What Is Holistic Evaluation?

When colleges and universities review your college application, counselors often say they’re reviewing each one “holistically”—but what does that mean?

Most students will submit their transcript, test scores (unless the school doesn’t require test scores and the student chooses not to submit them), letters of recommendation, at least one essay, a list of their extracurricular activities, and sometimes a resume, portfolio, or a student may have to audition for a performance based program.

When your application is reviewed holistically, it means each of those pieces is read or viewed and considered together, said Patricia Peek, Ph.D., dean of undergraduate admission at Fordham.

“I like to think of it as a constellation—each piece of information are like stars that come together to form a picture of a unique you. she said.