Fairbrook University Mock Admission Candidate Study Guide: Candidate Evaluation Notes

Evaluation Criteria for Admissions Candidates

To effectively evaluate the three Regular Decision applicants for Fairbrook University, the admission committee utilizes several guided prompts to assess fit and quality across multiple categories.

• Personal Information: Assess background or family details relevant to the university. Note special circumstances affecting objective data (e.g., medical issues, socio-economic status).

• Transcript & Academics: Examine high school profiles to understand course offerings. Evaluate the rigor of the curriculum (advanced/challenging courses), grade trends (upward/downward), and senior year load. Compare achievements relative to the school peer group.

• SAT/ACT Testing: Determine if scores were submitted and how they align with the college profile ($700-750$ EBRW, $680-740$ Math, $31-33$ ACT). If test-optional, identify other evidence of academic ability.

• Activities: Look for depth of commitment, leadership roles, and impact on the community. Assess the likelihood of the student being an active campus member.

• Essay: Evaluate the student's voice, self-revelation of talents, and technical accuracy (grammar, spelling, punctuation).

• Letters of Recommendation: Identify two or three key insights about the applicant and their fit for Fairbrook.

• Demonstrated Interest: Track engagement (visits, emails, fairs) to understand the student's motivation for attending and potential fit.

Profile of Fairbrook University

Founded in $1842$ in central Pennsylvania, Fairbrook University is a prestigious liberal arts institution.

• Student Body: totaling $2,350$ students from $46$ states and over $40$ countries.

• Financial Aid: Approximately $60\%$ of students receive aid; admissions is need-blind.

• Academic Strength: Key programs include musical theatre, visual arts, foreign languages, political science, anthropology, economics, and creative writing.

• Pre-Medical Program: Highly competitive program integrated into the liberal arts; features a recent $\$29$-million science center for individual research.

• Campus Life: Hallmark features include close student-faculty interaction and theme-oriented "residential colleges." $90\%$ of students live on campus. The "Fighting Fairies" compete in NCAA Division II-level athletics.

• Selectivity: Highly selective with a $17\%$ admission rate. The student body is $60\%$ public school and $40\%$ independent/parochial school graduates.

• Standardized Test Ranges (Middle $50\%$):     * SAT Evidence-Based Reading & Writing: $700-750$     * SAT Math: $680-740$     * ACT Composite: $31-33$

Candidate Profile: Allie Adams

Allie Adams is a Regular Decision applicant for the Fall $2027$ term.

Personal & Family Information

• Background: Home in Collegeville, PA. Parents are separated.

• Family Connection: Mother, Rebecca Adams, is a Fairbrook University alumna (Class of $2003$) and currently works as a secondary teacher/administrator. One brother, Aaron ($20$), attends Pennsylvania State University.

• Interests: Listed interest in History, English, and Philosophy, with an undecided future plan (though also mentions "Attorney, Law School").

Academic Performance (Mainline High School)

• School Profile: A comprehensive public school in Newtown Square, PA. Class size: $310$.

• Ranking & GPA: Rank: $23/310$. Weighted GPA: $4.69$. Unweighted GPA: $4.00$.

• Curriculum Rigor: Rated as "Most Demanding."     * Senior Year Courses: AP Biology, AP Statistics, Econ & Personal Finance (Regular), AP Literature, AP Macroeconomics, AP Physics, Spanish IV Honors.     * Transcript History: Completed multiple AP courses including World History, Precalculus ($82$), Psychology ($88$), US Gov ($89$), Art History, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, and English Language.

• Circumstances: Developed mononucleosis in the fall of sophomore year, missing $2.5$ weeks and several non-makeup quizzes, contributing to some lower grades that semester.

Testing & Honors

• ACT Scores: Composite: $28$. Math: $29$. English: $26$. Reading: $28$.

• Honors: National Honor Society, Presidential Service Award, Gordon Service and Leadership Book Award, Templeton Science Merit Scholarship, Presidential Academic Excellence Award.

Co-curricular Activities

• Music: Vocalist, Alto and Tenor Section Leader in School Chorus ($4$ years). Also a composer of Indie-Folk music with two released albums.

• Leadership: Events Chair for Student Government Association (nominated leadership award).

• Athletics: Co-Captain of Varsity Soccer ($11, 12$).

• Service: Member of National Honor Society and Jewish Affinity Group (led school-wide assemblies). Participated in service trips to West Virginia, Costa Rica, and Guatemala.

• Theater: Actor and lighting crew in every school musical ($4$ years).

Writing and Recommendations

• Personal Essay: Discusses the concept of "Appalachia Perfect" derived from her service trips. It defines an outcome that isn't flawless but represents honest effort and mutual forgiveness. She illustrates this with a story of building a bedroom addition for a family in West Virginia in just five days.

• Fairbrook Supplement: Mentions visiting campus for reunions since age $11$; attracted to the environment where her mother struggled but succeeded academically; enjoys the local cuisine and the "Fighting Fairies" basketball games.

• Recommendation (Jerry Davis, AP US History): Describes her as extremely hardworking and a "great role model" who creates study groups and tutors struggling peers.

