CEP College and University Admissions 3 ā Questions and Answers
Question 1: When evaluating a transfer applicant, colleges primarily look at which academic record?
- High school transcript only
- College transcript with GPA and course rigor, plus high school record as context (Correct answer)
- SAT/ACT scores exclusively
- Letters of recommendation only
Correct answer: College transcript with GPA and course rigor, plus high school record as context
Transfer admissions committees focus mainly on the college-level academic record, though high school credentials may still be reviewed for context.
Question 2: Which statement best describes a 'likely letter' in college admissions?
- An official acceptance letter sent early
- An informal communication from a college signaling strong interest in admitting an applicant before official decisions are released (Correct answer)
- A letter from a college confirming receipt of application materials
- A conditional acceptance pending final grades
Correct answer: An informal communication from a college signaling strong interest in admitting an applicant before official decisions are released
Likely letters are unofficial signals sent by collegesāoften to recruited athletes or exceptional candidatesāto indicate a positive admissions outcome is expected.
Question 3: The 'holistic review' process in admissions means that colleges:
- Rank students solely by GPA and test scores
- Consider the full range of an applicant's academic, personal, and contextual factors (Correct answer)
- Accept only students who interview on campus
- Focus exclusively on extracurricular achievement
Correct answer: Consider the full range of an applicant's academic, personal, and contextual factors
Holistic review evaluates the complete picture of an applicantāacademics, character, experiences, background, and potentialārather than relying on numerical cutoffs alone.
Question 4: For a student with a disability seeking accommodations in college, the educational planner should advise them to:
- Rely on their IEP to automatically transfer to the college
- Contact the college's disability services office and provide documentation before or shortly after enrollment (Correct answer)
- Have the high school counselor negotiate accommodations directly
- Wait until classes begin to request accommodations
Correct answer: Contact the college's disability services office and provide documentation before or shortly after enrollment
Under the ADA and Section 504, colleges provide accommodations, but students must self-identify and submit documentation to the disability services office; high school IEPs do not automatically carry over.
Question 5: An applicant's 'spike' in the context of college admissions refers to:
- A sudden drop in GPA senior year
- An extraordinary depth of achievement or passion in one specific area (Correct answer)
- A high SAT score in a single section
- An unexpected recommendation from a notable person
Correct answer: An extraordinary depth of achievement or passion in one specific area
A 'spike' indicates that a student has pursued an area of interest at an unusually high level, which can differentiate them in a competitive applicant pool.
Question 6: Which CSS Profile data element distinguishes it most significantly from the FAFSA?
- Student's Social Security Number
- Home equity and non-custodial parent financial information (Correct answer)
- Dependency status questions
- Tax return filing status
Correct answer: Home equity and non-custodial parent financial information
The CSS Profile collects home equity and often requires non-custodial parent data, allowing colleges to conduct a more detailed institutional aid calculation than the FAFSA permits.
Question 7: A student placed on a college waitlist should optimally:
- Stop all communication with the college and wait
- Submit a concise letter of continued interest and any meaningful updates, then commit to another school by May 1 (Correct answer)
- Immediately apply to additional colleges
- Contact the admissions office daily to express interest
Correct answer: Submit a concise letter of continued interest and any meaningful updates, then commit to another school by May 1
A well-crafted letter of continued interest and a firm enrollment elsewhere protects the student while keeping the waitlist option open.
CEP College and University Admissions 3
When evaluating a transfer applicant, colleges primarily look at which academic record?