Admit vs. Enroll — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 21, 2024
Admit means to accept someone into a place, group, or institution, while enroll means to register or sign up for a course, program, or institution.
Difference Between Admit and Enroll
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Admit refers to the act of accepting someone into a place or institution, such as a school, hospital, or organization. When a university admits a student, it means the student has been accepted based on certain criteria and is allowed to join the institution. Enroll, on the other hand, means to officially register or sign up for courses or membership within the institution or program one has been admitted to. After being admitted to a university, a student then enrolls in specific classes or programs.
Admit focuses on the selection process and the decision to allow entry. For example, a hospital admits patients based on their medical needs and bed availability. Enroll focuses on the formal inclusion into specific programs or courses. For instance, students enroll in specific courses for a semester after being admitted to the college.
In educational contexts, admission involves meeting entry requirements, such as grades and test scores. Enrollment involves choosing and signing up for individual classes or academic programs.
Admit is a term used more broadly and can apply to various scenarios, including entry to events or institutions. Enroll is more specific to the context of registration and membership within an already accessed institution or program.
Admit has a connotation of acceptance and permission, whereas enroll implies a formal registration process. Admittance is often competitive and selective, while enrollment is a procedural step following admittance.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
To accept into a place or institution
To register or sign up for courses or programs
Focus
Acceptance and entry
Registration and participation
Usage Context
Schools, hospitals, organizations
Courses, programs, memberships
Process
Selection and permission
Formal registration
Educational Example
Being accepted into a university
Signing up for university classes
Compare with Definitions
Admit
To allow entry to a place or group.
The university admits 2,000 students each year.
Enroll
To enlist or become a member of an organization.
He decided to enroll in the military after high school.
Admit
To acknowledge or confess.
He admitted his mistake and apologized.
Enroll
To complete registration formalities.
Parents must enroll their children in school by the end of August.
Admit
To grant access to a facility.
The ticket admits one person to the concert.
Enroll
To register or enter into a list or record.
Students need to enroll in their courses before the semester starts.
Admit
To receive into a hospital or medical care.
The patient was admitted to the ICU for further treatment.
Enroll
To enter or register in a roll, list, or record
Enrolled the child in kindergarten.
Enroll the minutes of the meeting.
Admit
Confess to be true or to be the case
‘I am feeling pretty tired,’ Jane admitted
The Home Office finally admitted that several prisoners had been injured
Enroll
To roll or wrap up.
Admit
Allow (someone) to enter a place
Old-age pensioners are admitted free to the museum
Enroll
To write or print a final copy of; engross.
Admit
Accept as valid
The courts can refuse to admit police evidence which has been illegally obtained
Enroll
To place one's name on a roll or register; sign up
We enrolled in the army.
Admit
Allow the possibility of
The need to inform him was too urgent to admit of further delay
Enroll
(transitive) To enter (a name, etc.) in a register, roll or list
Admit
To grant to be real, valid, or true; acknowledge or concede
Even proponents of the technology admit that it doesn't always work as well as it should.
Enroll
(transitive) To enlist (someone) or make (someone) a member of
They were eager to enroll new recruits.
Admit
To disclose or confess (guilt or an error, for example).
Enroll
(intransitive) To enlist oneself (in something) or become a member (of something)
Have you enrolled in classes yet for this term?
Admit
To afford opportunity for; permit
We must admit no delay in the proceedings.
Enroll
To envelop; to enwrap.
Admit
To allow to enter
A crack in the wall that admitted some light.
Enroll
To insert in a roil; to register or enter in a list or catalogue or on rolls of court; hence, to record; to insert in records; to leave in writing; as, to enroll men for service; to enroll a decree or a law; also, reflexively, to enlist.
An unwritten law of common right, so engraven in the hearts of our ancestors, and by them so constantly enjoyed and claimed, as that it needed not enrolling.
All the citizen capable of bearing arms enrolled themselves.
Admit
To grant the right to enter
This ticket admits two to the performance of the play.
Enroll
To envelop; to inwrap; to involve.
Admit
To accept into an organization or group
The college admits fine arts students.
Enroll
Register formally as a participant or member;
The party recruited many new members
Admit
To accept (someone) as an inpatient in a hospital.
Enroll
To officially sign up for a program or class.
She enrolled in a painting class at the community center.
Admit
To accept into evidence as relevant and otherwise admissible
The judge admitted the testimony of the expert.
Enroll
To record officially as a participant.
They enrolled in the marathon and began their training.
Admit
To afford possibility
A problem that admits of no solution.
Admit
To allow entrance; afford access
A door admitting to the hall.
