College admissions has gotten kinda crazy over the last couple decades.
To the point that, at highly selective colleges (aka “highly rejective”) like say Stanford or Harvard, something like 80+% of applicants are academically admissible. Meaning these schools have way, way more qualified applicants than they have spots for.
Because of that, many very bright students who fall into the “Standard Strong” category will ultimately be rejected.
And because most students and parents (understandably) don’t understand this aspect of the college landscape, below we’ll talk through what “Standard Strong” means and how it may impact your application process.
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(click to skip ahead)What does “Standard Strong” mean in college admissions?
“Standard Strong” is a phrase used in college admissions to describe applicants who are well-qualified and a good match academically and personally for an institution.
But they are not being actively recruited, are not underrepresented, and are not in the headlines or on the brink of fame for an academic or personal achievement.
Here’s a simple breakdown, to get us started:
What Standard Strong students are:
High achievers in rigorous courses
Applicants with an at/above profile
Engaged, well-regarded students
Aspirational, deserving, and plentiful
What they are not:
Recruited
Hitting an Institutional Priority or mission match
Underrepresented (e.g. rural)
Ordinary
The Standard Strong are not part of a cohort that will receive an advantage in the admission process based on an institution’s priorities and preferences. Because of this, they are in the most competitive segment of the applicant pool, keeping company and competing with similarly well-qualified and accomplished students.
All of these students have ratings that could lead to admission. They are often
From well-resourced families and schools
Live in areas where the ambition to attend a “top tier” college or university runs strong
Apply Early (Decision or Action) to a highly selective college
And then to ten or more others
How Standard Strong students get sorted in the application process
Initial “bucketing”
When an institution first reads through its applicant pool, applicants are rated based on a variety of academic and personal metrics and qualities.
(Related resource: Head here for a guide to how selective colleges review applications.)
Students who do not meet minimum requirements or who would not be successful at the institution are eliminated.
Other applicants are identified as meeting a particular institutional need/priority and moved out of the bigger pool into a “bucket” or special review category.
They might be in a recruitment process based on a particular talent; applying for an underrepresented field of study; or represent desired diversity in terms of background, geographic location, or type of high school.
(For more on “Hooks” and Institutional Priorities, head here.)
Subsequent rounds of evaluation focus on discriminating among students in the remaining pool of Standard Strong applicants. Colleges using this term are not being insulting: In their ratings, they are acknowledging the excellent credentials of the students and the good job they did on their applications. These applicants have passed the academic review—there is nothing that knocks them out of consideration.
There are (as we said in the intro) simply many too many of them to admit.
Next steps in the process
The evaluation that follows may be by the student’s academic field of study, especially if an institution has undergraduate professional schools (business, engineering, architecture, computer science, journalism/communications, nursing, fine/performing arts) which have limited enrollment and a high-yield of admitted applicants.
At liberal arts institutions (or arts and science divisions within universities), choice of academic field(s) of study may or may not influence the evaluation.
But it is not unusual for there to be increased competition/heightened selectivity for the most popular majors (often psychology, biology, neuroscience, computer science, economics, international relations).
At this time, some advantage may be given to applicants who show credible commitment to underrepresented fields of study at that institution (this could be history, foreign languages, philosophy, art history, religion, geography, education).
(Important note: “credible commitment” as in their activities and essays and transcripts support the idea; schools don’t simply look at what boxes students checked for possible majors.)
Standard Strong applicants often enjoy more success when they apply Early Decision rather than Regular Decision when many spaces have already been filled, especially in more competitive fields of study. Agreeing to enroll if admitted and providing a strong case for fit with the institution and field of study can be a significant advantage.
What elevates some Standard Strong applicants over others?
Here are some direct quotes from application readers:
A strong personal voice that rings true
A lack of pretentiousness
Genuine curiosity in fields of study based on exposure
Genuine respect and care for others: their circumstances and opinions
Commitment to building community
Engagement in school/community that reflects initiative and impact
Clarity about potential contributions to campus life
An application that weaves a narrative throughout the application with clear take-aways for the reader
Demonstrated Interest if an institution cares*
* DI matters more for Standard Strong students than for anyone else in the applicant pool of a selective college. Seniors who do not pay attention to DI until they are denied/deferred from their ED/EA college are TOO LATE.
