Exploring Holistic Admissions at
Colorado State University
Carlos Jimenez, Associate Director Freshman Initiatives
Renee Orlick, Director of Operations
CSU Class Profile (Freshmen)
Typical incoming student F’11 (mid 50%)
GPA: 3.29-3.9 (Average 3.59)
ACT Composite: 22-27 (Average 24.7)
SAT Combined: 1050-1240 (Average 1145)
• From 49 states and more than 80 countries
• Colorado residents comprise 76% of all students
• 19 percent of domestic students are ethnic
minorities (difference of 111 over last year).
• Entering freshman class of 4,504 students
• Approximately 17,000 applications
• Approximately an 82% admission rate
Holistic Admission
• What comes to mind?
What it means to review holistically
• Take “non-traditional factors” into account, not
just grades, scores and curriculum minimums
• Consider that different students bring different
strengths to the classroom, some of which are
not yet evident
• Assess the difference between a student’s
choices and opportunities
• Select a person, not just a student
• As much about recruitment as selection
What are “the right” approaches?
• Admit students based on future potential, not just past
performance
• Carry out a system that is as consistent as possible
• Recognize that “objectivity” is elusive at best
• Shape a class to fit the institution’s mission
• Don’t penalize students for things they cannot control
• Know the student’s “local context”
• Assess and refine process each year
College Ratings of the Importance of Various Factors in the
Admission Decision: Fall 2010
Factor
Grades in college prep
courses
Strength of curriculum
Admission test scores
(SAT, ACT)
Grades in all courses
Essay or writing sample
Student’s demonstrated
interest
Class rank
Counselor
recommendation
Teacher
recommendation
Subject test scores (AP,
IB)
Interview
Extracurricular activities
Portfolio
SAT II scores
State graduation exam
scores
Work
Considerable
importance
Moderate importance
Limited importance
No importance
83.4%
12.3%
2.7%
1.6%
65.7
25.7
4.7
3.9
59.3
29.4
7.0
4.3
46.2
26.6
42.1
33.0
10.2
22.9
1.6
17.6
23.0
30.9
26.6
19.5
21.8
37.2
25.9
15.0
19.4
45.0
23.1
12.4
19.0
44.2
24.5
12.3
9.6
32.4
32.6
25.3
9.2
7.4
5.9
5.3
22.7
42.3
12.9
11.8
33.0
35.1
32.9
24.9
35.2
15.2
48.2
58.0
4.2
14.0
28.5
53.4
1.9
20.3
47.2
30.6
SOURCE: NACAC Admission Trends Survey, 2010
Factors Showing Most Change in
“Considerable Importance” Rating: 1993 to 2010
SOURCE: NACAC Admission Trends Survey, 2010
Holistic Admission at Colorado State
• Each applicant receives a holistic review by one or
more admissions staff members who assess
academic rigor and performance and personal
qualities.
• Applicants who meet state and institutional
admissions standards are considered priority
candidates for admission.
• Applicants who do not meet the priority
consideration standards still are considered for
admission; files are reviewed by an admissions
committee.
Holistic Admission: Academics
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Minimum six semesters
GPA, class size and class rank
SAT and/or ACT results – Written sections not used
Academic rigor (completed and proposed)
Priority Consideration Factors and state requirements
Trends in grades – Explanation of discrepancies/deficiencies ?
Major requested (competitive, non-traditional, under-represented)
Special academic circumstances
• e.g., learning disability, early graduate, homeschool, non-traditional,
GED, portfolio
Holistic Admission: Academics
• Emphasis on the high school curriculum- both the number of
courses completed and the academic rigor of those courses.
– Priority Consideration is given to freshman applicants with a
minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA (4.0 scale) and completion of the
following:
1 unit equals 1
year of course
work.
English
Units
Mathematics
Units
Natural Science
Units
Social Studies
Units
Other
4
4
Must include
Algebra I,
Algebra II, and
Geometry
3
Two of which
must be lab-based
3
One of which
must be U.S.
history or world
civilization
2
Units of the same
foreign language
2
Academic electives
• The state of Colorado Higher Education Admission Requirements are a
subset of these core subjects
Holistic Admission: Personal Qualities
• Colorado State University recognizes that
academic preparation may take several forms
• We endorse the belief that non-academic
factors, personal characteristics and
individual experiences are important and
positive for the campus community.
