Correct, but you can't use a quick & dirty electronic screening tool to see into the essays. Simpler to ask computer to spit out zip, rural or urban designation, colleges attended, etc and sort on permitted variables to identify applicants who are likely to have the prioritized characteristics.
Of course, AI widgets ... but we have to get over legal to demonstrate we aren't using race/ethnicity to make admissions decisions.
It's all about fit to mission. Stats may be screened, and it's common that even below minimum apps will be looked at for diamonds in the rough.
so you use legal to loophole. i gotcha
Choosing applicants to prioritize for review and is not the same as an admission decision. Some schools will do this to get the top candidates in the door (or on Zoom) before those applicants get an offer in mid-October and start getting picky about which interview invitations they'll entertain. In fact, some schools hold all offers until February but will start by interviewing the candidates they consider the hottest prospects. How one defines "hot" will vary by school. How would you do it?
