Here comes the regional admissions officer.

The first person who reads your application is someone who knows your region — someone who understands your school system, your country, and your context.
So don’t worry — your application isn’t being read by someone who thinks Africa is a country. This person is trained to evaluate your story in the right context — they know what opportunities you had access to and what challenges you faced.

Once the regional officer reads your file, they give it a score. That score helps determine your place in the lineup when the admissions committee meets.

During committee review, your application is discussed, evaluated, and finally voted on anonymously. This is why essays, recommendations, and activities are so important — they give life to your application.
Behind closed doors, they’re asking: “Who is this student? What will they bring to our campus?”

Of course, every university has its own process, but this system is one of the most common approaches, especially at top-ranked schools.

The takeaway? Your application is read by real people who want to understand who you are — so focus on being honest, clear, and thoughtful in everything you submit.