Holistic admissions is BS

[Anonymous]

First comes grades and then holistic admissions

[Anonymous]

Happy Ivy Day to you too.

[Anonymous]

Well yes, you have to be able to do the work. So grades are most important.

[Anonymous]

Lesson for younger kids!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First comes grades and then holistic admissions

Right that’s how it works. Grades/transcript are the first and most important hoop to get through for consideration. If you make it through that step then the other components are all brought into the equation but what weighs most heavily will look different across applicant pool

[Anonymous]

Holistic = applicants have to have it all

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First comes grades and then holistic admissions

That's how it works. The more selective the school, the more kids that have the basics (grades, rigor and SATs) so those schools use other soft factors to differentiate - ECs, recommendations, fuzzy/opaque criteria - and can get away with it given their 'pedigree'.

Most of DCUM prattles on about ECs, LOCs and Test Optional but for the vast majority of colleges grades, rigor and SAT matter way, way more than the noise levels here would indicate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First comes grades and then holistic admissions

Right that’s how it works. Grades/transcript are the first and most important hoop to get through for consideration. If you make it through that step then the other components are all brought into the equation but what weighs most heavily will look different across applicant pool

Absolutely right.

If application is rejected, means that it didn't cross this step of grades / transcript / test score. If waitlisted, means it crossed this step and someone spent 10 15 min on the app.

[Anonymous]

Holistic review doesn’t mean you can excuse away a bad record and they’ll admit you. As others have said, the objective facts/stats is the first hurdle, then the soft stuff. The objective stuff is necessary, but insufficient for an admit at competitive schools.

[Anonymous]

Problem is if you are from ultra competitive and tough school like TJ. First it is a tough school and then you compete with top students

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Problem is if you are from ultra competitive and tough school like TJ. First it is a tough school and then you compete with top students

Yes. It is so hard to have high unweighted GPA at TJ and yet maximize tough rigor. In addition, need to have impressive ECs.

[Anonymous]

I actually think there’s something to holistic review. My DC fared better at private schools and small schools than at large flagships. I think they have more time to read everything, and a better understanding of the nuances in private schools apps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First comes grades and then holistic admissions

That's how it works. The more selective the school, the more kids that have the basics (grades, rigor and SATs) so those schools use other soft factors to differentiate - ECs, recommendations, fuzzy/opaque criteria - and can get away with it given their 'pedigree'.

Most of DCUM prattles on about ECs, LOCs and Test Optional but for the vast majority of colleges grades, rigor and SAT matter way, way more than the noise levels here would indicate.

+1000

These people are complaining their "High stats" kid got rejected from a school with single digit acceptance rates...that means their rejection rate is 90-95%+. Many many many many "high stats" kids will get rejected. Grades are only the first hurdle, once you make that cut, then they look at everything else. And yes, many many many highly qualified kids will get rejected, try not to take it personally

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First comes grades and then holistic admissions

Right that’s how it works. Grades/transcript are the first and most important hoop to get through for consideration. If you make it through that step then the other components are all brought into the equation but what weighs most heavily will look different across applicant pool

Absolutely right.

If application is rejected, means that it didn't cross this step of grades / transcript / test score. If waitlisted, means it crossed this step and someone spent 10 15 min on the app.

Not at all the case. When 90-95% are rejected, plenty of kids have "the grades/transcript/test scores" but will simply not make it to acceptance or WL because literally 90% of those applying also have the similar stats (or high enough stats to make the cut).

[Anonymous]

People tend to forget that luck also plays a factor.