--- title: What is OutcomesIQ? How to update existing admissions results information description: OutcomesIQ is CounselMore's college list evaluation tool. It compares your student's profile against historical application outcomes — surfacing how students similar to yours actually performed at each school. --- [Skip to content](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/what-is-outcomesiq#main-content) English Show submenu for translations [![CounselMore College Planning Software Knowledge Base](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logos/CMLogo_CCS_wide_trans-w2000-1.gif?width=1116&height=125&name=CMLogo_CCS_wide_trans-w2000-1.gif)](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/?hsLang=en) Open main navigation Close main navigation - English Show submenu for translations Select below, or search by topic - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Knowledge Base : CounselMore Support](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/?hsLang=en) 2. [CLIENT MANAGEMENT](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/client-management?hsLang=en) # What is OutcomesIQ? How to update existing admissions results information ## OutcomesIQ is CounselMore's college list evaluation tool. It compares your student's profile against historical application outcomes, surfacing how students similar to yours actually performed at each school. This allows you to evaluate admissions potential and campus fit before promoting a school to a family. ### **OutcomesIQ: Your Evidence-Based College List Builder** **The goal:** Move from "this feels right" to "this is evidence-backed."  ### Turning on OutcomesIQ The first time you log in after OutcomesIQ launches, an **OutcomesIQ** pop-up opens once. It shows a short intro video and how students like yours compare to all applicants. Click **Get access**. ![outcomesiq-2](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/outcomesiq-2.png?width=457&height=447&name=outcomesiq-2.png) 1. Review what you share and what you get: you share your past students' outcomes, and you get outcomes from counselors across the CounselMore community. Shared data is **anonymized**, **never sold**, and **stays in CounselMore**. 2. Tick **I agree to share anonymized outcome data**. Pooled records can't be removed. Click **Full terms** to read the details. ![outcomesiqjoin](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/outcomesiqjoin.png?width=594&height=391&name=outcomesiqjoin.png) 3. Click **Join the network**. A confirmation appears, and OutcomesIQ, including the CounselMore Network, is turned on right away. Not ready yet? Click **X** or **Maybe later** to close the pop-up without turning OutcomesIQ on. --- ### Turning it on later If you closed the pop-up, you can turn OutcomesIQ on at any time from either place below. The same pop-up opens; click **Get access** and **Join the network** to finish. - **Settings \> AI Features**, then switch on the **OutcomesIQ** toggle. ![aifeatures](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/aifeatures.png?width=670&height=336&name=aifeatures.png) - A student's **Counselor List** or **Student List**, then click **Turn on OutcomesIQ**. ![onoutcomes](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/onoutcomes.png?width=670&height=335&name=onoutcomes.png) Once you've joined, you won't see the pop-up again. You can turn OutcomesIQ off and on from Settings or from the list without the pop-up. --- ### OutcomesIQ settings Go to **Settings \> AI Features**: - **OutcomesIQ**: turning this off turns OutcomesIQ off for every student. When it's on, students you've turned off individually stay off. - **Data source**: who OutcomesIQ compares your students to by default, **CounselMore Network** or **Your students**. - **List Target Mix**: the mix of schools your college lists are graded against. Set the target share of Net, Fit and Reach/Lottery schools (they must add up to 100%), the minimum and maximum number of schools, and how many acceptances to aim for. You can also save named presets, such as a "10-school package," to use for different students. These targets drive the List Balance grade and List Probability. More details are in **Customizing the target mix** below. ![AIfeaturesettings](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AIfeaturesettings.png?width=670&height=336&name=AIfeaturesettings.png) **Multi-counselor accounts.** The account admin sees **Team settings**: - **Enable OutcomesIQ for counselor licenses** controls whether counselor licenses can use OutcomesIQ. - When it's on, choose what counselor licenses see in **Your students** mode: **Students they have access to**, or **All students in account**. ![oiqadmin](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/oiqadmin.png?width=670&height=337&name=oiqadmin.png) If OutcomesIQ isn't enabled for a counselor license, that counselor sees *"Ask your account admin to turn on the Network"* in Settings and *"Request access from your admin to use OutcomesIQ"* on the college list. ![oiqsub](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/oiqsub.png?width=670&height=331&name=oiqsub.png) To get the most out of OutcomesIQ, update your historical student records **to the best of your ability**. You can update your records in bulk using the [Bulk Import Student Information](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/bulk-upload?hsLang=en) process, or update individual student records using AI Assist.    --- ### **Overview:** #### In the **College lists**, use your professional instinct to evaluate Campus Fit. #### **![fit-2](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/fit-2.png?width=640&height=329&name=fit-2.png)** #### **THEN \>** Turn on OutcomesIQ Insights to check your instinct against all previous students who also applied to the same school - sorted by applicants, who are most **similar in academic and biography** as your current student profile. ![turnon](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/turnon.png?width=640&height=309&name=turnon.png) How is,  #### *similar in academic and biography*, determined? The areas of weighting, that produce a listing of Similar Applicants: High School State of Residence Test score Years per subject (rigor) AP count Activity overlap Self-assessment GPA Major **\* Maintain student high school information will improve your local data reflection** **[What makes a record complete?](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/what-is-outcomesiq#faq)** --- ### **Getting Started: Opening OutcomesIQ** - Open a student's college list (either the **Counselor List** or **Student List** tab — OutcomesIQ works the same on both). - Switch on the **OutcomesIQ Insights** toggle at the top of the list, or open **Menu** and switch on **OutcomesIQ Insights**. When it's off, the bar reads "Insights hidden." Click the arrow next to OutcomesIQ Insights to collapse or expand the panel. ![oiq](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/oiq.png?width=670&height=359&name=oiq.png)   --- ### **If you're asked to update the student's profile first** If the student's bio banner isn't complete yet, the OutcomesIQ Insights panel shows **Complete profile**. Click it to open the **Update Student Profile** form instead of loading results. **![updatestudentprofile](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/updatestudentprofile.png?width=670&height=343&name=updatestudentprofile.png)** **Required fields** The banner at the top of the form shows five required fields. Completed fields are green with a checkmark, and missing fields are amber, and the counter on the right shows your progress (for example, *3 of 5 complete*). In the form, sections that still need information are highlighted in amber with a tag such as **MISSING · REQUIRED**, and finished sections show **Done**. ![oiqprofileclasses](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/oiqprofileclasses.png?width=323&height=176&name=oiqprofileclasses.png)    ![oiqprofact](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/oiqprofact.png?width=347&height=176&name=oiqprofact.png) ### **Why OutcomesIQ asks for these fields** OutcomesIQ finds past applicants who are most similar to your student, then shows how those students did at each school. It can only match students on information it has. That's why these five fields must be filled in before results can load: | Required field | Why it's required | | --- | --- | | **GPA** (unweighted) | GPA is one of the core matching factors. Without it, OutcomesIQ can't compare your student's academic record to past applicants. | | **SAT or ACT** | Test scores are a core matching factor. If the student hasn't tested yet, enter a goal or target score so a comparison can still be made, then update it later. | | **Classes per subject** | Years of coursework in each core subject show course rigor. This separates a student with 4 years of math and science from one with 2, even when their GPAs are the same. | | **Activities** (2 distinct) | Activity overlap is used to find students with similar interests and involvement. At least two activities are needed to make that comparison meaningful. | | **Self assessment** (3+) | Self-assessment answers capture the student's priorities and fit preferences. At least three answers are needed for this to count in the match. | Intended major is optional. Adding it helps OutcomesIQ match students interested in the same field. You have two easy ways to fill in the gaps: - **Let AI do it for you** — paste in or attach a transcript, resume, meeting notes, or similar document, and click **Parse & Preview**. Nothing saves until you've reviewed and approved it. If you upload more than one document, such as a transcript and a resume, check the AP / IB rows in the preview for the same course listed twice under different names. Keep one row and fill in its score and date before you click Create. - **Enter it yourself** — fill in GPA, test scores, classes per subject, activities and self assessment directly. - The **Save & refresh results** button stays grayed out until all required fields are filled out. Once everything is complete, the button is enabled and the banner reads "All set — save to load their results." Click it to save. You'll see "Profile updated. OutcomesIQ refreshed." Then switch on the **OutcomesIQ Insights** toggle at the top of the list to load the results. [What makes a record complete?](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/what-is-outcomesiq#faq)   --- ### **Choosing where the data comes from** You can choose which data source OutcomesIQ uses. Go to **Settings \> AI Features \> Data source** and select **CounselMore Network** (compare to students across CounselMore) or **Your students** (compare only to students in your account). The VIEW IQ report shows which one is in use ("Powered by CounselMore Network").  ![datasource](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/datasource.png?width=670&height=472&name=datasource.png) ### **Your students** This compares the student only to **your own** past students. It's the most personal, most relevant comparison — but it depends on how many past outcomes you've logged. When you don't have enough of your own data for a school: - The **OutcomesIQ** rate shows a **black sheep**, and the **YOUR STUDENTS** rate shows **--%**. - **List Probability** and **Probability by Target** can't be calculated. List Probability tells you how many schools on the list have enough data (for example, "enough data for 4 of 11 schools") and shows **Add data to calculate probability**. Adding more of your past students and their outcomes fills these in. You can also switch to the CounselMore Network for a larger pool. ![yourstudent](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/yourstudent.png?width=670&height=341&name=yourstudent.png) Clicking **Add data to calculate probability** opens an **Import Students** window where you can upload past records all at once: ![importstudent](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/importstudent.png?width=568&height=289&name=importstudent.png) At the top of the window, click **Use Network view** to switch to outcomes from counselors across the CounselMore network instead. - Upload spreadsheets, PDFs, or Word docs — intake forms, transcripts, meeting notes, resumes, or outcome spreadsheets all work. (College outcomes specifically need to be in a spreadsheet or CSV.) - The system reads the files and fills in students, GPAs, test scores, activities, and outcomes automatically. - It's safe to import over existing records: only fields with new information get updated, and nothing you've already entered gets erased. ### Network This compares the student against outcomes shared by counselors across CounselMore.  --- ### The OutcomesIQ Insights panel At the top of the list, the **OutcomesIQ Insights** panel shows, at a glance, whether the student's list has a healthy mix of schools and how likely the student is to get in. It has four parts. #### List Balance - If OutcomesIQ disagrees with one of your Fit ratings, the grade shows as pending ("–") with a note telling you how many suggestions to review before a grade can be shown. Click **Accept all suggestions** to accept every one at once, or click **VIEW IQ** on each school to review them one by one. ![-](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/-.png?width=600&height=185&name=-.png) - Once everything's resolved, you'll get a letter grade | Grade | What it shows | | --- | --- | | **A+** (green) | A good mix. No changes needed, so the Ask Seymore button doesn't appear. | | **A** (green) | The list is in good shape, with a note on how to reach A+. | | **B** (orange) and **C** (red) | The fixes to make, such as adding or swapping schools, plus **Ask Seymore to help**. | ![Aplus](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Aplus.png?width=326&height=90&name=Aplus.png) ![A-2](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/A-2.png?width=344&height=90&name=A-2.png) ![B](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/B.png?width=327&height=85&name=B.png) ![c](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/c.png?width=339&height=86&name=c.png) --- ### Ask Seymore to help 1. Click **Ask Seymore to help**. Seymore opens on the right and asks to balance the list to match your target mix. ![seymoreasktohelp](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/seymoreasktohelp.png?width=670&height=344&name=seymoreasktohelp.png) 2. Seymore proposes schools to add or remove and explains why. ![help-1](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/help-1.png?width=670&height=343&name=help-1.png) 3. On the review card, uncheck any changes you don't want, then click **Apply changes**. Click **Cancel** to change nothing. 4. OutcomesIQ recalculates, and the grade updates. ![applied](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/applied.png?width=670&height=321&name=applied.png) Tip: if any Fit suggestions are still open, Seymore asks you to **Use** or **Dismiss** them first, because they affect the balance. At the top of the Seymore chat, click **New chat** to start a fresh conversation, or click **–** to minimize the chat to the side. ![minimize](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/minimize.png?width=392&height=65&name=minimize.png)   --- ### List Target Mix List Target Mix shows a bar showing how many schools fall into each category — **Net, Fit, Reach, and Lottery** — compared to a target mix. Each bar shows the number of schools in that category next to its target range, plus a bar for the total number of schools. - **No icon:** the category is within its target range. ![listtarget](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/listtarget.png?width=252&height=211&name=listtarget.png) - **! Over your target:** the list has more schools in this category than your target mix calls for. Hover over the **!