Non-Academic Factors

When it comes to non-academic factors, it's sometimes helpful to separate out what is within your control and what isn't. Unfortunately, factors outside of our control are taken into consideration--but each school will weight those factors differently based on that campus' values and goals.

Within One's Control:

Extra-curricular activities = What you do outside of school. Things like clubs, programs, extra classes, hobbies, sports, talents, etc.
Interview = Some private schools have an alumni interview you as a part of the admissions process.
Level of Applicant's Interest (in the campus) = also known as "demonstrated interest," some colleges track how much effort a student went through to check out that college. For example, some colleges have a log of every student who visited and took a college tour. Other colleges track how much email correspondence a student had with an admissions counselor. Other colleges colleges may consider whether or not a student has worked at a program related to that campus or with a professor or graduate student working on that campus.
Volunteer Work = What you volunteered for (clubs, non-profits, summer programs, etc.)
Special Talent & Ability = For students who have spent years on a certain talent or craft (art, music, design, sports, etc.)
Character/Personal Qualities = All colleges have certain student characteristic traits they prefer. Check out an article about this to learn more.
Work Experience = Increasingly, colleges prioritize and prefer students who have some work experience in their intended field. Perhaps you did research, interned with a non-profit or start up, did science fairs, or created your own app.

Outside of One's Control:

First Generation to Attend College = For some colleges, they really want to prioritize students who are the first in their family to attend college. Often times more resources, counselors, or specialized admission considerations are granted to first-generation college applicants.
State Residency = Especially true for public schools--the state in which you/your parents reside may matter greatly to the school you are applying to.
Geographical Location = Most college admissions is determined by region and zip code--since this information also informs the "educational context" one comes from (especially when comparing the amount and breadth of AP/Honors courses a school has over another)
Relation to Alumnus = Some schools prefer "legacy students" and admit family members/children of previous alumni
Religious Affiliation/Commitment = Especially true for religious schools, some schools may have a statement of faith or questions regarding one's faith background as part of their consideration or application process
Race/Ethnicity = More true for private colleges, sometimes race/ethnicity/nationality is taken into consideration for admissions

Pointy vs. Well-Rounded Students

While before, selective & highly competitive colleges emphasized admitting well-rounded students, admission trends now show colleges prefer “pointy” students to have a “well-rounded incoming class.” Admission trends have shifted to finding students who stand out in a noticeable way.

SpikeLab created a quick image of the history of college admissions to demonstrate shifts in preferences for incoming classes:

“Pointy” students typically have determined their intended field of study early on, and have taken a robust course load related to that major AND have done programs, internships, jobs, clubs, and other EAs related to that major. They have become specialists in one field, focus, or area of study. Having a "spike" is often more concentrated in career than hobbies/talents--meaning, popular colleges prefer students who have "spiked" in pursuing biology, psychology, or business--rather than one who has perfected their craft as a dancer, singer, or athlete.

That said--this trend mostly only exists with highly competitive colleges. Most colleges still highly value well-rounded students, and having a strong academic and personal profile that demonstrates multiple competencies is still a desirable profile to many colleges. Of course, once a student is applying to an impacted major or program, there tends to be more of a preference for "pointy-ness" in those spaces.

So what does this mean for you? This means that increasing the "activity" or "opportunities taken" connected to your major will help you become more "pointy" in your admissions profile. Any bold choice you make to explore and expand your certainty that you want to major or pursue a certain field will only help your admissions chances.

Pulled from "Colleges want well rounded classes not students" and "Why being a well rounded student is no longer the ideal college admissions profile".

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