Four recommended practices for implementing an admissions portfolio system¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · 2 claims (1 for, 1 mixed) · 1 study (1 qualitative), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 2 claims rest on one study

Description¶

The report relays the 2022 Reimagining College Access tool's recommended practices for institutions implementing an admissions portfolio: know your "why" for requesting different or additional information; determine which artifacts to request in the most usable format; craft and refine a clear "ask" about expectations and intended use with supports for students; and conduct outreach to counselors, students, and families. The Ross case is presented as demonstrating how admission officers can put these practices into action.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Clarity about the purpose of requesting additional information
• Supports so students understand the goals and expectations of the portfolio
• Outreach to guidance and college counselors, students, and families

Constraints¶

• Practices are recommendations from the RCA tool, illustrated by one institution's case rather than tested across sites

Target Learners¶

• Undergraduate applicants, particularly those from historically minoritized communities

Target Learning Goals¶

• Communicating portfolio expectations so applicants can demonstrate their strengths effectively

Claims¶

• The portfolio adds context to holistic review that readers say helps level the playing field for applicants from under-resourced high schools [+W]
• Requiring an admissions portfolio coincided with a large drop in BBA applications, consistent with filtering for intentional applicants, with volumes recovering after outreach [~W]

Related Strategies¶

• Calibration training and moderation to ensure reliable rubric-based portfolio review

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Willis, L., & Martinez, M. R. (2022). Authentic student work in college admissions: Lessons from the Ross School of Business. Learning Policy Institute. https://doi.org/10.54300/756.774