This session is in collaboration with Vanessa C. Prescott, Director of Admissions for Middle and Upper School at the Berkeley Carroll School. In the past few years, Vanessa and I have both created and administered a rating/rubric system for applications across three different schools. During this session, we hope to support other admission offices in developing a rubric or rating system that evaluates candidates for qualities that are uniquely important to their school. By having a rating system that is specific to our school communities we can create communities of learners that are mission-aligned. Rating systems also help to effectively minimize bias in the reading process. This would help all readers know what aspects of a student’s application matter the most to our school community when evaluating applicants' materials. Most significantly, rating systems can help minimize reader bias in committees by creating a rubric to help them in making their decisions. Implementing a rubric/rating system will ensure that all aspects of the file are read with care and consideration. Our session will cover the value of rating systems, their use in reading/committee, how to create a school-specific rating system, and how to analyze data in rating systems for further information about yield and individual readers' biases.

Alexandra Halladay, Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences, WA

Vanessa Prescott, Berkeley Carroll, NY