Holistic applications allow colleges and universities to learn more about a student beyond their GPA and test scores. As a prospective student, a holistic application allows you to share more of your story with the admissions committee, and help them see how you could be a good fit at their particular institution. These applications can be super nerve-wracking, though, so here are a few tips about how to make the most of a holistic application.
Transcripts: When an admissions or scholarship committee is looking at your transcript, they are most likely looking to see that you have taken challenging coursework throughout all four years of high school, and that you have done well in that coursework. When I look at a student’s transcript, I also like to see if the electives a student is taking align with their passions or their future major. If they want to be an English & Creative Writing major and they took a literature elective in their senior year rather than taking a fourth year of science, that’s okay! I also love seeing a student trying out something different. Having one semester of art our an automotive tech class on your transcript shows the reviewer that you tried something out to see if you liked it. It’s okay to try things and not want to continue doing them throughout all of high school. The most important thing is that you’re filling your schedule with courses that are challenging and meaningful to you, and doing well in those courses.
Activity lists or resumes: When I look at a student’s activities list, I prioritize depth over breadth. If a student’s only activity is band, but they’re in marching band, concert band, jazz band, pep band, honor bands, and private lessons, that tells me that the student is passionate about something and is willing to dedicate time and work to being successful. I would rather see a student deeply involved in one activity than doing a bare minimum in fifteen different organizations, just to pad a resume. Another great thing to see in an activities list is diversity. If you are involved in multiple activities that are very different from each other, that can show a reviewer that you have talent in multiple areas, and that you can manage your time well while participating in a variety of activities. Some applications will give you room to write a short paragraph describing the activity. This can be a good place to explain an activity that might be unique to you or to your school, to inform the reviewer about any honors or awards you’ve received through this activity, to talk about leadership roles, or to describe what this activity means to you. Finally, if you have a part-time job or any caregiving responsibilities at home, please include that on your activities list! For me personally as a reviewer, these additional responsibilities tell me a lot about a student and their ability to be successful in college. This is definitely something the admissions committee should know!
Recommendation letters: If an application asks for recommendation letters, find people who speak about different parts of your life. Don’t just ask three of your teachers to write you a letter, those will likely all sound very similar. Instead, ask a teacher, a coach, and the supervisor from your part-time job. Those three would be able describe you to the committee in different ways, touching on different parts of who you are as a candidate. Most importantly, if you are asking someone to write you a letter of recommendation, give them plenty of time! Ask at least two weeks in advance, and offer them a copy of your resume or a list of your activities so they have some additional information in front of them when they write your letter. Once they’ve written your recommendation, be sure to send a thank-you card!
Additional information: Some applications will have an option for students to submit additional information that may be useful to the admissions committee in reviewing your application. This is not an opportunity for you to submit a personal statement or a writing sample. This is a chance for you to explain anything about yourself or your application that may need some additional context. Were there special circumstances that impacted any of your grades, like an accident or a family event that prevented you from doing well in school during one semester of high school? Did you move halfway through high school, so your course schedule looks a little jumbled? Did you have to quit an activity during high school so you could pick up more hours at your part-time job? If you have any circumstances that you think require some additional explanations, use the additional information section to share that with the reviewer. This information can be really important when making decisions!
Follow the rules: If you are asked to fill out an activities list, fill it out according to the directions on the application; don’t just upload a copy of your resume. If you’re asked to submit an essay of 750 words or less, don’t submit a writing sample that’s fifteen pages long. Write your essay over the prompt that was given to you; don’t just submit an essay that you wrote for your English class and change the title. If you don’t follow the rules of the application, your application may be discarded.
Essays: Usually the part of the application that gives students the most anxiety, the admissions essay can certainly be a lot of work. Every essay prompt is different, but I have a few general pieces of advice to share when approaching the essay. Overall, be yourself. The essay is your opportunity to share your personality and your voice, in a way that goes above and beyond your transcript and resume. Take advantage of that. When answering the prompt, try to come up with a unique answer or angle that will make your essay stand out from other students. Choose a topic that is interesting to you. Before you submit your essay, have multiple sets of eyes look over it. Ask an English teacher, a parent, or a peer who knows you well, to review your words and give you feedback.
Susan Dickinson - Assistant Director, High Ability Recruitment - University of Iowa
