The Left Handed Tuba Player

The "left handed tuba player" is an illusive character used in my family's discussions of the college admissions process when my sisters and I were in high school. Although not a real person, the "left handed tuba player" is an embodiment of that ideal admissions candidate - that final piece of the puzzle. This applicant, despite other criteria, puts the finishing touches on the college's class profile.

This construct symbolizes the multifaceted nature of the contemporary American college admissions process. Colleges look at more than just GPA, SAT, and ACT scores when reading an application. While students highlight their community service, academic achievements, and other accomplishments through essays and resumes, some colleges may just need to fill a quota. One year, a college may need lacrosse players. Another year, the college may want to increase the Classics department. And one year, the college may just need to fill the slot of the left handed tuba player. This case illustrates how some college admissions decisions are not necessarily based on who is the best all-around applicant, but based more so on a mixture of individual student characteristics and the college's specific needs. This is a complicated equation that is out of students' hands to a certain degree. One where applicants and college admissions professionals must balance institutional demands, emotions, personal passions, and financial needs. There is a holistic nature to the process.

In this blog, I intend to examine several aspects of the college admissions process - testing, applications, trends, rankings, technology, and more. I plan to comment on contemporary college admissions literature and use this forum as a way to dispense information. Enjoy!