What Holistic Admissions Really Means at Highly Selective Colleges
Holistic admissions is one of the most misunderstood phrases in college admissions. It is frequently interpreted to mean, “We look at the whole person, so everyone has an equal chance” The first part is not untrue; however what it doesn’t mean is that admissions factors are not ‘ranked.’
What it does mean is that the college is selecting a class, not merely ranking applicants. At highly selective schools, thousands of applicants are academically qualified. For example, at places like Wesleyan, UPenn, Georgia Tech and Williams, a very large percentage of applicants could handle the coursework. Therefore, admission counselors are trained to look beyond the academic excellency which almost all applicants possess and extend their focus by considering the question, “Which combination of students creates the freshman class we need this year?” In some ways it can be stated that admissions is no longer measuring achievement — it is predicting impact.
Here is a broad-stroke overview of the steps adopted at these highly coveted institutions.
Step 1 — Before anything else, admissions checks:
Transcript rigor
Grades
Academic performance relative to your school
Standardized test scores - is submitted
This is not holistic yet — it is qualification.
At selective colleges:
Many applicants pass the academic bar
But failing this stage almost always ends consideration
Holistic review truly engages after you are considered academically admissible.
Step 2 — Context review
Admissions officers then read your application from the perspective of the environment from which you come:
They ask:
What opportunities did your high school offer?
What was available in your community?
What, if any, obstacles existed?
A student who piloted a small tutoring program at a school with few resources may be evaluated differently than a student with easy access to research labs and pre-existing clubs.
Holistic does not mean identical standards — it means contextual evaluation.
Step 3 — Personal and behavioral evidence
Now admissions focuses on the aspects students wrongly think of as “extras”:
Activities
Essays
Recommendations
These are not extras. They are behavioral evidence and they support authenticity and self-motivation.
By examining these factors, admissions officers are trying to predict a student's likelihood to demonstrate:
Initiative
Curiosity
Reliability
Collaboration
Resilience
Community contribution
They are not judging personality — they are predicting future campus behavior.
While grades predict classroom performance, activities, essays and recommendations predict campus participation.
Step 4 — Institutional priorities (the great unknown)
This is the piece most often not considered by families.
Colleges have enrollment goals each year:
Targeting students for certain majors
Increasing students from different geographic regions
Engaging enrollment from first-generation students
Musicians
Researchers
Athletes
Campus leaders
Underrepresented academic interests
Holistic admissions allows for the intentional shaping of a class.
Two equally strong academic applicants can receive different decisions because one helps meet a class need and the other does not.
While this can be misconstrued as unfairness — it is how universities build a functioning, successful campus community. Through the holistic admissions process, universities seeking to create are a well-rounded class composed of students with distinct strengths.
The most accurate translation of the term holistic admissions review is:
“After confirming you can succeed academically, we evaluate how you will contribute to our campus and whether you help us build the class we are trying to enroll.”
That is why a perfect GPA can be rejected, a slightly lower GPA can be admitted, and activities and essays suddenly matter enormously.
Examples of Holistic Admissions in Action
| Component | Swarthmore College | Amherst College |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Threshold | Extremely rigorous curriculum; near-top class rank; strong writing ability | Very high academic bar; intellectual depth emphasized; strong humanities & STEM preparation |
| Intellectual Curiosity | Central factor: love of learning, seriousness about ideas | Central factor: independent thinking and exploration valued |
| Depth of Engagement | Sustained, focused involvement preferred over broad participation | Long-term commitment and authentic pursuits prioritized |
| Community Contribution | Strong emphasis on collaborative learning and campus citizenship | Values students who will contribute meaningfully to residential community |
| Collaboration | Highly important; Swarthmore culture is discussion-based and cooperative | Important; Amherst emphasizes thoughtful discourse and shared inquiry |
| Leadership / Initiative | Initiative valued, especially when tied to intellectual or community impact | Leadership valued when reflective and purpose-driven |
| Character & Personal Qualities | Integrity, humility, resilience, seriousness of purpose | Perspective, empathy, maturity, and authenticity |
| Use of Essays | Essays reveal how a student thinks and engages with ideas | Essays reveal voice, reflection, and individuality |
| Institutional Priorities | Builds a tight-knit intellectual community | Builds a diverse but intimate residential class |
| What Differentiates Admits | Intellectual intensity + collaborative engagement | Distinct voice + independent intellectual spark |
Swarthmore leans slightly more toward intellectual seriousness and academic intensity within a collaborative environment. Amherst places slightly more weight on individuality, voice, and independent intellectual perspective (consistent with its open curriculum).
| Component | Brown University | University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Threshold | Extremely high; students must show they can thrive without a prescribed curriculum | Very high; strong grades and rigorous coursework required, especially in intended major |
| Intellectual Curiosity | Core factor; self-directed love of learning is central to admission | Important; curiosity valued when connected to action or real projects |
| Depth of Engagement | Sustained academic or creative exploration outside requirements | Long-term involvement showing commitment and reliability |
| Community Contribution | Discussion-oriented campus; values thoughtful participation and perspective | Large campus; values students who will actively join, lead, and build organizations |
| Collaboration | Seminar-style learning and exchange of ideas emphasized | Teamwork and group leadership highly valued |
| Leadership / Initiative | Initiative shown through independent projects, research, or creative work | Leadership and initiative strongly emphasized; students expected to seek opportunities |
| Character & Personal Qualities | Intellectual openness, authenticity, reflection | Work ethic, resilience, responsibility, and follow-through |
| Use of Essays | Very important; essays reveal how a student thinks and learns | Important; essays help show motivation, direction, and fit with the university |
| Fit With Academic Interests | Must show ability to use freedom of the Open Curriculum | Must show interest in chosen field/college (LSA, Engineering, Ross, etc.) |
| Institutional Priorities | Builds a community of independent thinkers and engaged scholars | Builds a large, functioning campus community across many schools and programs |
| What Differentiates Admits | Self-motivated intellectual exploration and authentic curiosity | Initiative, contribution, and readiness to take advantage of a large research university |
Brown selects students who will direct their own education. Michigan selects students who will actively participate and contribute at scale.
While holistic admissions may seem overly subjective — it is a predictive process with some very clear metrics. Universities use academics to confirm readiness and the rest of the application to forecast contribution and engagement.
To learn more about how Gateway Admissions can assist with optimizing your application process and success, please request a complimentary consultation to get started.