How can a school be both need-blind and holistic?

Applying to College
1

Holistic admissions means the school considers the student’s background in the amount of education the student’s parents have had, and the student’s economic background (for example having to work to support family which led to low GPA would be part of the “holistic” admissions). Wouldn’t this mean that the school isn’t necessarily “need-blind” because the admission officers could still reject/admit the student based on their economic background which they learned through the “holistic” process?

Maybe I’m just overanalyzing this but I’m curious as to what you guys think.

2

Then the school would be denying admission to over privileged kids who come off as entitled.

3

You might have a slightly different interpretation of “holistic admissions”. Usually, this phrase means that they look at every aspect of a person, not just GPA and tests. They place an equal or almost equal weight on essays, interviews, interest, ECs, etc. as well as the quantitative aspects of a person. Holistic doesn’t just mean they see every part of an applicant’s life.

A need blind school will not factor one’s ability to pay into admissions. For instance, Harvard wouldn’t deny a candidate with an EFC of 9000 just because he couldn’t pay the 60k a year; they would deny because he wasn’t that strong of an applicant.

4

You’re presuming a spate of admissions officers feels pressure to admit fewer needy kids – when in actuality, need-blind schools usually have the Fin Aid reviews done by completely separately different personnel. Also, you’re confusing “need-blind” admissions with the VERY few who practice “need-blind” admissions and also promise to meet the “full need” of admitted students.

So the school that is both need blind but does not promise to meet the financial shortfalls of admitted students could theoretically admit w/o cause for concern – but the Fin Aid they offer may not likely be enough for many to afford. This isn’t a problem, per se, for the university but rather the needy student.

5

Need blind does not mean that a college will not look at factors that indirectly correlate with need. It only means that the admissions readers will not see the aid application and calculation, or know whether there was an aid application.

6

Here are some examples of how colleges can set admission policies to favor students from high or low income families without having to be need-aware:

To favor students from high income families:

  • Emphasize test scores.
  • Require SAT subject tests.
  • Use recommendations, or more of them.
  • Look favorably on extracurriculars that require significant family monetary support (travel to competitions and the like).

To favor students from low income families (or disfavor them less):

  • Look favorably on first generation status.
  • Look favorably on work experience.
  • Look favorably on overcoming adversity.
  • De-emphasize test scores.
  • Not require SAT subject tests.
  • Not use recommendations.
  • Not require transcripts until matriculation.
7

@ucbalumnus‌ how would not requiring transcripts until matriculation help them?

8

Fewer checklist items that depend on timely action by the high school. In low income high schools, college may be the last thing on counselors’ minds compared to other priorities.

Also, low income students in heavily college bound high schools may not ask early enough for busy counselors to get them out on time.