What do we mean by “holistic application review”?
"Our aim is to understand you not just as an academic performer, but as a whole human, one shaped by the multiple, rich contexts in which you exist."
"Our aim is to understand you not just as an academic performer, but as a whole human, one shaped by the multiple, rich contexts in which you exist."
Let me first say that reading applications is hands-down my favorite part of admission work. It’s such a sacred window into the hearts, minds, and values of what I think is a truly impressive generation. Gen Z’s global awareness, their investment in equity and justice, their can-do attitudes – these convictions are all quite aligned with Bryn Mawr’s own values.
If you’re engaged in the college search at Bryn Mawr or anywhere else, it’s likely you’ve encountered the phrase “holistic application review.” It is, perhaps, the most overused phrase in college admissions. But what do we really mean by it? Let’s break it down.
I have to start by reframing “holistic review” – I invite you to think of it instead as “human review.” That’s because here at Bryn Mawr, as at many liberal arts colleges, our aim is to understand you not just as an academic performer, but as a whole human, one shaped by the multiple, rich contexts in which you exist. Who are you in the context of your family? Of your community? Who are you with your peers? In your school setting? What opportunities may or may not have been available to you because of these contexts? How did you leverage the opportunities you did have? And – very importantly – how have the life experiences that emerged from these contexts informed your values and aspirations?
We can find the answers to all of those questions in your application. Our core job as application readers is to synthesize these details to paint the fullest picture not only of your past accomplishments, but your future potential for success at our institution. If you were to sit in our admissions committee room, you’d hear us refer to this combination of achievement and potential as “spark.” We might apply that term to the student who had more limited academic opportunity but reads much wiser than her years, one whose leadership capacity and convictions leap off the page, or one whose quest for knowledge feels insatiable. We pay attention to what the summative feel of an application tells us about a student’s spark, intellectual curiosity, and convictions because these qualities have long been the hallmark of a Bryn Mawr student. I like to think of that detective work as the art of holistic application reading.
But there’s a science to the work, too – which ensures that admission offices are reading with consistency across applications. So when I or one of my Admissions Counselors open a file, we evaluate the academic components of a student’s application first, things like the transcript and the school profile, test scores if submitted. Now, lots of students think we distill academics to a single metric: their GPA or SAT scores. We don’t.
Here are the Parts:
In sum, holistic review is a philosophical approach to reading that encourages us to consider the data points in relation to the human dimension of your application. Understanding the factors of your application in context in this way allows us to paint the fullest picture of who you are, to begin to understand what makes you tick, and to consider not just what you’ve accomplished, but what you’ve yet to accomplish. My team and I can’t wait to learn more about your potential through your application!
1. The first is the rigor of the courses you chose relative to what was available to you at your school;
2. The second is your course progression in core academic areas – how far did you take your math sequence; how many years of language study did you choose? – all assessed against what was available to you in your school setting;
3. And lastly, we look at your grades and grade trends. (Application tip: it’s best if we see steady grades or uptrending grades than those trending downward over time.)
After academics, we turn our attention to your writing. It’s here that we can begin to make fine distinctions between and among otherwise qualified candidates – because lots of applicants to selective liberal arts colleges present very strong grades with rigorous coursework. So what are we looking for when we read your writing? We’re looking for insight into your values. We’re looking to learn something we can’t learn about you in other parts of the application. As importantly, we’re looking at how you synthesize ideas, how well you convey critical, analytical or creative thought – because that’s what will be expected in the Bryn Mawr classroom. So take your time with the writing portion of the application because it’s a major opportunity to elevate your candidacy in a pool of competitive applicants!
We then look at the recommendations from your counselor and teachers. I like to say that there’s no back row at a women’s college – Bryn Mawr is a front-row learning experience. It’s also a highly collaborative one. So in your recommendations, we’re looking for evidence that you’re a fit in that way. Maybe you’re a student whose insights enhance the classroom experience for others, or one who shines as a leader in group settings. We just want to see that your skills in the classroom align with our learning model, where students are expected to be active and eager participants in the production of knowledge.
Lastly, we turn to understanding how you spend your time outside of the classroom. We’re hoping to see sustained commitment in your activity list – residential liberal arts colleges are known for our highly involved, impactful student bodies. Maybe you’re editor of the school newspaper, or you’ve been marching for climate justice since middle school. You might have a job or be a dedicated caretaker for a younger sibling or grandparent after school each day. You may have started a podcast that now has a substantial following. Know that we value each of these activities equally. We’re just looking for evidence that you can choose a path and follow it with dedication and commitment.
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