<p>Lately, people have really been emphasizing the whole holistic approach to college admissions but is it actually? Or is it just a holistic approach if you have the grades and standardized tests down? </p>
<p>Personally, its very stressful knowing that my gpa is subpar and I don't want to get rejected everywhere. So I dont want to apply unless it TRULY is a holistic approach. So, in your opinion, what are schools that truly use a holistic approach?</p>
<p>generally speaking, a lot of big state schools are numbers driven, and thats not too big of a secret.</p>
<p>GPA, course rigor, test scores get you invited to the party…from there you are judged holistically. </p>
<p>So, when you make your list have a reach or two, 5-6 matches and a couple of safeties FOR YOU!</p>
<p>LACs are known for being a bit more holistic…</p>
<p>As has been discussed here before, “holistic” is a euphemism for targeting, matching, quotas, allocating, proportioning, etc. Whatever you want to call it.</p>
<p>You generally need the grades and test scores down unless you either bring something to the university that it really wants/ needs or have some life story that shows how great you are. There’s a thread in the Stanford forum about not needing great test scores and grades to get in, but it turns out (I think) the OP was a URM, his brother was shot (his essay topic) and he grew up in a single parent household. </p>
<p>So consider that when you wonder if holistic admissions will help you. You need to have something unusual for it to really work out. Your low gpa might not be made up by simply having an extra club that you didn’t lead or by an above-average but not memorable essay.</p>
<p>I’m not a big believer in holistic fairy dust, but then again, I’m not applying. I guess all you can do is to apply and see for yourself. GL</p>
<p>Adcom’s primary consideration is whether a student has proven the ability to succeed academically at the university. Grades and test scores are the easiest, and most commonly used, means of passing this test, although there are other means of doing so. If your application does not demonstrate this ability, you will be rejected.</p>
<p>It’s not holistic, numbers first and then big extra curriculars could help ie athletics, band, etc.</p>
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<p>However, most more selective universities have easier options in terms of majors and courses that make the minimum bar for a reasonable chance of successful graduation significantly lower than that for a realistic chance of regular admission (exceptions may be places like Caltech and Harvey Mudd, where the general education requirements include courses that would be considered difficult honors courses elsewhere). So the question of whether a student has a reasonable chance of successful graduation is likely irrelevant for all but some of the biggest hook ones (developmental cases, recruited athletes in the most high profile sports).</p>
<p>Look at the common data set to a school, section C7, to see if it is holistic. As mentioned earlier some schools are much more cut and dried in using grades and scores for admission.</p>