What is Holistic Review？
Holistic review（整体审查）
As a comprehensive assessment criterion in North American university admissions, Holistic Review evaluates various aspects of students. American universities and some Canadian universities use the Holistic Review approach to examine students' abilities and achievements from a broader, more diverse perspective.
For many parents, the admission criteria of North American universities may seem somewhat mysterious. For example, some students with outstanding academic achievements may not receive admission, while others with seemingly less impressive records are accepted. There are cases where students who have taken physics courses are not admitted to the physics major, while students who have not taken Physics 11 and Physics 12 at school are accepted into the physics program.
According to the official explanation by the College Board, the organization overseeing the SAT and other educational programs in the United States:
“Holistic review is a flexible, highly individualized process by which balanced consideration is given to the multiple ways in which applicants may prepare for and demonstrate suitability. ”
Holistic review is a highly flexible and comprehensive assessment method. In this evaluation, students have the opportunity to showcase their alignment with the university through a variety of channels and methods.
So, the university admission process involves the combined influence of many factors rather than just looking at in-school averages or the number of AP courses taken, among other things.
Holistic review incorporates various factors beyond standardized test scores, transforming students from products of standardized testing into individuals with distinctive and unique overall profiles. Schools can consider factors beyond exams to gain insight into applicants' potential skills and comprehensive abilities, facilitating a more meaningful evaluation.
The Three Core Tenets of Holistic Review
1.Alignment with the school's values, mission, and vision.
Value（价值观）、Mission（使命）和Vision（愿景）are highly emphasized by North American schools and are considered the soul of the institutions.
When each school employs Holistic Review, it establishes its own standards based on the educational objectives, core values, and mission of the institution.
For example, a popular school this year, Johns Hopkins University, aims to cultivate students' lifelong learning and independent research abilities, applying the results of these studies and discoveries for the benefit of society.
As one of the Ivy League universities, Duke University's educational mission is to provide students with a strong liberal arts education, empowering them to become agents of societal change. In their essays, we can sense their emphasis on community contribution.
When applying to different schools, it is important to carefully and deeply research the school's style, culture, and values. In essays like 'Why School,' it is crucial to highlight the alignment between yourself and the school.
2. The likelihood of students' future success and their potential to contribute to an enhanced learning experience for the institution.
Holistic review takes into account two key factors:
1. Whether the student is outstanding in their own right.
2. Whether the student can bring a more diverse and enriching learning experience to the school.
According to the College Board's statement:
“The potential of students to contribute to the learning experience of their peers is a vital element in holistic review”。
“如果一个学生能够给其他的同学带来学习体验的提升，那么他是很有优势的。所以如果你的标化成绩不够高，那么请在文书和简历里尽力挖掘自己的独特性。”这种情况通俗一点讲，就是实现“低分高录”。
3.Including a variety of soft factors beyond grades.
Holistic review primarily assesses two factors: academic performance and non-academic achievements (other comprehensive abilities).
American schools assess a multitude of student qualities and academic achievements, numbering in the dozens. Here, we won't list them all. What's crucial is that each applicant, throughout the application process, fully understands themselves and the preferences of the school. Finding a balance between self-realization and pursuing the desired academic institution is key.
Holistic Review
The Implementation and Process of the Admission Procedure
According to the analysis by the College Board, schools typically employ three main methods:
1.依据：Evidence-based
Based on facts
2.参照：Individualized
Based on individual circumstances
3.基础：Contextual
Based on specific scenarios
For Example：
Student A comes from a financially challenging background, with unemployed parents and younger siblings to support. He manages his and his siblings' living expenses through part-time work while maintaining a strong academic performance.
Student B, on the other hand, is actively involved in a student organization and holds a leadership position within that group.
In the eyes of the admissions officers, the leadership and resilience demonstrated by Student A in the context of his life situation are viewed as comparable to the outstanding performance of Student B in the student organization. Therefore, Student A is not at a disadvantage in the application process despite the lack of involvement in student clubs.
Another Example:
A: A student from a top-tier private high school in the United States participates in the National Mathematical Modeling Competition and receives the first-place national award.
B: A child from a Mexican immigrant laborer's family invents a device that uses solar energy to roast corn cobs in farmland.
In the eyes of admissions officers, both students demonstrate intelligence, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.
In summary, evaluating an individual's potential depends on their specific circumstances, including school, family, and financial situations. There is no hierarchy or superiority between activities and achievements; the key focus is on the abilities and personal charisma demonstrated throughout the process.
Moreover, no two students are exactly alike, and activities suitable for Student A may not be suitable for Student B, even within the same family. To ensure fairness, Holistic Review in university admissions offices typically involves multiple rounds and multiple reviewers.
The "formula for American university admissions" circulating online serves as a reference for understanding and balancing the aspects considered in holistic review, but it should not be regarded as an absolute standard.
How Holistic Review Balances Consideration of Factors
Considering the difficulty of addressing numerous factors individually and the significant emphasis that universities place on 'continuity,' students need to utilize their limited time wisely. They should prioritize and select one or two traits as their main focal points, considering the rest as supplementary. Additionally, in applications to top-tier universities in the United States or Canada, admission officers highly value the alignment between students and the institution when reviewing essays. Therefore, it is crucial for students to plan their applications based on their potential, highlights, and characteristics, aligning them with their interests and the target university's 'excitement points.'
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