Candidate Profile: Ben Bartlet

Ben Bartlet is an African American, Belizean, and Italian student from Brooklyn, NY, applying Regular Decision.

Personal & Family Information

• Background: Father is a self-employed business owner (HS graduate); Mother is a self-employed companion for elderly families (some trade school). Sibling: Zoey ($20$), attends Rice University.

• Community Based Organization: Member of Prep Unlimited.

Academic Performance (Hadley Academy)

• School Profile: Highly selective independent boarding school in Hadley, MA ($10.5\%$ admit rate). Grading is "unusually conservative."

• Ranking & GPA: The school does not rank or publish GPA. Class size: $93$.

• Curriculum Rigor: Rated as "Most Demanding." Hadley uses a unique "Advanced" (ADV) curriculum instead of AP/IB.     * Senior Year Courses: Multivariable Calculus, Writing in the Public Sphere, Global South Women's History, Calculus-Based Physics Honors, Creative Writing, Gender and Ethics, New Courts and the Constitution, Microeconomics, Capitalism: A Global History.     * Grades: Consistent high marks ($90$-$96$ range) in ADV Latin, ADV Chem, and English.

Testing & Honors

• SAT Scores: Evidence-based Reading and Writing: $730$. Math: $660$. (Total: $1390$).

• Honors: Inclusion Scholar, National Latin Exam (International), $2 \times$ Cum Laude.

Co-curricular Activities

• Leadership: Leader of School Council; Peer Mentor on Freshman Dorm (responsible for $20+$ students).

• Service: Assistant Head Advisor at Prep Unlimited ($36$ hr/wk in summers); Logistics Coordinator for Black Student Union (BSU).

• Athletics: Varsity Baseball (Catcher); led team stretches and speeches.

• Engagement: Faith and Breakfast member; Poetry Club member; Teen Reads Intern at NY Public Library; Math League.

Writing and Recommendations

• Personal Essay: Uses a charcoal Ralph Lauren quarter-zip sweater as a metaphor for his journey. It contrasts his "loud" colorful clothing in childhood with the quiet, steady leadership he found as a baseball catcher. He highlights that growth doesn't mean losing one's inner color but channeling it differently.

• Fairbrook Supplement: Fell in love with the campus during a Prep Unlimited visit in May; values the liberal arts curriculum and mentioned interest in the "Fairbrook in Nairobi" study abroad program.

• Recommendation (Mellie Grant, History): Commends his empathy, maturity, and proactive nature. Notes that he responded to early academic challenges with resolve and "genuine desire to learn at a deeper level."

Candidate Profile: Sofia Sullivan

Sofia Sullivan is a Regular Decision applicant from Los Angeles, CA, targeting a Pre-med/Biology track.

Personal & Family Information

• Background: Mother is a professor at Occidental College (PhD from UC Berkeley); Father is a business executive (BA from UC Berkeley). Sibling: Ana Maria ($13$).

• Circumstances: Commutes $60+$ minutes to school daily and has significant family responsibilities (caring for younger sister).

Academic Performance (Mary Benet Academy)

• School Profile: Private, all-girls day school in Los Angeles.

• Ranking & GPA: No class rank. Unweighted GPA: $3.8/4.0$.

• Curriculum Rigor: Rated as "Most Demanding." Full International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Candidate.     * Senior Year (IB YR2): IB Lang A English SL, IB History of the Americas SL, IB Math: Analysis & Approach HL, IB Biology HL, IB Theory of Knowledge YR2, IB Spanish HL, IB Theater SL.     * Transcript History: Strong performance in Grade $11$ ($4.0$ GPA), following slightly lower marks in Grade $10$ ($3.6$).

Testing & Honors

• Scores: Applied test-optional (No scores reported).

• Honors: National Honors Society, Video Essay Contest (Second Place and Fan Favorite).

Co-curricular Activities

• Medicine Focused: LA Youth Medicine Program (shadowed $15+$ doctors, observed $100+$ patients); Hospital Volunteer at Adventist Hospital Glendale.

• Leadership: HOSA (Future Health Professionals) Club Leader ($35+$ members); Founder and President of Fiber Arts Club (made $70+$ items for hospitals).

• Athletics: Cross-Country ($4$ years); received Mary Benet Scholar Athlete Award.

• Service: Math Tutor (mentored $20+$ peers); Co-instructor at LA Spanish School for Kids and Adults.

Writing and Recommendations

• Personal Essay: Recounts a stress fracture injury in freshman year that forced her to stop running. During recovery, she became fascinated by the work of athletic trainers and the mechanics of healing, which solidified her desire to work in healthcare.

• Fairbrook Supplement: Explicitly mentions the school's $\$27$ million grant for the pre-med program; name-drops student Meredith Caplan and Dr. Sutula’s ‐Rural Healthcare Systems‐ class as specific points of interest.

• Recommendation (Christy Rochford, Biology): Strong endorsement; calls her a "remarkable student" who is "dedicating to the field of science" and emphasizes her leadership in the HOSA club.

Summary of Demonstrated Interest