A Scientific Mindset in Admissions: What It Looks Like

Let’s be clear: applying “with a scientific approach” doesn’t mean you run lab tests on your cover letter. But it does mean that you stop guessing and start observing.

It means:

you don’t generalize based on a single case,

you don’t blindly copy someone else’s success,

and you don’t rely on intuition alone.

Instead, you analyze patterns. You check data. You ask the kinds of questions that researchers ask: What works? When? For whom? Why?

When I work with applicants — especially those applying abroad — this is exactly how I approach the process. I don’t just give feedback on tone or formatting. I track which arguments get noticed. I compare admitted profiles. I cross-check what universities actually do, not just what they say they do.

Where the Data Comes From

Some of it is obvious:

official statistics,

public admissions reports,

available data on selection rates and candidate profiles.

But there’s more.

I also look at:

published essays and recommendation letters (with permission),

interviews with admissions officers,

debriefs written by past applicants,

and my own case archive: the moments when a candidate’s file was overlooked, or when something unexpected tipped the scales in their favor.

This kind of pattern recognition is not always glamorous, but it’s essential especially if you're applying without agency help or insider access.

What It Changes

Approaching admissions this way shifts the focus.

It’s no longer about trying to “sound confident” or to “look impressive.” It becomes about making clear, verifiable links between your profile and what the university is really selecting for.

A strong application isn’t necessarily the flashiest one. It’s the one that fits the system’s internal logic. And the more you understand that logic, the less you need to guess.

Bottom Line

A scientific mindset in admissions means:

no guessing,

no copying,

no overconfidence,

no blind faith in charisma.

It means you test, compare, adjust and build a file that holds up not just because you believe in yourself, but because it makes sense in context.

That’s how you move from hoping to knowing and that’s what smart applications are built on.

About the author

Lilian Lori (Liliane Laurie) is a language instructor and education consultant helping international applicants navigate admissions to French universities. She writes about how admissions systems really work and who gets access to education and why.

Her current projects include WindowToFrance and STUDYON, both focused on educational mobility and early career building in Europe.

You can follow her on Telegram @lilian_lori, or through her projects WindowToFrance and STUDYON.