Admit
To make acknowledgment; confess
Admitted to committing the crime.
Admitted to a weakness for sweets.
Admit
One who is admitted.
Admit
(transitive) To allow to enter; to grant entrance (to), whether into a place, into the mind, or into consideration
A ticket admits one into a playhouse.
They were admitted into his house.
To admit a serious thought into the mind
To admit evidence in the trial of a cause
Admit
(transitive) To allow (someone) to enter a profession or to enjoy a privilege; to recognize as qualified for a franchise.
To admit an attorney to practice law
The prisoner was admitted to bail
Admit
(transitive) To concede as true; to acknowledge or assent to, as an allegation which it is impossible to deny
The argument or fact is admitted
He admitted his guilt
She admitted taking drugs / she admitted to taking drugs
Admit
(transitive) To be capable of; to permit. In this sense, "of" may be used after the verb, or may be omitted.
The words do not admit such a construction.
Admit
(intransitive) To give warrant or allowance, to grant opportunity or permission (+ of).
Circumstances do not admit of this
The text does not admit of this interpretation
Admit
(transitive) To allow to enter a hospital or similar facility for treatment.
Admit
To suffer to enter; to grant entrance, whether into a place, or into the mind, or consideration; to receive; to take; as, they were into his house; to admit a serious thought into the mind; to admit evidence in the trial of a cause.
Admit
To give a right of entrance; as, a ticket admits one into a playhouse.
Admit
To allow (one) to enter on an office or to enjoy a privilege; to recognize as qualified for a franchise; as, to admit an attorney to practice law; the prisoner was admitted to bail.
Admit
To concede as true; to acknowledge or assent to, as an allegation which it is impossible to deny; to own or confess; as, the argument or fact is admitted; he admitted his guilt.
Admit
To be capable of; to permit; as, the words do not admit such a construction. In this sense, of may be used after the verb, or may be omitted.
Both Houses declared that they could admit of no treaty with the king.
Admit
Declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of;
He admitted his errors
She acknowledged that she might have forgotten
Admit
Allow to enter; grant entry to;
We cannot admit non-members into our club
Admit
Allow participation in or the right to be part of; permit to exercise the rights, functions, and responsibilities of;
Admit someone to the profession
She was admitted to the New Jersey Bar
Admit
Admit into a group or community;
Accept students for graduate study
We'll have to vote on whether or not to admit a new member
Admit
Afford possibility;
This problem admits of no solution
This short story allows of several different interpretations
Admit
Give access or entrance to;
The French doors admit onto the yard
Admit
Have room for; hold without crowding;
This hotel can accommodate 250 guests
The theater admits 300 people
The auditorium can't hold more than 500 people
Admit
Serve as a means of entrance;
This ticket will admit one adult to the show
Admit
To accept someone into a program or institution.
She was admitted to the law school after a competitive selection process.
Common Curiosities
What is the process of enrolling in a course?
Enrolling in a course involves officially registering or signing up for specific classes or programs after being admitted.
Can you be admitted without enrolling?
Yes, being admitted means you are accepted, but you must enroll to participate in specific programs or courses.
Does admitting imply a selection process?
Yes, admitting often involves a selection process based on criteria like grades, tests, or qualifications.
What does it mean to be admitted to a hospital?
Being admitted to a hospital means being accepted for medical treatment and given a bed or room.
What is the difference between admission and enrollment in college?
Admission is the acceptance into the college, while enrollment is the process of registering for classes.
Does enrollment require paperwork?
Yes, enrollment usually involves completing forms or registration procedures.
What is an example of admitting someone to an event?
Allowing a ticket holder to enter a concert is an example of admitting someone to an event.
What does it mean to admit someone to a school?
To admit someone to a school means to accept them based on certain criteria and allow them entry into the institution.
What is the purpose of enrolling in a program?
The purpose is to officially register and participate in the activities or courses offered by the program.
Is admitting a one-time process?
Admitting can be a one-time process for entry, but it can also occur multiple times in contexts like hospital visits.
Can you be enrolled in multiple programs simultaneously?
Yes, it is possible to be enrolled in multiple programs or courses at the same time.
Does enrollment guarantee participation?
Yes, enrollment typically ensures you are officially registered and can participate in the program or course.
Is enrollment always related to education?
No, enrollment can also apply to joining organizations, programs, or memberships.
Can you enroll without being admitted?
No, enrollment typically follows admission; you must be admitted before you can enroll.
What happens after being admitted to a university?
After being admitted, students need to enroll in specific classes or programs.
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Written by
Maham LiaqatCo-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.