College Admissions: Beyond the Numbers

Join Brandon Mack for a thoughtful look at two of the biggest questions students ask during the application process: How could someone with “perfect” stats get rejected, and what are my real chances of getting into a specific college? In this class, students will explore why admissions decisions are not based on grades and test scores alone, and how factors like fit, institutional priorities, essays, activities, and context can all shape an outcome. We will also break down what it really means to ask about your chances at a particular school, and why that question requires more than comparing yourself to a college’s average admitted student. Students will learn how to research schools with greater honesty and purpose, looking closely at selectivity, institutional values, academic offerings, and what makes a college worth the effort of applying. Rather than treating admissions like a simple numbers game, this class will help students think more realistically and strategically about where to invest their time and energy. By the end, students will have a clearer understanding of how to evaluate their college list and ask smarter questions about fit, effort, and opportunity.

About Brandon

Brandon Mack has spent 16 years helping students find their place at Rice University and beyond. He began as an admission counselor at his alma mater, rising to Associate Director of Admissions, where he leads both domestic and international recruitment and chairs selection committees across Rice’s undergraduate schools. Nationally, Brandon lends his voice to the National Association for College Admission Counseling and serving on several of its committees.