What College Admissions Officers Actually Look For

September 2, 2026 | 8:00 pm EST

About this webinar

Join Zach, a former admissions officer at Rice University, for an insider’s look at how selective colleges review applications and what makes a student stand out in a highly competitive applicant pool. In this discussion, we will cover:

  • How admissions officers read and evaluate an application
  • The role of grades, course rigor and standardized testing
  • What meaningful extracurricular depth looks like
  • How essays and recommendations shape the overall impression
  • What families often misunderstand about “fit” and holistic review

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Presented by

Zach Ogie

Zach has a BA in Political Science from Chapman University. Before joining AcceptU, Zach served as an Associate Director of Admission at Rice University for six years, where he managed the evaluative interview process and reviewed BS/MD applications.

Take the next step—schedule a complimentary consultation with a former admissions officer