College Admissions Counseling Blog

Historically, in looking at admissions, private colleges looked at the whole student including the grades, test scores, activities and essays. Public colleges on the other hand relied much more on the simple numbers of grades and test scores. Recently, however, more and more public colleges are started to use the more holistic approach and considering factors beyond grades and test scores. Oklahoma State University is the latest to propose using the holistic approach to consider the applicant's talents and leadership skills. The University of Oregon, the University of California system and the University of Wisconsin are already using this more inclusive approach in admissions.

For students this means that they may need to be more concerned about factors outside the classroom even if they are considering a public college. Personally, I think this is good for admissions. Yes, college is about academics and learning, but it is also about exploring the world and learning about yourself. Students who do nothing outside the classroom often do not contribute to society as much as those who follow their interests. I would encourage more public colleges to consider using the holistic approach to admissions.