<p>I was just wondering about this because i hear this term used sometimes. So my basic question is which colleges in the States are more holistic, meaning they look at your app. as a whole rather than stress one particular aspect of it. At least, i think that is what it means. So which colleges would you say has a more holistic approach when determining who gets admitted and who gets left behind. Your thoughts are appreciated!</p>
<p>Couple of names do come to mind but i could be way off so i will hold of on my judgment. Thanks</p>
<p>"Holistic" typically means that they look at the applicant in context--what opportunities they had, and what they took advantage of. This can include adversities and the like. More generally, it means they look at the applicant as a "whole"--all parts of the application are given weight on an individual basis.</p>
<p>The top privates and top publics are very holistic. While they do emphasize numbers--even Harvard does--they also emphasize ECs, essays, recommendations, etc. They really look at the applicant in his or her context--socioeconomically or even ethnically--and make decisions taking into account as much as possible.</p>
<p>Stanford to me seems particularly "holistic"--it doesn't stress numbers quite as much as others, and instead the applicant's personality, background, and achievements.</p>
<p>I think, overall, the small LACs tend to be more holistic when selecting applicants. They usually don't start with test scores and grades. In fact, some don't even require the SATs and ACTs.</p>
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I wouldn't call Berkeley holistic either. More holistic than other UC's perhaps.
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<p>I'd say it is definitely "holistic." Just look at its CDS: essays, GPA, and rigor of course load are "very important," while things like SAT are just "important." Students' qualities are considered important as well, and things like legacy status and ethnicity are not taken into account. Berkeley, in all its admissions explanations, emphasizes that it is holistic in its admissions and looks at the student in context. That's why you see students getting into schools like Berkeley but who get rejected from UCSD (which uses a numbers/points system).</p>
<p>UC Santa Cruz is very numbers-driven. If you meet basic eligibility requirements, you can get in; it is almost in the same state as UCR, which is not selective of those who are eligible for UC. (I think UCSC even has a higher acceptance rate than UCR.) Either way, numbers are the most important, and all the other factors are secondary.</p>
<p>Yea, i would not really consider UCs in general very holistic. My friend goes to UCLA and apparently its very numbers driven. I could be wrong though. Any others?</p>
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Yea, i would not really consider UCs in general very holistic. My friend goes to UCLA and apparently its very numbers driven. I could be wrong though.
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<p>I'd say they're holistic enough to warrant mentioning, and in fact about as holistic as some top-20 privates (though obviously not as much as HYPSM).</p>
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I was just wondering about this because i hear this term used sometimes. So my basic question is which colleges in the States are more holistic, meaning they look at your app. as a whole rather than stress one particular aspect of it.
<p>And you do realize, that showing preference to applicants based on geographical location -- regardless of the purpose/circumstances -- is not really all that holistic.</p>
<p>RE Berkeley, I also heard that they have developed one of the best learning centers for kids who are "smart" enough but might have other issues. Amongst the parents of Asperger/high functioning Autistic kids ... they are developing a favorable reputation. This is definitely holistic ... not the old UCB I remember!</p>
<p>Diversity appears to be interpreted in a broader sense these days.</p>
<p>Presumably Stanford due to it having lower standardized scores than its peer schools.</p>
<p>And Princeton reportedly went to a more "holistic" admissions standard a decade or so ago - so arguably, it is more "holistic" than its Ivy peers.</p>