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Just as no two colleges or two applicants are completely alike, individual colleges operate by their own standards and preferences when evaluating applicants for admission. Schools that refer to their "holistic admission process" look at each student with a variety of lenses that go beyond GPA and sometimes SAT/ACT scores as well.

Different from holistic admissions is statistics-based admissions, often preferred by larger state institutions managing tens of thousands of applications. Here, admission decisions are largely based on a combination of student high school GPA and standardized testing scores, if available.  In other words: it's the numbers that count.

What's your major?

Whether or not a college employs a holistic approach, it is worth pointing out that colleges might establish designated minimums or standards for a particular majors. Examples include GPA and possibly SAT/ACT minimums for students interested in STEM fields; pre-professional tracks such as business.  Merit scholarship awards may also be based on performance stats.

So what is holistic admissions?

When colleges refer to a holistic admissions process, they are interested in applicants beyond statistics alone.  Admissions will review applicants in a broader context that reflects more of their individual contributions or impact in their school or community.  Typical examples include a greater focus on rigor or strength of high school curriculum; the application essay; teacher or counselor comments in a recommendation letter; an interview conversation; and more.

What are some advantages of holistic admissions?

For students who may have an inconsistent record of academic performance or "average" SAT/ACT scores, a holistic review will take into account other areas of performance that signal fit or success at the school.  In a holistic review, other student aspects may positively overshadow transcript bumps along the way.

Holistic reviews will probably vary from school to school, but they tend to include a broad set of criteria, including:

Rigor of high school curriculum

Grades earned

SAT, ACT, AP scores or IB predicted scores

Extracurricular involvement and evidence of leadership

Honors or awards

Strong personal essay

Demonstrated interest

Personal qualities or evidence of character

Fit for the school as evidenced through supplemental essays, if required

Interview, if evaluative

Strong academic teacher recommendations

Ability to pay at need-aware schools

It should be comforting for high school students and parents to know that, in general, colleges seek the best in each applicant and review for the skills and preparedness that speak to their future success in college and their intended area of study. After all, every student's potential for success is based on so much more than a set of numbers.