The Appeal Process:

Did you know that most universities will let you appeal an admissions decision even if the option to do so is not listed anywhere on their website?  The best way to find out if an appeal is allowed is to call the admissions office and inquire with a representative.

Appeal Criteria:

Every school has different criteria for reversing an admissions decision.  When you call the admissions office, be sure to inquire about that school’s specific appeal criteria (i.e. the kind of new information they will consider and how their particular appeal process works).

Successful Appeal Letters:

The key to any successful appeal is to bring to light new and compelling information.  However, every school defines new and compelling information differently.  For example, at CU Boulder (a university you would never know accepts appeals by visiting their website) in order for your application to be reconsidered there must have been a substantial change in your academic work since your decision was issued.  However, at the University of California, Los Angeles: higher grades, recently acquired awards, or an increase in activities since your decision was issued hold absolutely no weight in the reversal of a decision (and each UC campus has different appeal criteria).  Further, there are colleges like Boston University that narrowly define new and compelling information as information that only relates to a student’s academic performance (and not his or her extracurricular involvement). Call the admissions office and find out how they define “new and compelling information.”

Submitting Additional Letters of Recommendation:

Some universities allow additional letters of recommendation to be submitted with an appeal letter.  The University of Washington, USC, and certain UC campuses (which do not allow applicants to submit letters of recommendation with their original applications) are a few examples.  In 2009, one of our students became one of roughly 25 students (out of over 500 appellants) who successfully reversed a USC admissions decision with an appeal letter complimented by three very carefully coordinated letters of recommendation.

Important:

Maintaining academic performance and continuing to stay involved in extracurricular activities is something that is expected of all applicants.  Therefore, getting higher grades or increasing your extracurricular involvement after you submit your application will not be a compelling base for your appeal argument. Your appeal will be more effective if you focuses on your strengths elsewhere.

Are You a Wait-listed Applicant?

Any student who is not admitted to a university can appeal the admissions decision if that university has an appeal process. This includes students who are on the wait-list. In addition to submitting a personal message with your wait-list opt-in, you can submit an appeal letter by following that university’s appeal process guidelines too boost your chances of being selected for admission.

Did You Apply Early Decision/Action?

Did you apply early action or early decision?  Wait to file your appeal until the regular decision applicants hear back for two reasons. By then the university will have a better idea of how many accepted students will actually be matriculating (a.k.a. the number of vacant spaces in the entering class). Second, by that time in the school year, you’ll have amassed more accomplishments and information that you may be able to use to show a university that you are a stronger candidate than you were previously evidenced to be.

Our Most Impressive Win:

In our most impressive win, we helped a freshman applicant with 3.8 GPA and 1900 SAT score reverse his rejection letter from UCLA.  Only the bottom 4.64% of admitted applicants had a GPA comparable to his.  The average GPA and SAT score for UCLA’s entering class that year, 2011, was 4.35 and 2029, respectively.

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