** to see how many to swap and which categories to swap them for. ![oiqtargetover](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/oiqtargetover.png?width=259&height=177&name=oiqtargetover.png) - **! Under your target:** the list has fewer schools in this category than your target mix calls for. Hover over the **!** to see how many to add. ![oiqunder](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/oiqunder.png?width=262&height=151&name=oiqunder.png) #### Customizing the target mix By default, OutcomesIQ grades your list against a standard target mix (roughly 30–40% Net, 40–50% Fit, 10–20% Reach/Lottery, and 8–12 schools total). You're not stuck with that default — the ✏️ icon next to List Target Mix lets you apply a different target instead, and your grade and recommendations update to match whichever one is selected. ![oiqmix](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/oiqmix.png?width=670&height=323&name=oiqmix.png) - Clicking the ✏️ shows **Default Mix** plus any custom presets you've created, each with a checkmark next to the one currently applied. - **Edit mix settings** takes you to **Settings \> AI Features \> List Target Mix**, where you can: - Adjust the **Default Mix** — the target percentage for each band plus a minimum and maximum number of schools (the three band percentages need to add up to 100%). - Set **At least \_\_\_ acceptances**, the goal used by List Probability. A line below confirms what your mix can support, for example "With a 8–12 school list at this mix, we can confidently estimate up to 3 acceptances." - Create named **Mix Presets** (for example, a "10-school package") with their own targets, using **+ Add preset**. Click the trash icon to delete one. ![oiqsettings](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/oiqsettings.png?width=670&height=335&name=oiqsettings.png) - Back on a student's list, reopen the ✏️ to pick any preset you've created — the target mix shown, and the grade itself, will reflect that preset instead of the default. - To relabel the Net/Fit/Reach/Lottery categories themselves, go to **Settings \> Account Setup \> Counselor Preferences \> List Balance Labels**. These labels show up across your College Lists and App Tracker. ![oiqlabels](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/oiqlabels.png?width=670&height=336&name=oiqlabels.png) --- ### List Probability List Probability uses the outcomes of similar past applicants to estimate whether the student is likely to be admitted to enough schools on the list. "Enough" is the number you set in **At least \_\_\_ acceptances** in Settings \> AI Features \> List Target Mix, or in the preset applied to the student. - **Thumbs up**: the student has a strong chance of being admitted to at least that number of schools. A button lets you promote the list to the next stage (Student List, then App Tracker). See **Promoting schools** below. - **Thumbs down**: the student may be admitted to fewer schools than that number. Click **Ask Seymore to help** for suggestions to strengthen the list. If there isn't enough data for some schools (more likely with the **Your students** source), List Probability shows how many schools have enough data and an **Add data to calculate probability** button instead of a result. --- ### Probability by Target The highest admit rate among the schools in each category: the student's best chance at any one school in it. ![thumbsup-1](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/thumbsup-1.png?width=656&height=138&name=thumbsup-1.png) ![thumbsdown](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/thumbsdown.png?width=656&height=156&name=thumbsdown.png) --- ### Review Disagreement Flags For each school, OutcomesIQ shows whether it agrees with the Fit rating you gave it: ###### ![disagree-2](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/disagree-2.png?width=670&height=324&name=disagree-2.png) **When it agrees**, you'll just see your rating with a green checkmark on VIEW IQ — nothing else to do. **When it disagrees**, the row is highlighted red and you'll see both ratings side by side (for example, *Reach → Lottery*). You have two options: - **Use \[rating\]** — switch to OutcomesIQ's suggested rating. - **Dismiss** — keep your original rating; OutcomesIQ won't flag that school again. **When there's no rating yet**, the row is highlighted light purple and OutcomesIQ suggests one (for example, *— → Reach*), with the same **Use** and **Dismiss** options. The marker on **VIEW IQ** shows each school's status: a **red !