Things that Admissions Officers Never Tell Applicants

Getting into a university of one’s choice is a dream come true. For applicants the, admission decision marks the conclusion of an epic episode of emotional highs and lows in their life.

Universities all across the globe have strenuous entry requirements, including but not limited to lengthy applications, portfolios, entry tests, and challenging interview processes which makes it difficult for students to secure a spot in their dream university.

To make matters even more difficult, most admission officers are not entirely forthcoming with applicants. There are a couple of things which admission officers observe and take into account while reaching a decision, but do not share with applicants, some of which are as follows:

Firstly, admission officers observe applicants demeanor and behavior very keenly. The conversations you make with your family members and the administration staff matter a lot. Even though admission is a stressful process and applicants are going through a nerve-wracking experience, it does not give them a permit to be discourteous and rude with the administration, or to treat them poorly. Although, it is not strictly speaking part of the application, discourteous behavior might have severe consequences for the applicant, i.e. the administrative staff might hold it against the applicant. To avoid this, applicants should make sure they present themselves in a well-mannered, courteous and polite way.

Secondly, admission interviews are a crucial part of the application process. As the saying goes ‘first impression is often the last impression’, and good impressions last a life time. Therefore, applicants must ensure they don’t blow off an admission interview, and that they are punctual, well prepared and dressed appropriately. One should come across as an intelligent, smart and a bright candidate. Applicants should ask questions during the interview and must not hesitate before asking about any information they need. Not asking questions during the interview, is a common mistake that applicants make, and this makes them sound dull. By asking appropriate and concise questions in a confident manner, one can leave a lasting impression on the interviewer.

Thirdly, in today’s world one’s personality matters a great deal. Admission officers take applicants’ personality into account when making admission decisions. Applicants have very limited time to show admission officers that you they have a good personality, thus it is crucial that one must not come across as an arrogant, conceited or entitled. Applicants must try to be polite, humble and come across as a passionate individual when giving the interview.

Fourthly, top universities receive thousands of applications each year, thus the key to securing an admission is to submit an outstanding application. It is not enough that the applicant meet all the admission requirements, rather the applicant must strive hard to submit an application which shows leadership potential, critical reasoning skills, problem solving skills and an out-of-the-box thinking ability. This would allow them to shine through the pile of ordinary applications and secure the much coveted seat.