• Personal statement/essay, activities list,
academic explanation, recommendation(s)
offer broader view
Holistic Admission: Personal Qualities
• Activities with particular emphasis on leadership and
service
• Ability to contribute to diverse campus community (e.g.,
personal background/experience, special talent)
• Examples of maturity, focus, motivation, readiness for
academic and non-academic aspects of college transition
• Extenuating circumstances and demonstrated ability to
overcome obstacles or adversity
• Student’s understanding of self related to learning or other
disability
• Growth and understanding gained from criminal or
disciplinary issues
Holistic Admission: The Process
• We review 900-1200 files a week
• Committee reviews 100-200 files a week
• Recommendations for deny receive at least
one further review
• Students can ask for reconsideration and
submit additional academic information
Holistic Admission in Action
• Your turn!
– 3 Real applications to Colorado State
– Review the information
– Discuss strengths and weaknesses of each applicant
– Would you Admit or Deny to the University?
– We’ll discuss the candidates as a group and test
your holistic savvy 
Biological Science
3.56 weighted GPA
School does not rank
ACT Comp 23
Eng
24
Math
20
Read
23
Sci
23
√
√
√
√
√
√
4 units of English
4 units of Math
3 Natural Sciences
3 Social Sciences
2 Foreign Language
2 Academic Electives
Angelina’s Essay
Angelina’s recommendations
Angelina’s Recommendations cont’d
Angelina’s recommendations cont’d
Angelina- addt’l info
Decision Time
•
•
•
•
•
Strengths
Concerns
Additional Comments
Recommendation
Outcome?
Undeclared
3.17 weighted GPA
121/485 75 %
2.69 uw GPA
168/485 65 %
ACT Comp
Eng
Math
Read
Sci
√
√
√
√
√
√
30
26
30
33
29
4 units of English
4 units of Math
3 Natural Sciences
3 Social Sciences
2 Foreign Language
2 Academic Electives
Matthew- addt’l academic info
Matthew’s Essay
I’ve been described as an interesting, intelligent, and kind person. I come from a good family, with
supportive parents and an older brother who has already graduated from CSU. I want to go to college to
show my family what I’m capable of and to follow in my brother’s footsteps. If I can go to college and get
my degree I will be able to get a good job and make money, but I’ll also be able to consider myself an equal
to my brother. As far as the economy goes, going to college is practically the only sure way to get a well
paying job so that people can effectively take care of themselves. I want to gain my independence from my
parents and take care of myself.
I spend my time as a technician for Drama club for my school, participating in DECA for my school which
involves competing and preparing for competitions, and in Pre-Collegiate Development Program (PCDP) to
learn how to be successful in college. As a technician for Drama club I build the sets for the school plays,
but now that I’m a senior I also have a responsibility to direct and teach the newer technicians. Teaching
the new technicians gives me a chance to connect better with them so that we work well together and to
share my love of building with someone else. This has improved my communication skills and patience,
both of which will be of some use for me at CSU. I’ve always enjoyed building the sets for the school,
knowing that every time someone goes to see the show, they were looking at something I helped create. I
now look forward to using the skills I’ve developed once I get to CSU.
PCDP has help prepared me for college that I feel confident that I’ll be able to do well, along with making
me more outgoing so that I’ll be able to socially interact with other students at college. We even took a
retreat up into the mountains to a camp called Balarat. At Balarat the PCDP staff led us through activities
designed to force us out of our shells and to socialize with the other juniors in the PCDP program. Through
this program I have made many friends and now the social skills to make many more. During PCDP’s
summer program I had the chance to take a few actual college classes and experience college firsthand. I
learned what I’m truly capable of during the program and that I’m ready for college. I do very well in
comprehending both science and math at school and I will definitely pursue a career in either subject. I did
very well in both of these subjects because I have a natural aptitude for them. I also do well in English but
do not plan on pursuing a career in the field of writing because I don’t enjoy it as much as working with
math and science.
Matthews Recommendation
Additional Info- Matthew
Decision Time
•
•
•
•
•
Strengths
Concerns
Additional Comments
Recommendation
Guess Matthew’s Index
Performing Arts/Dance
3.36 weighted GPA
157/375 58 %
3.11 uw GPA
137/395 65 %
ACT Comp
Eng
Math
Read
Sci
√
√
√
√
√
√
19
19
17
21
19
4 units of English
4 units of Math
3 Natural Sciences
3 Social Sciences
2 Foreign Language
2 Academic Electives
Denzel- addt’l academic info
Academic Explanation
My Junior year in high school, my grades dropped/ They
suffered because I was going through sever family
problems and social anxiety. During this time, I was
dealing with my family and friends accepting my
sexuality. This caused my grades to suffer because it
trapped me in a depressed state of mind.
DenzelEssay
page 1
Denzel- Essay p 2
Denzel- recommendation
Denzel- recommendations cont’d
Denzel’s
recommendations
cont’d
Denzel- Additional Info
Decision Time
•
•
•
•
•
Strengths
Concerns
Additional Comments
Recommendation
What did the Committee do?