<p>Hi, I just want some of you guys to really explain to me what colleges with a "holistic " admissions process look at compared to colleges that's aim more toward academics, like state colleges. Thanks.</p>
<p>As the term implies, they look at more than just GPA and test scores. Other factors for admission are the strength of essays (more important for certain schools), letters of recommendation, your life experiences and how you add to the diversity of a class. No one really knows what goes on from year to year at such schools (in terms of what they look for).</p>
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<p>The quoted theory within the question – based on the existence of recent Supreme Court cases – is incorrect.</p>
<p>In fact, state schools, also, use so-called “holistic” admissions criteria.</p>
<p>^ Some may, most large state schools don’t go off much more than academics. You can’t tell me that Penn State, which has over 70,000 applications to comb through each year campus wide, had time to read every single persons extracurricular activities, read their optional personal statement, etc.</p>
<p>There’s holistic greatness like a published author or famous actress and then there’s average holisticity (I don’t care if it’s not a word) like H.S. music and sports, etc. Holistic greatness will give Admissions great leeway as to grades & Bd scores. Average holisticity will not likely overcome poor grades or Boards, but if you have the grades and Boards, it will likely show that you’re a well rounded/unique/survivor type of person and eventually become a deciding factor.</p>
<p>“Holistic” admissions does not necessarily mean in-depth evaluation of 70,000 applications.</p>
<p>Schools are trying to “build” a freshman class.</p>
<p>That can be done with a check-box very easily.</p>
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<p>Yep, they just can’t give everyone a lot of time. I suspect if you don’t have the grades and Boards that the application, maybe gets a 5 minute read for any search of holistic greatness.</p>