** means a suggestion is open or was dismissed, and a **green ✓** means OutcomesIQ agrees with the rating. To resolve every suggestion at once, click **Accept all suggestions** in the List Balance panel. --- ### Comparing acceptance rates ![acceptance](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/acceptance.png?width=670&height=321&name=acceptance.png) In the **OutcomesIQ | Acceptance Rates** column, you'll see three acceptance rates side by side. Hover over any rate for a description. - **COLLEGE**: the school's published admit rate for all applicants - **ALL CM**: the estimated admit rate based on all CounselMore students who applied there - **OutcomesIQ**: the estimated admit rate for this student, based on CounselMore students with a similar profile When the data source is **Your students**, the middle rate is labeled **YOUR STUDENTS** instead of ALL CM, and shows **--%** when there isn't enough of your own data. If you see a **black sheep** instead of an OutcomesIQ rate, the student stands out from the flock: there are too few similar students yet to calculate a matched rate. ![sheep](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/sheep.png?width=670&height=321&name=sheep.png) This gives you a quick sense of whether a school is more or less competitive than its sticker rate suggests, for a student with this particular profile.    --- ### **Getting the full picture: VIEW IQ** Click **VIEW IQ** to open a detailed report comparing your student to real past applicants at that school. ![viewiq-2](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/viewiq-2.png?width=670&height=321&name=viewiq-2.png) - Each tab opens with a **Seymore · AI Analysis** summary of the student's strengths and gaps. ![acceptanceiq](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/acceptanceiq.png?width=670&height=339&name=acceptanceiq.png) - If the school isn't on the Student List yet, click **Promote to Student List** to add just this school. Otherwise it shows **On Student List**. ![promote](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/promote.png?width=670&height=450&name=promote.png) - Click **Back to Counselor List** or **CLOSE** to return to the list. It's organized into five tabs: ![5tabs](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/5tabs.png?width=670&height=321&name=5tabs.png) - **Acceptance** — how students like yours have fared here, plus a side-by-side of your Fit rating vs. OutcomesIQ's, and a **By the numbers** table comparing the student to the median admit. - **Deadlines** — admit rates by application round (Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision, etc.), with each deadline and whether it's binding, so you can see whether applying early actually makes a difference at this school. - **Academics** — how the student's GPA, test scores, AP courses, and coursework compare to typical admitted students, plus the school's testing policy and recommended courses. - **Beyond the Numbers** — how the student's activities and interests compare to what admitted students showed, and what the school seems to value most. - **Also Accepted At** — other schools that students admitted here also got into, which can be a helpful way to spot additional options — with an **+ Add to list** button to add any of them straight to the list. --- ### See 'Swap out' Recommendations Click **See 'Swap out' Recommendations** at the top of the report, and Seymore suggests schools that could replace this one. ![suggestswap](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/suggestswap.png?width=670&height=344&name=suggestswap.png) - Up to 4 options appear, in the same band as the school being replaced. None of them are already on the list. - Also-accepted schools come first, then the highest rates. Each is labeled "Also accepted" or "Wider search," with its rate. - Nothing changes until you tick options on the review card and click **Apply changes**. - If there are no matches, Seymore says so and asks what to look for instead. ![swapresult](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/swapresult.png?width=670&height=340&name=swapresult.png) --- ### Promoting schools When List Probability shows a thumbs up, you can move the whole list forward: 1. On the **Counselor List**, click **Promote All Schools to Student List**, then **PROMOTE ALL**. The student and their family will see these schools. ![promotetostudent](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/promotetostudent.png?width=670&height=341&name=promotetostudent.png) 2. On the **Student List**, click **Promote All Schools to App Tracker**, then **PROMOTE ALL**. ![promotetoapp-1](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/promotetoapp-1.png?width=670&height=342&name=promotetoapp-1.png) Click **CANCEL** to close without changing anything. Once every school is promoted, the button shows **All schools promoted ✓**.   --- ### **What a Strong OutcomesIQ Session Looks Like** ![strong](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/hs-fs/hubfs/strong.png?width=670&height=343&name=strong.png) A successful review ends with: - Every school having a clear, evidence-backed role on the list - Disagreement flags resolved - Student profile data as complete as possible - A List Balance grade of A+, or close to it - A List Probability thumbs up, with the schools promoted to the student --- ### How Similarity Is Calculated OutcomesIQ scores each historical student against your current student across multiple factors: - Test scores - Course rigor (years per subject) - AP tests and scores - Activities - Self-assessment profile - GPA [What makes a record complete?](https://helpdesk.counselmore.com/what-is-outcomesiq#faq) --- ### **INSTRUCTIONS** ### **HOW TO UPDATE AND CLEAN STUDENT INFORMATION** Thank you for your interest in adding **OutcomesIQ** to your existing CounselMore account. To ensure the highest level of data integrity, please complete the following steps before your admissions outcomes are shared anonymously with the CounselMore network. ### **Step 1: Export Your Admissions Outcomes into a spreadsheet** 1. Log in to CounselMore. 