Holistic Review For Graduate Admissions

Catherine Roueche-HerdmanRussell Ramirez

George Cunningham

Agenda

• Overview of Holistic Review• Overview of CAS used at Texas A&M

for graduate admissions• Holistic Review and

UniCAS/WebAdMIT

Overview of Holistic Review

• Holistic review: “the consideration of a broad range of candidate qualities including ‘noncognitive’ or personal attributes”

• Grow from concerns with equity and using the best data available.

Overview of Holistic Review

• Data gathered from deans and researchers suggests• A priority on the diversity of the graduate

programs, • Importance of thinking beyond admissions only. • Importance of alignment with mission and goals

https://cgsnet.org/ckfinder/userfiles/files/CGS_HolisticReview_final_web.pdf

Overview of Holistic Review

• How do we implement?• Implement a systemic approach.• Screen-in instead of screen-out.• Understanding among all committee members. • Leverage a variety of materials. • Use GPA and standardized tests as positive indicators. • Just say no to cut scores. • Others.

https://www.holisticadmissions.org/curated-approaches/?p=2

CAS Used at Texas A&M

• BusinessCAS – May Business School• EngineeringCAS – College of Engineering• HAMPCAS/SOPHAS/SOPHAS Express – School of

Public Health• NursingCAS – College of Nursing• AMCAS – College of Medicine• UniCAS – CLAG, CLAR, CLDN, CLED, CLGB, CLGE,

CLLA, CLMD, CLCP, CLVM, TAMUGV, IDP

Holistic Review and UniCAS/WebAdMIT

• Applications reviewed within WebAdMIT: https://current.webadmit.org/• WebAdMIT will allow you to:

• Search for in progress and submitted applications• Create work groups that define permission sets and what reviewers can see

(panels)• Use custom fields to document specific information• Build requirements for tracking criterion• Establish local statuses to move applicants through review• Use scoring models• Create assignments for targeted review• Set up interviews• Use email templates to communicate with applicants

Holistic Review and UniCAS/WebAdMIT

• WebAdmit is the backend of UniCAS that is used to configure each programs admission application and allows for a configurable applicant review process.

• WebAdMIT helps programs:• Assemble a qualified and diverse incoming class.• Communicate effectively across the full admissions lifecycle.• Streamline administrative tasks.• Gain the insight you need to improve admissions strategies.

• WebAdMIT helps administrators:• Define role-based permissions to streamline workflows and access to

sensitive information.• Limit access to certain functions based on user level.• Customize data section views based on user role for security and efficiency.• Manage data exchange with your SIS via several integration options.

Holistic Review and UniCAS/WebAdMIT

• Preparing for the admissions process• What does a successful admissions process look like?• What tools are provided to help prepare for application reviews?• Are rubrics provided for evaluations?

• Collecting applicant information• What specific information do you request to understand the

applicant's cognitive skills?• What information is requested to gain insight into the applicant’s

personal attributes – motivation, resilience, adaptability, etc.

Holistic Review and UniCAS/WebAdMIT

• Reviewing applicant files• What is the process for reviewing applications to your

graduate programs?• Would you describe the review process as holistic? Why or

why not?• Are specific rating scales used to rate applicants?• Are different weights or emphasis placed on various parts of

the application?

Holistic Review and UniCAS/WebAdMIT

• Selecting applicant and making final decisions• How do you use the information collected in the application

process?• What is the process for making the final decision?• How do test scores factor into the final decision?• How much influence does an applicant’s personal attributes have

in the final decision?• Which pieces of information from the application are most helpful?• What impact do diversity policies have on the review process?

Holistic Review and UniCAS/WebAdMIT

• Evaluating the admissions process• How effective are the pieces of information used to evaluate applications

and make decisions are helping to determine which applicants have the potential to make it through your programs?

• What can be done to improve the admissions process?• How do you measure the effectiveness of the admissions process for your

programs?• At what time intervals are you evaluating the success of your admissions

processes – last admission cycle, two years ago, past three years?

https://www.holisticadmissions.org/media/1207/gre_graddiscussionguide_accessible_pip.pdf

WebAdMIT Demo

"Central to the concept of holistic application review is looking at everything a candidate has submitted, understanding unconscious biases and being aware of inequities in access to opportunities."Mark SmithDean of the Graduate School and Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin

Questions?