Changing the college admissions process: What's feasible?

I'm curious about the college admissions process and how it might change in the future. Who gets to decide on these changes, and what are some current trends or criticisms of the admissions system?

The college admissions process changes over time, driven by underlying shifts in societal norms, technological advancements, the educational landscape, and legal rulings.

College admissions processes are largely controlled by individual schools, often influenced by boards of trustees, senior administrative staff, or admissions departments. For public universities, state governments can play a role in certain decisions. Certain ruling bodies or organizations such as the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) can also provide guidelines and regulations.

A significant change we've seen recently is the move towards being test-optional or test-blind. This trend started due to test accessibility issues during the pandemic and has become widespread due to mounting criticism of standardized tests and their potential for bias or for not accurately reflecting a student's potential for success. However, some schools, including Dartmouth College and Harvard University, have returned to a test-required policy since the 2024-25 application cycle.

There have also been discussions about the fairness of the admissions process in terms of socioeconomic status and ethnicity. Concerns about accessibility and diversity resulted in Affirmative Action being struck down by the Supreme Court in June 2023, changing the landscape of college admissions substantially.

Digitization has changed the process significantly, with Common App and other platforms simplifying the process of applying to multiple schools. Additionally, technological innovations are challenging traditional credentials; digital portfolios and online badges are becoming more prevalent, enabling schools to consider competencies beyond just grades and test scores.

Critics of this system claim that high school grades and standardized test scores do not always reflect a student's potential. Traditional admissions processes also often fail to capture intangible qualities like grit, curiosity, and ambition. Over-reliance on these can disadvantage students from underprivileged backgrounds.

In the future, we might see a continuous move towards holistic admissions processes. There may be a greater emphasis placed on a student's character, through factors like extra-curricular activities and essays. This attempts to identify talent and potential that may not be evident through academic results alone.

It's important to note that, as with any system, changes should take into account the wide variety of student experiences, and strive for a process that is as fair and inclusive as possible.