Like the entire educational system, types of universities, colleges, and schools; the process of administration in educational institutions in United States is also unique. For instance; students have the facilities of making common application to a group of colleges. At the same time there is no limit on the number of institutions to which a student can apply for admission. Only requirement is that an application has to be submitted in respect of each institution separately.

Another very peculiar feature of the admission process in US educational systems is that a student is either accepted or rejected on a holistic basis. That means the student will not be accepted or rejected for a particular subject but they will be accepted or rejected for the entire college or university. In terms of method it is in sharp contrast to the methods adopted in European and many Asian countries where the students are admitted or rejected subject wise.

Some of the students prefer to be enlisted in the waiting list instead of being rejected altogether. Benefits of such listing is that many students in USA apply to numerous schools and colleges and it is most likely that they will prefer one college to another basing on convenience, transportation, fee structure, and financial aids available etc. In such cases other colleges where they applied and were selected will have vacancies to be filled up. That is where the waiting list students may step in to fill out the slots.

A uniform pattern is followed in respect of admission process in United States. Five major parts that constitute the entire admission process are as follows : -

1. ACT/SAT scores registered by the student concerned
2. GPA
3. College Application
4. Essay and
5. Letters of Recommendation.

While all colleges may not require the recommendations, they certainly enhance the chances of admission.