The holistic admissions process at UCSD considers various factors beyond academic metrics, such as extracurricular activities, personal essays, and letters of recommendation. While this approach aims to create a diverse and well-rounded student body, it may inadvertently admit students who are not academically prepared for the rigors of college-level coursework. The increasing number of students placed in remedial math courses suggests that the holistic review process may not adequately assess academic readiness, particularly in math.
| Measure | F2020 | F2021 | F2022 | F2023 | F2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weighted High School GPA Percentile vs HR Score | -0.72 | -0.79 | -0.79 | -0.79 | -0.81 |
| Unweighted High School GPA Percentile vs HR Score | -0.63 | -0.71 | -0.69 | -0.67 | -0.69 |
The correlation coefficients in Figure 3 show a consistent decline in the relationship between high school GPA percentiles and holistic review scores over time.
This suggests that the holistic review process has become less aligned with academic performance, potentially indicating a mismatch between the criteria used in holistic review and actual academic readiness.
It is important to note that although this report highlights concerns regarding math preparedness, it does not imply that all students admitted through holistic review are underprepared.
Many students excel academically despite the challenges posed by holistic admissions criteria. General factors such as the quality of high school education during post pandemic years, access to resources, and individual student circumstances also play significant roles in academic readiness.