Yep, they do. Every awkward joke in your essay, every club on your activity list, every glowing (or… not-so-glowing) recommendation—someone reads it. At holistic schools, admissions officers don’t just skim your app like a TikTok scroll. They’re building a community, and every piece of your application is a puzzle piece that shows how you’d fit […]

Pretending to be someone they’re not. It’s tempting to write what you think colleges want to hear—“I am a passionate, driven young leader who…” Yawn. Admissions officers see through that faster than you can say “Common App.” The strongest applications don’t sound perfect—they sound real. Maybe you struggled, changed your mind, failed, or learned something […]

Spoiler alert: it’s not just about test scores and GPAs that make calculators cry. Holistic admissions is like a personality test meets a vibe check. Colleges want to know who you are—not just how many APs you survived. They’re looking for spark, growth, and a sense of purpose. Your essays, rec letters, and activities show […]

Step one: stop trying to be what you think they want. Colleges don’t need another over-edited essay about “leadership” in ten clubs you barely remember joining. What do they want? You, in full color. Show depth, not just breadth. Choose a few activities that genuinely matter to you and tell stories about what you did […]