Holistic admissions??

Applying to College
1

Can someone explain the holistic admissions process? Does it work in your favor or not?
If you were an admissions officer, how would you holistically look at a student’s app?

2

There are so many pages that explain this. Just do a google search

3

wow thanks

4

Holistic admissions simply means looking at a students application not only through merit and academic accomplishments but also at the student as a whole. It sees what the students personal life is like whether through a personal essay or how outside school life is like. It aims to look at a student other than academics and such.

5

Ok, if I holistically look at a Student’s app, I am basically trying to get to know the student. Through his grades/test scores I know if he is academically capable for the rigor of this institution. I look at his EC’s to see what kind of a person he is, is he motivated etc.
I look at his recs to see what kind of person he is. Is he actually hard-working, is he nice or is he a jerk etc.

I look at his essays to further see what kind of a person he is and his reasoning for selecting this specific university.

Then I look at race and income to see if he adds some diversity to our incoming freshman class.

I use the interview to see what kind of person he is. (Is he socially awkward etc. )

Finally, based on what kind of freshman class that I want, I admit him if he fits into my vision. Generally, colleges want a diverse group of students (both racially and through their interests).

Holistic means that the colleges look at all parts of the application, not just GPA and SAT. It basically means that they are trying to get to know you as a person and see if you’re a good fit for that school.

6

@kaatherinee For purposes of putting together a plan and list of schools to consider, I would not view “holistic” admissions to be magic wiffle dust to make up for grades and tests scores below a particular school’s norm.

There is a tendency to view this as a compensator for weak numbers. In many schools subjective and intangible items are additional requirements not balancers. Based on what I see, the schools using “holistic” admissions are the hardest to get into with unpredictable results.

7

Is this kind of like saying we prefer guys form xyz fraternity to join our firm? In business we place a lot of emphasis on measureables, objective criteria. Wish I understood holistic. Does holistic mean I should force my 16 year old class president/athlete to get a part in the school play just to pretend to be holistic? Naw, I do’t think so … I’ll tell him to stick with the SAT prep classes.

8

It is my belief that once a selective university has determined one is academically qualified to attend their school they begin to look at things that separate one applicant from another. These are things that ECs, recommendations and essays reveal. A holistic consideration of an applicant isn’t going to make up for a subpar GPA or poor standardized test scores but neither will the 2400 SAT give you a significant advantage over the 2300 SAT all other tangibles being equal. They will use the other more subjective factors to choose who they offer admission to.

9

Holistic admissions basically says that schools can take whomever they want, that they look at all aspects of a student’s application, and that there are no strict quotas or cutoffs. Outstanding achievement in one area can compensate for lower achievement in others, perfect grades and test scores do not guarantee admission, and perceived future “promise” can outweigh past performance.

For example, Penn has this:

http://www.admissions.upenn.edu/apply/whatpennlooksfor/holistic

And Harvard has this:

https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/application-process/what-we-look

See also:

http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/10/harvarddean-part1/?_r=0