2. Click **Account** (top right) \> **Reporting**. 3. Open the **Admissions Outcomes Report**. 4. Toggle to **Per Student**. 5. Filter for **All Graduation Years**. 6. Export the report as a spreadsheet. ### **Step 2: Update the spreadsheet and upload** Review the spreadsheet and complete as many empty cells as possible. The more complete your historical admissions outcomes, the more valuable **OutcomesIQ** becomes—for both you and the community. When finished: 1. Click **Account** \> **Settings**. 2. Select **Bulk Upload**. 3. Upload your updated Admissions Outcomes spreadsheet.   ### A Note on Data Privacy Historical outcomes are shared anonymously with the CounselMore network at your discretion. This is a closed environment built only for professional counselors — never sold, shared, or rented to advertisers, colleges, or any outside party. That standard has been in place since 2016. #### **What makes a record complete?** ***What makes a student record a "complete" student record?*** ***I'm not sure how much I should "update"?*** ### The Short Answer You don't need a complete record to contribute a valuable one. But if you're prioritizing what to fill in first — whether you're migrating old students or logging new ones — three categories matter most, in this order: 1. **Student profile basics:** GPA, test scores, and intended major 2. **The college list itself:** the schools the student actually applied to — ideally at least five 3. **Outcomes per school:** admitted, waitlisted, or denied for each school on that list A record with all three is strong. A record with even the first two is still genuinely useful. Partial records are not a problem to apologize for — they're how the system is designed to work. --- ### Why These Three Categories, in This Order **GPA, test scores, and major** are core inputs to Outcomes IQ's similarity matching — they're what determines whether a future student is "similar" to this historical one. Without them, a record can't be matched to anything. **The school list matters as much as the profile.** A strong student profile with only one or two applications attached gives Outcomes IQ very little to work with. Five or more schools per student gives enough range — reaches, targets, and accessibles — for the record to be useful across a variety of future comparisons, not just one narrow case. **Outcomes complete the picture.** A list of schools without decisions attached tells you where a student applied, not what happened. The admitted/waitlisted/denied result on each school is what turns a list into evidence. CounselMore even tracks the Initial Decision and the Final Decision in admissions applications because, as many have experienced; the process tends to begin with a waitlist. Knowing this about a school's process can mitigate expectations and provide a more realistic pathway and journey overall. --- ### Why Your Own Data Helps You First Here's something worth understanding clearly: when you're the one entering your own historical students, **you are the common denominator.** Your notes, your advising style, your student population — all of it is consistent across your own records in a way it isn't across the wider network yet. That means your own historical data will sharpen Outcomes IQ's recommendations for *you* almost immediately, even before the broader network has caught up. You don't need the network to be fully mature for your own contributions to start paying off in your day-to-day advising. Over time, as more counselors add their own historical outcomes, those individual pools aggregate into a much larger, closed dataset — used only within the CounselMore professional community, never sold or shared outside it. The more counselors who contribute, the more accurate the aggregate model becomes for everyone. This is genuinely a case where telling a colleague to add their data helps your own results too. --- ### You Don't Need to Reconstruct Everything by Hand Older records — especially students from earlier years when your systems were less structured — are exactly where **AI Assist** is built to help. Paste or upload whatever you already have (**old resumes, meeting notes, essay drafts, decision emails**), and AI Assist will read it and pre-fill matching fields for your review, rather than asking you to manually rebuild a record from memory. **For your more recent and future students, the best approach is the simplest one:** let the record build itself as you work. Logging GPA, test scores, major, the list, and outcomes as they naturally happen during your advising process means you're never facing a backlog to reconstruct later.     Learn how to set default data columns, then add **outcome columns** to the student's College List. Record the student's **chosen major** when they select each school, and update admissions outcomes as decisions arrive. 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