senior staff review the entire recommended admission pool before releasing priority decisions by Feb. 1."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/thirty-thousand-applicants-one-flagship-inside-admissions-at-u-md/2017/12/26/635026ba-dc41-11e7-a841-2066faf731ef_story.html

[Anonymous]

OP, how do companies hire without SAT scores?

It’s a goddamned crapshoot lottery and none of those HR people have a clue what they are doing, despite their years of experience and record of success!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are the temps looking for when they read? Do they get training first?

They are often seasoned admissions officers who moved on to other things and want to make a bit of cash. You realized those admissions officers reading your kids apps make like 40k a year for 60 hour weeks, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the temps looking for when they read? Do they get training first?

Yes, there are rubrics and training.

Just hope none of them toss aside rubics and embrace the chaos of randomness when scoring.

They use a quality control process very similar to AP exams — 2 readers, if there’s a discrepancy it goes to a third, if a reader is consistently out of line they get booted.

A UCSB student recently requested to look at his file from last year, and found out there was only 1 reader. Wouldn’t surprise me if this wasn’t a more widespread issue in the UC system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are the temps looking for when they read? Do they get training first?

Here is more info: https://admission.ucla.edu/contact/application-readers

It's around $2.5 per essay.