How do holistic colleges differ from others?

Hi guys! I was wondering about what makes a college holistic, and how a holistic college is different from other colleges in terms of the admission process and overall experience. Can anyone provide some insight?

Hi there! A "holistic" college refers to the way in which the college admissions process evaluates applicants. At a holistic college, the admissions committee takes into account the entire profile of a student, rather than just focusing on their test scores and academic performance. This means that factors such as extracurricular activities, essays, letters of recommendation, and interviews (if applicable) also play a crucial role in the admissions decisions.

Non-holistic colleges, on the other hand, often place more emphasis on objective factors, such as standardized test scores and GPAs, and may not give as much weight to subjective components of the application.

There are a few key differences between holistic and non-holistic colleges:

1. Application Review: At holistic colleges, application readers spend a significant amount of time reviewing each application, considering all aspects of a student's background, accomplishments, and potential. Non-holistic colleges typically rely more on quantifiable criteria, which can result in a somewhat quicker evaluation process.

2. Essays and Personal Statements: Holistic colleges place a higher importance on essays and personal statements, as they are interested in understanding an applicant's personal narrative, values, and motivations. This gives students the opportunity to showcase their unique qualities and experiences that may not be apparent through just their GPA and test scores.

3. Extracurricular Activities: Holistic colleges value students who have demonstrated a strong commitment to extracurricular activities that align with their passions and interests, as they believe such students will contribute meaningfully to their campus communities. Meanwhile, non-holistic colleges may not place as much emphasis on extracurricular activities in their evaluation process.

4. Letters of Recommendation: Holistic colleges typically put more weight on letters of recommendation because they provide a third-party perspective on an applicant's strengths, character, and potential. Non-holistic colleges may still require recommendation letters, but may not weigh them as heavily.

5. Contextual Evaluation: Holistic colleges consider the context in which an applicant has grown and developed. This means evaluating an applicant's achievements and potential within the framework of their family background, educational opportunities, and socio-economic circumstances.

While a holistic approach can lead to a more time-consuming and complex evaluation process, it often provides a more comprehensive understanding of each applicant and their potential fit within the college community. That being said, every college has its own unique admissions process and priorities, so the distinction between holistic and non-holistic colleges can sometimes be subtle. It's essential to research each college on your list to better understand their specific admissions philosophies and factors they consider in the application review process.