Admissions Models
The study aimed at investigating admissions models at British Columbia’s 25 public post-secondary institutions through (1) a review of the information available on EducationPlannerBC and institutional websites for applicants to undergraduate programs (mainly diploma and bachelor’s degree), and (2) interviews with 20 admissions professionals from 14 of the institutions.
Examples drawn from BC institutions illustrate what materials applicants are required to submit and how those materials are evaluated. A comprehensive model was developed to illustrate the relationship between eligibility-based models, in which the focus is on evaluating the materials submitted by applicants against the requirements for entry to a program, and selection-based models, which are needed when there are not enough spaces for all eligible applicants. When asked if and how their institutions use holistic admissions models, the admissions professionals offered a range of perspectives.