Holistic Admission Process: What Colleges Actually Look For

For many students and families, the college admissions process can feel like a black box — full of decisions that seem subjective, mysterious, and sometimes even random. And one phrase tends to come up again and again, without much explanation: Holistic admissions. You’ll hear colleges say, “We use a holistic review process,” but what does that actually mean? At Verischolars, we believe in transparency and truth — and that includes helping students and parents understand howdecisions are made. Let’s unpack what holistic admissions really is, what colleges are actually looking for, and how you can approach the process with clarity instead of confusion.

What Holistic Admissions Means

Holistic admissions means that colleges don’t make decisions based solely on grades and test scores. Instead, they consider the full context of a student’s story — their academic record but also their character, values, potential, and background. It’s an approach rooted in the idea that no student is just a number. That who you are — and how you show up — matters as much as what you’ve accomplished.

Colleges using a holistic process look at:

Your transcript (not just GPA, but course rigor and trends)
Standardized test scores (if submitted)
Personal essays and short responses
Letters of recommendation
Activities and extracurriculars
Interviews (at some schools)
Demonstrated interest (at select colleges)
Your personal background and life context

What They’re Really Looking For

Colleges aren’t just filling spots — they’re building communities. They’re asking:

What kind of classmate will this student be?
What voice or perspective might they bring to campus?
How have they grown from the challenges they’ve faced?
What lights them up — and does that show through in their story?

In a holistic review, admissions officers are trained to look between the lines. That means they’re not just evaluating what you’ve done — they’re trying to understand who you are becoming.

They want to see:

Consistency and resilience in your academic effort
Curiosity and drive in your intellectual and personal growth
Authenticity in how you share your story
Depth in your commitments and values
Self-awareness — not perfection

So How Do You Stand Out in a Holistic Process?

It’s not about checking every box — it’s about being intentional with the boxes you do check. Here’s what we tell students at Verischolars:

Show don’t just tell. Instead of saying you’re passionate about science, show us — through your projects, your curiosity, your questions.
Use essays to reveal, not impress. The most memorable essays don’t have perfect grammar — they have perspective.
Let your values lead. Focus on what’s mattered most to you — not what you think colleges want to hear.
Be honest about challenges. If something impacted your grades or experience, own it with maturity and reflection.
Connect the dots. Make sure your activities, essays, and recommendations tell a story that makes sense — a picture of you that’s cohesive and human.

Final Thought: Holistic Doesn’t Mean Random — It Means Human

Holistic admissions isn’t about tricking the system or gaming your application. It’s about giving colleges a full picture of who you are, why you’ve made the choices you’ve made, and what you’re ready to do next. That process may seem subjective — and to a degree, it is — but it’s also deeply human. Admissions officers are people. They’re looking for connection, for potential, for students who are ready to contribute in their own authentic way. At Verischolars, we help students cut through the noise and focus on what really matters: clarity, character, and voice.