“The Two Powerful Forces Changing College Admissions”

As the college admissions process continues to evolve, colleges and universities are seeking out more comprehensive methods to evaluate whether or not an applicant should be admitted.  Schools across the country are developing “The Mastery Transcript” in an effort to obtain a “fuller portrait of students’ lives and learning.” In addition to traditional grades and test scores, this model enables colleges and universities to review projects, portfolios and videos. Furthermore, the assessment will provide a section where high schools are asked to measure areas such as work ethic and academic honesty.

Harvard’s Graduate School of Education is also pushing colleges and universities nationwide to develop a more holistic approach to the admissions process. In addition to academic performance, Harvard is calling upon schools to admit students who give back to their communities and families.  Schools are no longer only interested in reading about school-related extracurricular activities. Instead, they seek to admit students who positively impact the world around them.