What Do Colleges Really Mean by “Holistic Admissions”?

As a Former Princeton and Dartmouth Admissions Officer, I’m here to shed light on “holistic admissions.” Read on to find out how you can build your best possible application for top universities!

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If you’re applying to college soon, you’ve probably encountered the phrase “holistic admissions” or “holistic review.”

For example, Stanford says, “In a holistic review, we seek to understand how you, as a whole person, would grow, contribute and thrive at Stanford, and how Stanford would, in turn, be changed by you.”

And Princeton says, “As always, our review process will be a holistic one, focused not just on an applicant's academic strengths, but also on the talents and perspectives that they will bring to the Princeton campus.”

You’ll find similar statements on nearly every university website in the US. So what does “holistic admissions” really mean? 

What “Holistic Admissions” or “Holistic Review” Means in College Admissions

Holistic admissions is a process that seeks to understand a student's story in full, beyond the numbers. It’s not about admitting the smartest students. It’s about admitting those who will bring something unique to our campus.

The goal is to evaluate a student’s entire profile — academic achievements, extracurricular activities, personal qualities, and life experiences — and gauge their potential to thrive at the institution.

How is holistic admissions different from other types of evaluation?

The key difference between holistic admissions and more traditional forms of evaluation is that in holistic review, no single factor determines admission. 

Take the UK’s university admissions system, for example. In the UK, the university admissions process is about evaluating how qualified a student is for a particular course of study. The emphasis is on grades, test scores, and achievements. In the US, the review process is more about putting together a community of students.

In the same way that you’d look at a citizen of a country as much more than the job they do, holistic admissions strives to look at students as more than their academic achievements.

This means that at top universities, your personal essay, recommendation letters, and extracurricular involvement often carry as much weight as your academic transcript. 

In holistic admissions, fairness is central to how every admissions officer does their job. A big part of being an AO is bias training — recognizing that we all have biases, trying to develop an awareness of our biases, and keeping them top of mind as we’re reading applications, with an eye towards fairness.

Why do colleges practice holistic admissions?

The holistic review process is designed to admit students who will not only succeed academically but also enrich the school’s community with their perspectives and talents. To the extent possible, universities are focused on building a diverse student body. Holistic review helps them achieve that. 

The beauty of holistic admissions is that it leaves room for schools to appreciate a student’s full story!

Misconceptions About Holistic Admissions

I’ve heard several common misconceptions surrounding holistic admissions, particularly among students and families unfamiliar with the process.

Myth #1: It’s all just a numbers game.

While it’s true that top schools like Princeton and Dartmouth attract students with high grades and test scores, it’s clear that academic excellence is only one part of what they’re looking for.

In reality, most applicants to top universities are qualified. We have to go beyond the numbers to determine if they will thrive at the institution.

Myth #2: There’s a minimum threshold or “cutoff” for academics.

Another common misconception is that students who fall below a certain academic threshold are automatically eliminated from consideration. It’s not as simple as saying, “If you don’t have a 3.7 GPA, you can’t get in.”

We see applications from students who might not have the perfect transcript or best GPA possible, but they’ve overcome significant challenges or demonstrated exceptional talents in other areas. At top universities like Stanford and Yale, context matters. A student who balances part-time work, family responsibilities, and school may not have perfect grades but could still stand out due to their maturity, resilience, and work ethic.

The admit rate at Harvard for students with a 2.5 GPA is very close to zero, but there is probably one. The only surefire way to not get in is to not apply.

Myth #3: If you don’t do X, you won’t get in.

Consider the weather. What one thing makes a nice day? Some people would say sunshine, while others would say breeze or temperature. In a similar way, no one thing makes a good applicant.

People don’t usually like to hear this, but there is no precise formula for admission; rather, it’s an intricate balance of what each student can bring to the table, academically and personally.

Six Factors Top Colleges Look For in Holistic Admissions

As we’ve discussed, top colleges seek to admit students who will excel academically and contribute to campus life. But what exactly does this mean in practice? The first two factors are easiest to assess. The remaining four are more of an “art” than a “science.”

1. Demonstrated Academic Achievement

While top universities aren’t looking for perfection, they are looking for students who are prepared to thrive — not just squeak by. They want students who can handle the demands of rigorous courses and who push themselves to take the most challenging classes they can find.

Admissions officers also consider how a student’s academic interests align with their future goals. For example, a student interested in engineering might be forgiven for having a lower grade in English, as long as they’ve taken advanced math and science courses and done well in them.

2. Extracurricular Activities

One reason why colleges are interested in extracurriculars is that so much learning at a university happens outside of the classroom. Admissions officers want to know how you are going to contribute to the learning environment at the university. They also just want to know what you’re doing with your time.

That said, admissions officers aren’t looking for someone who’s simply checking off boxes by joining 20 clubs. They want students who show initiative, commitment, leadership, and growth in the activities they are genuinely passionate about.

