How Do Colleges Make Admissions Decisions?

"Begin with the end in mind." That’s good counsel for just about anything in life. Having a vision and a purpose allows us to stay focused on the end goal.

When colleges make admissions decisions, they are seeking to admit students "with the end in mind." Specifically, will they be successful in their college experience and able to achieve their educational goals at the institution?

Admissions criteria, then, are the starting point for helping the admissions team understand how a student’s prior education and experiences have prepared them to be successful and meet the stated outcomes for graduates.

At Cedarville University, when our admissions team reviews an application for admission, they are looking for students who will most likely graduate and have the best chance of developing the traits exemplified by the University academic objectives. This means that we are looking for students who have a relationship with Jesus Christ and have a "track record" of serving Him in the local church and community. We also seek to understand students' academic preparation and their motivation to thrive at our institution. 

These criteria are helpful indicators of success at Cedarville, but we also appreciate that past performance tells only a part of an applicant's unique story. Academic documents can not measure spiritual growth and personal maturity, both of which also signal excellent potential for thriving at Cedarville. Therefore, we are committed to carefully reviewing every application, considering personal statements and strong recommendations, even when the standard academic criteria are not met.

So, as a parent of a potential college student, begin with the end in mind. Assess the abilities God has instilled in your child and then begin to look for the post-high school experience that can best shape and sharpen those gifts. Have a vision for how God can use your child to impact this world for Christ. 

P.S. Now is the best time to apply for fall 2023! If your student is considering Cedarville University, encourage him or her to apply online as soon as possible. Students who apply by November 1 pay no application fee, and they will receive some fun incentive gifts. We would be happy to discuss our admissions criteria with you in greater detail, if you have questions.