The purpose of this research was to examine whether decisions made at one stage of strategic and graduate enrollment management, the admission phase, depend on both applicant and faculty characteristics. Faculty participants (N=62) were randomly assigned to read one of four vignettes of a prospective applicant to their doctoral program. They then rated the likelihood that they would interview and admit the applicant, and they also completed other surveys. Participants' empathic orientation and first-generation college student status and higher Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores were associated with more favorable admission decisions. Participant and applicant characteristics also interacted to predict admission decisions. The results have implications for strategic and graduate enrollment management professionals.