Every institution ends up with a painting that reflects its unique needs and circumstances, and the applicant pool waiting to get in. Determining the makeup of a freshman class is an art form with no set formula. You bring more than just your grades. When you apply to a college, you're not just being considered for admittance. You are being looked at as an integral part of a freshman class, whether it's a class of a thousand or a hundred.
Students assume that admissions seek well-rounded students.
But according to Donehower, they really are looking for a well-rounded class, which means admitting some people who might be a little lopsided. We don't want all our students thinking or looking alike. Dean of Admissions John Blackburn, University of Virginia. A student's background and experience add to the richness of the mixture. For that reason, he points out that admissions doesn't always appear to be fair because it isn't.