The graduate school application process is a complex and multi-faceted one, which relies on several factors to determine the fate of the application. While the initial screening process involves a review of each application by multiple committee members, the final decision is based on the average reviewer score given to the candidate.
However, there are no fixed numerical weightages for each factor in the selection process, and the final score is not a linear combination of the different factors. The committee members are usually given a scale and a mapping from different scores on that scale to English descriptions of what an average applicant getting that score should be like. Using this legend as a reference, the score is awarded by the reviewer based on his/her overall perception of the candidate, taking all factors into account.
To ensure accuracy in the scoring process, committee members often go back to their already evaluated applications for recalibrating the scores after going through all their applicants once. Despite such careful measures, there may be cases where the same application gets contrasting reviews since each committee member may differ in the way he/she evaluates candidates.
The final admissions committee meeting is where applications are debated and discussed, and decisions are made. In these discussions, applications that might have otherwise got rejected (due to low average reviewer score) can get rescued by a committee member who has a strong case for admitting the candidate. The final selection process is thus a time-consuming and complicated one.
However, every committee member gives it their due diligence, since maintaining an excellent quality of incoming students is a high priority for any top-tier graduate school. Therefore, the committee takes great care in ensuring that each applicant is evaluated fairly and comprehensively, in order to select the best possible candidates for their graduate programs.
In conclusion, the graduate school application process is not just about grades and test scores; it is a holistic evaluation of the candidate's skills, experience, personality, and potential. The selection process involves multiple steps, each of which is carefully designed to ensure that the best candidates are admitted to the program. So, if you're planning to apply for a graduate program, make sure you put your best foot forward and showcase all your skills and achievements, as this will help you stand out in the competitive pool of applicants.