With respect, holistic is not purposely exclusive. To argue it decreases certain pools of high stats kids misses what these sought-after colleges look for in an individual candidate. It circles endlessly back to, "But he’s got higher stats!! "
Anyone who looks at a blank app and supp can see the range of questions to learn more about how a kid thinks, made choices, and proceeds. This goes beyond stats. There is no one group more likely to present a flat picture. But it is common.
Just look at most CC advice. I could give examples. But if you spend time actually looking at what the elite colleges say they like, want and need, it’s different.
And yet, when some say, you need to look at this from the college’s perspective, read what the colleges say and show, there’s blowback.
The elites have higher standards than the high schools. Holistic. It’s not all about stats.