The importance of institutional priorities in the admission process is a significant cue for applicants that the school’s needs matter as much in the admissions process as do the applicants’ needs. For example, a school that has committed itself to increasing classroom diversity may pass on an otherwise strong applicant if the applicant comes from a professional background that is already well repre- sented in the entering class. Therefore, it is crucial for applicants to clarify their career goals and identify programs with which they fit best. This requires that applicants perform a great deal of introspec- tion to determine what they.