When talking to students and families, I find that extracurricular engagement is often defined too narrowly. People think it can only be a sport or art or something at the school. In reality, it can include:

• A job
• Caring for a younger sibling or grandparent in a multi-generation household
• Activities outside of the school that are meaningful to you

When it comes to presenting your extracurriculars on your application, think outside the box!

3. Character and Personal Qualities

Personal qualities are often the hardest elements to measure in a holistic review, but they play a pivotal role in admissions decisions. Top universities try to assess your character through your essays and recommendation letters. Students who show qualities like resilience, empathy, and a willingness to learn from failure often stand out.

Admissions officers want to know what kind of person you are. Are you someone who will collaborate with your peers? Will you bring unique perspectives and ideas to campus? How do you handle challenges, and what have you learned from your experiences?

A well-done personal statement can convey these qualities by telling your story authentically. So can recommendation letters; teachers and mentors can offer a perspective that goes beyond what we see on paper. If someone else writes about your integrity, leadership, or passion for your field, it can be incredibly compelling.

4. Fit and Contribution to Campus Culture

When reviewing your application, admissions officers are asking, “Is this student a fit for our institution or specific course of study?” We’re not just thinking about whether you can handle the coursework. We’re also wondering whether you’ll be happy here, and whether you’ll take advantage of the resources here to make a positive impact on the campus.

As a student, you can be a good fit for many different universities — but the way you articulate fit should be different for different schools. For example, if you have your eye on Princeton, you might emphasize your:

• Passion for research
• Interest in close faculty mentorship
• Appreciation for Princeton’s strong sense of tradition

However, if you’re aiming for Brown, you might draw attention to:

• A love of academic freedom and exploration
• Your knack for interdisciplinary thinking
• Your appreciation for Brown’s progressive and inclusive campus

This concept of "fit" goes both ways. Colleges look for students who align with their academic programs AND share the school’s values. If you show an eagerness to engage with the school's unique offerings, you can strengthen your application.

5. Intellectual Curiosity: The Heart of Academic Potential

Holistic admissions, especially for top-tier universities, is really the quest to find students who are intellectually curious. It’s not just about achieving top grades and test scores — it’s about hunger for knowledge and true love of learning.

Intellectual curiosity can be shown by going beyond what is required and actively pursuing new ideas or research in areas that fascinate you. This includes: 

• Independent research projects and participation in academic competitions to 
• Taking on advanced coursework outside of school or diving deep into a specific field of interest. 
• Presenting papers at conferences.
• Executing an interdisciplinary and impactful capstone project

Ultimately, top colleges are searching for students who are lifelong learners. Those are the students who not only thrive but also inspire others to think differently.

6. Institutional Priorities

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there is one factor in admissions that is always out of your control as a student: institutional priorities. 

Yes, holistic admissions means looking at the applicant as a whole person. But universities still have their own goals and priorities in mind during the decision-making process. I would estimate that around 75% of students who are admitted to top universities meet some kind of institutional priority — and they may not even know about it.

Institutional priorities are broad and can vary from year to year. They include considerations like:

• Recruiting a diverse student body
• Bolstering specific academic departments
• Increasing representation from underrepresented regions
• Athletic recruitment
• Legacy status
• A student’s ability to pay — especially when funding is limited
• Increasing socio-economic diversity
• Yield rates, or how many students who are admitted decide to attend that university

Yield Protection Case Study

Institutional priorities come into play in ways that may never be clear to the applicant. One common consideration is the institution’s yield rate. Universities want to make sure that if they admit a student, that student is likely to choose them back.

As an example, let’s say that over the last 4 years, no student from a particular private high school has applied early to Stanford. Of the students from that high school who applied to Stanford in the regular round and were admitted, all of them chose to attend other schools, like Harvard, Princeton, or Yale. In this case, the next student who applies early to Stanford from this particular high school has a better chance.

Likewise, say that 10 students from this particular high school apply to Stanford, and the 10th student isn’t in the top 10% of the class. That student may be the best option to admit, because they are less likely to get into other top universities and may be more likely to choose to attend Stanford if they are admitted.

Highly selective universities care about yield rates. One common way that yield protection shows up is if there’s a pattern of the top students not being admitted, while the “second best” students are. 

All this to say: if you have a dream university and you’re not the very top student, it may still be worth taking a shot!

How Admissions Officers Make Decisions in Holistic Admissions

The structure of admissions committees at top universities depends on the size of the applicant pool and the needs of the institution. Typically, a committee consists of five or more admissions officers (AOs) who discuss each applicant in detail. In some cases, a more streamlined approach called Committee-Based Evaluation (CBE) is used. This is where two AOs review the same file simultaneously and reach a consensus about whether the student should move forward. Getting two sets of eyes on the application ensures a more balanced and thorough evaluation.

In the traditional committee setting, the admissions process goes something like this:

1. The "area manager" for a given geographic region presents students from their area for consideration. The area manager might recommend accepting more or fewer students based on the strength of the applicant pool.
2. The committee debates the merits of each candidate. These discussions can go on for as long as needed to reach a decision.
3. A vote is taken, and depending on how competitive the region is, it might require a unanimous or majority vote for an applicant to be admitted.

