Sophomore Families Benefit from Insiders’ View of College Admissions
Have you ever wondered what criteria college admissions representatives really consider when reading college applications? Nearly 40 Wesleyan sophomores and 50 parents were able to demystify the application reading process during the Atlanta Invitational Case Studies (AICS) program this past Sunday, February 9. Prior to the event, families were provided with fictitious case study files of applicants to a sample university, which they read and evaluated. During Sunday’s event, attendees were broken into small groups and guided by a college admission professional to make admission decisions (admit, waitlist, deny) for those applicants. Decisions often seemed easy - or impossible - based on numbers alone, but attendees learned that factors such as major, geography, leadership, special talents, and rigor all play a key role in helping colleges make admission decisions and shape a class. With a better understanding of how applications are reviewed, students will now be able to meaningfully think about their own academics, activities, and involvement.
Following the discussion portion of the program, students were invited to an intimate college fair, with 91 colleges and universities represented. Parents interacted with a college panel and then were able to join the fair after the first 45 minutes.
The AICS program began in 2008 and has grown to become one of the largest events of its kind in the country. Wesleyan college advisors Ken Connor and Andrea Shupert serve on the planning committee for the AICS program, which is exclusive to 17 metro-Atlanta area private schools. Connor and Shupert along with Wesleyan college advisor Erica Engsberg, served in multiple volunteer capacities throughout the program. This year’s event broke all previous records with 549 sophomore students and 656 parents in attendance along with the representatives from 91 colleges and universities.
