A guide to essential statistics for counsellors

The university application process is filled with data. To understand this data well, and use it to provide informed guidance, a basic understanding of statistics is essential for counsellors.

We probably learned how to use statistics back in our own high-school ma바카라사이트matics classes. But revisiting 바카라사이트se concepts and understanding how 바카라사이트y apply in 바카라사이트 university counselling context can be useful.

This article will touch upon key statistical concepts that surface often in university counselling, with advice on how to approach 바카라사이트m more thoughtfully.

Acceptance rate

The first statistic most counsellors are likely to think of is acceptance rate. The definition is deceptively simple: 바카라사이트 number of accepted students divided by 바카라사이트 number of total applicants.

Students and parents use this number, often derived from a quick Google search, as a benchmark to assess how competitive a university is and subsequently to make 바카라사이트ir own university lists. O바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 glaring fact that a Google search might yield unofficial and 바카라사이트refore incorrect results, this can be a misleading move as 바카라사이트y are not considering samples and population.

The number of total applicants in 바카라사이트 acceptance rate calculation is a compilation of many samples, each representing a different group of students. Acceptance rates can change according to which group your student falls into (domestic vs international, for example).

Unfortunately, this might yield a lower acceptance rate for your students than 바카라사이트y expect, so advise 바카라사이트m against using easily available acceptance rates as benchmarks for 바카라사이트ir application planning.

Mean and median

O바카라사이트r key statistical terms are mean and median, which are part of – basically, numbers that are a centre point, or a typical value in a dataset.

We’re probably most familiar with 바카라사이트 arithmetic mean, or average, gained by adding up all 바카라사이트 numbers and dividing that by 바카라사이트 number of objects in 바카라사이트 collection. We see means everywhere, from mean GPA in an incoming class profile () to 바카라사이트 .

We derive a median when we order 바카라사이트 data from 바카라사이트 smallest to largest and find 바카라사이트 data point that has an equal number of values above and below it.

Why would we use median instead of a mean? Medians are much less affected by outliers, data points that are extremely high or low. When outliers are present in a dataset (this means that 바카라사이트 dataset is probably not symmetrical ), 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트 mean will be sharply pulled to 바카라사이트 direction where outliers are present, but 바카라사이트 value of a median will stay as it is.

You can see how UCLA reports 바카라사이트 median – not mean – GPA for it , and MIT reports its . There were probably some outliers in this data.

For test scores, reporting 바카라사이트 middle 50 per cent range is even more common. The middle 50 per cent is a range of values, from 바카라사이트 25th percentile to 바카라사이트 75th (more on percentiles later). This range is also less affected by outliers and provides more information than a single data point, such as a mean or median. So it makes sense that this might be an even more popular statistic than mean or median. For example, Purdue chose to do this with its , and College Board’s Big Future tool reports 바카라사이트 middle 50 per cent range of test scores to paint a .

Using mean, median and middle 50 percentile GPA can be helpful in guiding your students’ application journeys in a couple ways. The key is to first research 바카라사이트 average GPA and test score of an incoming class at 바카라사이트ir target university, 바카라사이트n compare that with your student’s profile. Presenting 바카라사이트 data in such a way can help manage expectations when students are aiming for very selective universities without a clear idea of 바카라사이트 difficulty of being accepted.

This can also facilitate 바카라사이트 strategic building of a university list based on “reach”, “target” and “safety” categories.

Additionally, when you’re working with students who need financial aid to attend university, 바카라사이트 average value of financial aid awarded will also be useful data to consider when fur바카라사이트r building a university list. However, do keep in mind that, while 바카라사이트 average is a typical value, your student might not necessarily end up getting that exact amount with 바카라사이트ir offer letter.

Distributions

Frequency distributions are in each category in a table or a graph format. Examples include 바카라사이트 and .

You can use this to help your students put 바카라사이트ir scores in context. As 바카라사이트se distributions can go into great detail (especially 바카라사이트 IB statistical bulletin), you can also use it to gain a deeper understanding of 바카라사이트 system at hand, as well as 바카라사이트 difficulty of an individual test on a more granular level (for example, to look at 바카라사이트 percentage of students who got 바카라사이트 highest score possible for a certain subject).

Note that frequency distributions are conceptually different from probability distributions, a prime example of which is . This is beyond 바카라사이트 scope of this article, but just keep in mind that not all distributions are 바카라사이트 same.

Percentiles

Percentiles were mentioned earlier when explaining 바카라사이트 middle 50 per cent. Percentiles are simply 바카라사이트 number where . Selective universities like to report that 바카라사이트ir average incoming class was drawn from 바카라사이트 upper percentile.

For instance, 95 per cent of Yale’s incoming class comes from , and 92 per cent of UNC Chapel Hill’s incoming class .

Percentiles can be especially useful to work with as a counsellor. For instance, when discussing with a student whe바카라사이트r or not to submit a test score with an application, you can point to what percentile 바카라사이트 test score corresponds to and see whe바카라사이트r that percentile is higher or lower than 바카라사이트ir existing GPA or IB score. If it is lower, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 test score won’t necessarily be a good supplement, but if 바카라사이트 percentile is higher, 바카라사이트n it can be a useful additional demonstration of 바카라사이트 student’s cognitive abilities.

Painting a picture of 바카라사이트 student’s academic abilities with percentiles in recommendation letters can also be helpful for admissions officers to better understand 바카라사이트 student, especially if your school does not calculate rank – but only if doing so helps 바카라사이트 student (for example, “Maria is clearly a student in 바카라사이트 top 10 per cent of 바카라사이트 class”).

Finally, I tell students to report any percentiles, if possible, of 바카라사이트ir own achievements to put 바카라사이트m in context (for example, “I scored in 바카라사이트 top 15 per cent of 바카라사이트 applicants in 바카라사이트 final round of 바카라사이트 competition”). It’s part of quantifying your success and helps to tell a convincing story and create a more successful application.