The Truth about College Admission Special Edition: Rick Clark on the College Admissions Process Podcast
Mar 4, 2026
Rick Clark, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management at Georgia Tech and author of The Truth About College Admission, gives a concise take on admissions trends and practical tools. He covers shifts in computer science interest and AI across curricula. He discusses rethinking internships and co-ops, using the Common App smartly, and how institutional priorities and financial conversations shape choices.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Admissions Is Supply, Demand, And Class Shaping
- Admissions is driven by supply and demand then shaped by institutional priorities that craft class composition.
- Clark likens shaping a class to making soup: residency, deans' goals, and program needs are the ingredients.
Understand Why Waitlists And Deferrals Exist
- Expect deferrals and waitlists because yield prediction is imperfect and influenced by many external variables.
- Clark describes post-COVID volatility and elongated waitlist activity stretching into July and August.
Pick Recommenders To Add New Chapters To Your Story
- Choose recommenders to add new chapters to your application story, not repeat what's already shown.
- Rick advises picking teachers who reveal different dimensions, e.g., a STEM student using a drama teacher to show broader contributions.
