Skip to main content
What are your chances of acceptance?
Your chance of acceptance
Duke University
Loading…
UCLA
Loading…
+ add school
Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

What are the most Holistic Colleges?

Hey there! I'm currently in the process of researching colleges and I'm interested in those that look at applicants holistically - you know, colleges that focus on more than just grades or test scores. What are the most holistic colleges in the US that consider the whole student in admission decisions?

a year ago

There are several colleges in the US that use a holistic admissions strategy, meaning they consider the entire applicant, not just their grades and test scores. Holistic colleges typically look for students who will excel academically and make a positive contribution to the campus community. Here are a few schools known for their holistic admissions process:

1. Stanford University: Known for its competitive admissions, Stanford places a heavy emphasis on extracurricular involvement and leadership experiences, in addition to academic achievements.

2. University of Chicago (UChicago): UChicago looks for students with intellectual curiosity and the ability to engage in rigorous intellectual discourse, often discerned through the essay portion of the application.

3. Dartmouth College: Dartmouth also reviews applications holistically. They consider grades, coursework, extracurricular involvement, essays, and letters of recommendation.

4. Brown University: Brown’s holistic admissions process emphasizes a candidate's character, demonstrated effort, extracurricular involvement, and overall fit for the university.

5. Harvard University: While academic excellence is of course important, Harvard is comprehensive in its approach, valueing personal experiences and attributes derived from extracurricular activities, essays, and recommendation letters.

Remember, while these schools do place importance on academics, they also look at essays, recommendations, interviews, and extracurricular activities to get a better understanding of who you are as a person. So, when you apply, make sure to highlight your passions, leadership experience, talents, and personal accomplishments within your application. Best of luck!

a year ago

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.