<p>Is admission process really holistic? I mean at top universities, all of them say that the look at every single piece of information. Like, from where a candidate came from, how one has utilized resources available to him or her. Is it really true or this is true that do great Eca to make adcom happy. Win awards and you'll be in a good place. What do you think?</p>
<p>Each school publishes their most important criteria for admission in their common data set. While they may look at many factors, those are the ones that carry the most weight. Typically that includes your academic record/rigours (that you took what rigorous course were available and did well). </p>
<p>In addition to focusing on those attributes, try to tell your story with your application. Think of all the people who post to CC. The most interesting posts, the ones that get replies, are usually interesting, personal or insightful. Make your application like that. GL.</p>
<p>Drexter: Imagine if you were on staff at Amherst</p>
<p>[Behind</a> The Scenes: How Do You Get Into Amherst? : NPR](<a href=“Behind The Scenes: How Do You Get Into Amherst? : NPR”>Behind The Scenes: How Do You Get Into Amherst? : NPR)</p>
<p>What would you describe this as?</p>
<p>you know, there are many people around our life. many of them think that if they do the right things all their high school years, they will go to universities with ease. I’m asking this cause, there are many people around me says if I have money and other things, i’ll get into a top school. that’s the thing that hurts me. i don’t know if you’ll agree or not, but where we are going to get accepted, we know it very well . but we do chances threads, discuss stuff like this on net :-)</p>
<p>someone from my area also said you want to go to that college? that is a private college…haha he said cause they know very little things about college admission process. so do I. i don’t know many of this… </p>
<p>these little things are so funny :-)</p>
<p>The admission people say there is a holistic component to application process and I believe them. But the unknown question is just how heavily weighted is it? Statistics suggest that the GPA, SAT will far outweigh the holistic part. My opinion is that unless you’ve done something truly great. E.G. Olympic Athlete, best selling author, etc, it will not trump your grades & SAT, making the average stuff like football player and class officer a solid EC but not enough to overcome average grades & SAT. GL</p>