Applying to college can feel overwhelming — especially when admissions decisions seem unpredictable. One student gets accepted to a highly selective university while another with similar grades and test scores gets denied. So what’s really happening behind the scenes?
In a recent episode of The Ol’ College Try Podcast, host Peg Keough sat down with admissions expert Jenna Schebell of The College Navigators to break down how colleges evaluate applications — and why families should stop viewing admissions decisions as purely personal. If you’re just getting started, it helps to familiarize yourself with common college admissions terms before diving in.
🎓 Key Takeaway: Colleges operate like businesses. Enrollment goals, institutional priorities, and factors you’ll never see all shape admissions decisions — and the same student can be viewed very differently from school to school.
Colleges Are Businesses — And That Impacts Admissions
One of the biggest takeaways from the conversation is that colleges operate like businesses. While many schools are nonprofit institutions, enrollment goals, tuition revenue, institutional priorities, and board-level decisions all influence the admissions process.
Jenna explained that colleges often begin shaping the next incoming class long before students even submit applications. Schools may already know they want to:
- Grow certain majors
- Increase geographic diversity
- Enroll more out-of-state students
- Expand specific programs
- Manage housing capacity
- Improve retention or graduation rates
That means the exact same applicant could be viewed very differently from one school to another.
“What makes a student a perfect fit at one college may actually work against them at another.”
— Jenna Schebell, The College Navigators
There Is No Universal College Admissions Process
Many families assume all colleges evaluate applications the same way. In reality, admissions processes vary dramatically from school to school.
Some colleges are heavily GPA and test-score driven, while others use a holistic review process that considers:
What Holistic Colleges Evaluate
Why It Matters
Essays & personal statement
Reveals voice, maturity, and fit
Activities & leadership
Shows how the student contributes beyond grades
Course rigor
Did the student challenge themselves given what was available?
Letters of recommendation
Third-party perspective on character and ability
Demonstrated interest
Will this student actually enroll if accepted?
Intended major
Does the school need students in this program?
Geographic location & high school context
Applications are read alongside the school profile
At some colleges, a regional admissions representative reviews the application first. Other schools use committee-based review systems where multiple admissions officers discuss applicants together while shaping the incoming class.
Why GPA Isn’t as Simple as Families Think
A major source of confusion for families is GPA. As Jenna explained, colleges often recalculate GPAs differently. Some schools:
- Remove electives and focus only on core academic courses
- Add extra weight for AP or IB classes
- Evaluate rigor separately from GPA
This means a student’s GPA may not be viewed the same way at every institution. Even more importantly, colleges evaluate students within the context of their high school. For a deeper look at how GPA factors into admissions decisions, see our guide on what GPA you need to get into college.
What is a school profile? Admissions officers review every application alongside a school profile — a document that provides information about available AP or IB courses, grading scales, class rank policies, average test scores, and academic offerings. A student who took 6 AP classes at a school that only offers 6 is viewed very differently from a student who took 6 out of 20 available AP courses.
More AP Classes Doesn’t Always Mean Better
Peg and Jenna also discussed the growing pressure families feel around AP courses and academic rigor. While rigorous coursework is important, Jenna emphasized that students should not overload themselves simply to impress colleges — especially if doing so negatively impacts grades, mental health, or overall balance.
The right course load depends on:
- The student’s strengths and academic comfort zone
- Their intended major
- Their target colleges and what those schools expect
- The rigor actually available at their high school
Selective STEM programs may expect advanced math and science coursework, but not every student needs to pursue the most extreme schedule possible.
Public Universities Have Become Much More Competitive
Another important topic was the growing competitiveness of flagship public universities. Schools like the University of Texas at Austin, UNC Chapel Hill, UCLA, and Auburn University have all seen major increases in applications over the past several years.
Important for out-of-state families: Many public universities are legally required to prioritize in-state students. For out-of-state applicants, admissions at some flagship schools can now rival the selectivity of elite private universities — a factor many families significantly underestimate when building their college list.
Why Admissions Results Can Feel Random
One of the most reassuring parts of the conversation was Jenna’s explanation that admissions decisions are often influenced by factors families will never fully see. These include:
Enrollment targets
How many students does the school need to hit its class size goal?
Housing availability
Can the campus physically accommodate more students?
Major capacity
Is the intended major already oversubscribed?
Yield management
Does the school think this student will actually attend?
Geographic balance
Does the class need more students from this region?
Financial considerations
Does the school need full-pay students or students who need aid?
What is yield protection? Some colleges will waitlist or defer highly qualified applicants if they believe the student is unlikely to attend — even when that student is academically well above their average. This is why a student can be rejected from a “less competitive” school while being accepted at a more selective one. It’s not personal. It’s strategic enrollment management.
The Importance of Building a Balanced College List
Throughout the episode, Peg and Jenna repeatedly emphasized the importance of creating a balanced college list. Students should include reach schools, target schools, and likely schools — but families also need to prioritize fit over prestige. The timing of when you apply also matters — learn how Early Decision, Early Action, and Regular Decision each affect your admissions chances.
As Jenna pointed out, students often evolve significantly during senior year. A student who initially wants a massive university across the country may later decide they prefer a smaller school closer to home.
Reach Schools
Academically ambitious
Your stats are below their typical range, but you’re a compelling applicant.
Target Schools
A solid match
Your stats align well with their typical admitted class. Admission is realistic but not guaranteed.
Likely Schools
Your safety net
Schools where you’re highly confident of admission and would genuinely be happy to attend.
The goal shouldn’t simply be getting accepted somewhere prestigious. The goal is finding a college where the student will thrive academically, socially, emotionally, and financially.
What Families Can Control
The college admissions process is far more nuanced than most families realize. There is no perfect formula, no guaranteed path, and no universal admissions standard. But there are things within your control:
Step 1
Build a thoughtful, balanced college list
Include schools across all three tiers — reach, target, and likely — and make sure every school on the list is one where the student would genuinely be happy to enroll. MyCAP’s college search engine lets you filter by academic fit, net cost, and merit aid all at once.
Step 2
Understand your student’s genuine strengths
Academic profile, course rigor in context, extracurriculars, and how the student presents themselves — all of it matters. Know what your student’s application says before it’s submitted.
Step 3
Apply to schools that fit — academically and personally
Size, location, campus culture, financial aid generosity, available programs — these factors matter just as much as rankings. A great fit school often produces better outcomes than a prestigious mismatch.
Step 4
Keep perspective throughout the process
A rejection is not a reflection of your student’s worth. Admissions decisions are shaped by institutional factors families will never fully see. As Peg reminded listeners — sometimes a rejection simply redirects students toward the place they were meant to be all along. When decisions do arrive, our guide to college acceptance letters walks you through exactly what to do next.
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