Academic characteristics of Standard Strong apps
We covered this a bit above, but to expand, these students generally:
Meet or exceed the published profile
Go beyond the minimum requirements of their school in Social Science, Science, Math, and Foreign Language
Display strong rigor given what the school offers; may have additional coursework/engagement outside of school
Offer evidence of exploration of/engagement with academic interests not only through advanced coursework but also through school activities, internships, and/or research experience. Shows academic ambition in their areas of strength and interest
Have recommendation letters that speak to intellectual character, engagement, and influence on others
Craft a personal statement that shows strong command of mechanics, intellectual character, and adds helpful information/perspective
Write supplemental essays that show understanding of the prompts, careful research, and lack of generalities/superficiality. They are written in a manner consistent with other written parts of the application
Personal characteristics of Standard Strong apps
Here are the personal characteristics their applications tend to demonstrate:
Evidence of engagement in school and community activities
Pattern of growing responsibility/initiative/leadership in activities at school and in the community including work and family responsibilities
Interest in and care for others
Recommendations speak to positive citizenship, influence on others, and accomplishments
Personal Essay is written in a voice that reflects the applicant’s character. The essay is a good writing sample that allows the reader to know the applicant better on a personal level
Supplements enliven the application with personal detail and depth, not just paraphrasing from the college’s website
So what’s a Standard Strong student supposed to do?
There are some things you can do to strengthen your application, but there is no magic bullet—again, there are simply too many Standard Strong applicants—which means that in addition to trying to strengthen things like your personal statement and supplemental essays, you need to also explore widening your college list.
Think of it this way (quick anecdote incoming):
We worked with a student once who wanted to apply only to Stanford. Yes, seriously.
He said (pretty direct quote), “I feel like it would be a slap in the face to all my hard work if I applied and attended elsewhere.”
We pointed out (gently but firmly) that the slap in the face to all his hard work would be to not attend college at all because he applied only to a college with something like a 3% acceptance rate.
So, if you’re likely in the Standard Strong bucket, here are some actions to take:
Respect the competition
You deserve a lot of credit for working hard and doing well in high school but realize that you are in good company. The competition isn’t just from your high school, state, region… It's from all around the world. Your achievement puts you in the running but guarantees nothing.
Key Takeaway: Don’t overestimate your chances of admission to a highly selective college because you have terrific grades, scores, and activities.
Don’t set yourself up for disappointment
It’s natural to be attracted to famous colleges that feel like they instantly grant admitted students a dose of celebrity and prestige. As you start your college search in earnest and plan campus visits, don’t make the mistake of only visiting colleges that admit a tiny percentage of their applicants.
Key Takeaway: For every highly selective college you visit, spend some time on a nearby campus that offers what you are looking for and would love to admit you.
Don’t devalue colleges that are less selective
Focus your search on how a college will provide the opportunities you want—and will help you be successful and reach your goals. That may not be the most selective college on the planet; it may actually be where you can be a star.
(For more on education quality vs “prestige” head here.)
Key Takeaway: Selectivity doesn’t equate with quality of education.
Understand each college’s individual preferences and priorities
Read a college’s history, mission statement, and strategic plan on their website. Look for how they describe their identity and purpose. What words/adjectives do they use? Are you a fit or are you just another generic applicant?
Key Takeaway: It’s up to you to make it clear in your application how you understand and align with their values and purpose.
Don’t add less selective colleges to your list as an afterthought
Sure, have a few dream schools on your list—the famous ones with single digit acceptance rates if they appeal to you. But don’t hyper focus on these and relegate more likely options to later in the year once you’ve received your early application news. At that point, it's too late to really get to know what a college could offer you and prepare a compelling application.
(For more on how to build a balanced college list, head here.)
Key Takeaway: Last minute applications often come across as last minute applications.
Susan Kastner Tree is a native New Yorker whose career in college admissions has included working both in selective college admissions and as a secondary school college counselor. Following her graduation from St. Lawrence University with a BS in Psychology, Susan moved to New England where she worked for twelve years as Associate Dean of Admissions at Bates College. She completed her Master’s degree in School Counseling at the University of Southern Maine and for the next 25 years worked with students from around the world as the Director of College Counseling at a college prep day and boarding school near Philadelphia. Since stepping out of that role, Susan has evaluated applications for two selective research universities and serves as College Essay Guy’s lead college counselor. Susan is a founding board member of the Character Collaborative, the Independent Curriculum Group, and the college access organization GoToCollege NYC; she has served on the Counselor Advisory committees of the College Board, the Educational Testing Service (ETS), and the Common Application. Her twins are recent college graduates.
Top Values: Empowerment | Family | Faith
