Applications are made up of many pieces that come from different voices - rec letters from teachers, observation notes from visit days, feedback from interviewers, application summaries from readers, and more! Each of these writings summarizes the author's perspective on an applicant. While each author offers a unique perspective on the applicant, they also have their own biases and share those with readers in the ways they write about students. In this session, we will help admissions professionals learn to complete forms, assessments, and write-ups in a way that minimizes the author's bias and sets readers up for an impartial review of an applicant. Rooted in the Kira Talent “Nine Forms of Bias in Admissions'' this session is a part of anti-bias training by taking a deeper dive into the nooks and crannies of the written application pieces. This session is one of two that will cover anti-bias tactics in admissions! We encourage you to attend our colleagues' session “What’s My Bias? Using Anti-Bias Training for Admissions Reading Committees to Mitigate Bias and Bolster Equity in the Admissions Process” which will be an extension of anti-bias practices in admissions from the lens of an application reader.

Alexandra Halladay, Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences, WA

Sarah Meteyer, Friends School of Baltimore, MD