Despite the formal appearance, there is less rigidity to the process than people might think. The number of votes required and the intensity of the debate can vary depending on the time of year, how many decisions still need to be made, and the strength of the applicant pool as a whole.

One important thing to know: AOs typically don’t argue on behalf of students for whom there’s not a clear cut argument. The most common memory from my days on an admissions committee is going into it thinking, “I’m going to present 45 students today. I think these 12 absolutely have to be in the class, and if they're not, I’m going to quit my job!” And then typically, only about 6 would get admitted.

It’s very rare that an “I’m not sure about this student, but let’s take a risk” type of student will be admitted.

The Role of Context During Admissions Committees

During deliberations, admissions officers do their best to step out and consider the “big picture” for each student.

For example, an applicant who excelled academically while caring for a sick, elderly relative at home might be viewed differently than a student with similar grades but no such challenges. I recall a student who couldn’t participate in many extracurriculars due to caring for younger siblings. Although this student's activities list was shorter, the committee saw the applicant’s sense of responsibility and resilience as major strengths.

This type of context allows the committee to understand the student’s life beyond the numbers.

Recent Trends in Holistic Admissions

In recent years, the process of holistic admissions has evolved. Major trends include:

• A growing recognition of personal context and resilience. With greater awareness of economic disparities and unequal access to resources, top universities have emphasized the importance of understanding applicants’ circumstances.
• Deemphasizing standardized test scores (in some cases). Some universities have moved to test-optional policies, while others have found that including them allows for more equitable admissions decisions. Test-optional or test-free universities give more weight to qualitative factors such as recommendations, essays, and interviews.
• A stronger focus on applicants’ ability to contribute to the campus community. Universities are looking for students who will not only succeed academically but also bring perspectives that will enhance the learning environment for all.
• The pursuit of a diverse class in light of the 2023 Supreme Court decision. Previously, many universities considered race as one element of a student's background, but the Supreme Court ruling on admissions now restricts the explicit consideration of race in admissions decisions. While race can’t be explicitly used, students can still share their personal stories and experiences, including how race or culture has shaped their lives. The focus remains on understanding each student's unique journey.

Does Holistic Admissions Make the Process Fairer?

Personally, I believe that holistic admissions contributes to a fairer process. Long-time Harvard Dean Bill Fitzsimmons described holistic admissions in the same way as democracy: “Holistic admissions is the worst kind of review, except for all the other kinds of review.”

To those who say holistic admissions can be too subjective or inconsistent, I say that’s a fair criticism. But if we just used test scores and grades, we would have incoming classes that are very poorly matched in terms of classroom makeup, learning styles, and values.

It’s not unlike a job interview process. If I’m a hiring manager at Google, and I need to build a product that demands really high level coding expertise, I can’t just take the 10 best coders in the world and put them in a room together and expect them to produce this product. They may all speak different languages or have different working styles, that’s going to impact the environment for that team.

A learning environment is a similar idea. Just using metrics like test scores is way too blunt of a tool — it doesn’t allow for the precision needed in building a really vibrant learning community.

Student Pitfalls to Avoid in Holistic Admissions

Even though holistic admissions is an opportunity to present yourself as more than just numbers, many applicants still make mistakes that prevent their full potential from shining through. 

Here are some of the most common pitfalls I see.

Mistake #1: Focusing too narrowly on accomplishments in the classroom. 

High grades and test scores are important, but in holistic admissions, they’re just part of the story. Use your essays, extracurriculars, and recommendations to paint a more complete picture instead of being perceived as one-dimensional.

Mistake #2: Writing all about one thing

I’ve read far too many one-dimensional applications because the student wrote about their passion for computer science at every opportunity. If you want to be an engineering major, for example, writing your personal essay and supplementals about engineering is a mistake. At least a couple of those supplementals are opportunities to add depth and richness to your application. 

Mistake #3: Repurposing content from other applications without tailoring It

Admissions officers know that students repurpose content from one application to the next. But doing so without tweaking that content to fit the prompt is a mistake. 

For example, Harvard asks, “What are 3 things your future roommate should know about you?” while Stanford says, “Write a letter to your future roommate”. Lots of students apply to both schools. So if your essay to Harvard starts with, “Dear Future Roommate,” they know you are repurposing the content.

Final Thoughts

In the end, the holistic admissions process offers you a chance to showcase more than just grades and test scores. Top universities are looking for applicants who not only excel academically but also bring unique perspectives, personal qualities, and contributions to campus life. 

By understanding that admissions officers consider the full scope of your story, you can build a compelling application that highlights who you are as a person, not just a student. Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all formula — embrace your individuality!

Would you like personalized help building your best possible application for top universities? Book a free consultation with Crimson today. Our Academic Advisors will show you exactly how you can boost your chances at top universities by 7x.

Further Reading

• BLOG: How to Show Intellectual Curiosity on Your Top College Application
• EBOOK: The Personal Essay Master Guide