In an era driven by test scores, GPA, and extracurricular stacking, it’s easy to assume that college admissions decisions are purely academic. Yet, what many students and parents overlook is the subtler, human side of the process—where social competence, self-awareness, and yes, etiquette, play an unspoken but real role.
While admissions committees won’t formally list “etiquette” among selection criteria, students who communicate professionally, carry themselves with composure during interviews, and understand how to engage respectfully with others often stand out. In highly selective schools where the margin of difference between applicants is razor-thin, this polish can become a deciding factor.…