How Holistic Admissions Really Work
In many countries, college admissions come down to a single test score. In the U.S., colleges take a holistic approach—meaning there are multiple components, or “hoops,” to jump through. Not all hoops are weighted equally.
The first and most important consideration is academics. Colleges need to know students can handle the work. Some universities use formulas or algorithms to review grades, course rigor, and scores, and applications that don’t meet certain thresholds may not be read further.
Grade inflation has made this more complex: nearly half of high school students apply to college have straight As That’s why course rigor matters so much. Admissions officers consistently say they would rather see a B in a challenging class than an A in an easier one—it signals intellectual curiosity and a willingness to stretch oneself.
Don’t focus too much on GPA. Since there is no standardized GPA scale, colleges know they are comparing apples to oranges, so they look closely at the details of a student’s transcript. Students won’t game the system by padding their transcript with Honors gym.
Because GPA has its limits, standardized test scores—SAT, ACT, and when available AP or IB exams—have become increasingly important again. Scores provide an objective data point and are not subject to grade inflation. AP and IB exams also demonstrate mastery of specific content.
While some students still apply test-optional, many colleges now require scores again, and expectations remain high—particularly for students from well-resourced schools or communities.
Beyond Academics: Telling the Student’s Story
Once a student clears the academic bar, admissions become truly holistic. Colleges look at activities, honors, recommendations, demonstrated interest, essays, and sometimes even direct communication with regional admissions officers.
Activities should show what students do outside the classroom and, ideally, reveal a clear through-line—what they care about and how they engage with the world around them. Recommendation letters, though often out of sight, are incredibly influential, and we work intentionally to help students earn strong, authentic ones.
Essays—both the personal statement and school-specific supplements—bring everything together. All of these elements combine to tell the story of the student: their interests, their personality, their growth mindset, and the impact they’ve made in their community. Colleges aren’t just admitting students; they’re building communities, and they want people who will contribute meaningfully.
Our Development-Focused Approach
Our work is about helping students jump through as many of these hoops as possible, starting with academic support—course selection, tutoring when needed, and skill-building. I’ve tutored one-on-one for decades and deeply believe in its power, not just to improve grades, but to increase confidence, engagement, and connection to learning.
We also help students create thoughtful test-prep plans, decide whether test-optional makes sense, and plan extracurricular involvement strategically and authentically.
