Holistic Admissions
An evaluation approach that considers the whole applicant — academics, extracurriculars, essays, recommendations, background — rather than relying solely on test scores and GPA.
Holistic admissions review evaluates candidates as complete individuals, weighing academic achievement alongside personal qualities, leadership, community involvement, socioeconomic background, and unique life experiences. This approach, widely adopted by selective US universities, aims to build diverse and well-rounded student cohorts. Critics argue it introduces subjectivity and can disadvantage certain demographic groups, while proponents contend it identifies promising students who may not have the highest test scores.
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