In an age when an airline passenger has to drink baby formula before bringing it onto his or her next flight, there is a certain refreshing aura in knowing that a holistic approach to college admissions is available and, in fact, will soon be applied to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s own admissions policy.

The holistic approach that UWM is implementing will allow college applicants to utilize not only academic knowledge but also individual life experiences to assure admittance into UWM.

The holistic approach will be an advantage to UWM because it allows a wider range of students to attend school here and to use their unique perspectives to impact the community and university after college.

As most high school juniors and seniors have boarded the proverbial AP plane, academic indicators are becoming arbitrary at best. Under the holistic approach, students will be able to acknowledge growing life experiences that will be an asset to them in a college setting.

Particularly, students with low academic standing may be able to utilize their life stories to compete in the ever-more-competitive college admittance game. Also, students with a wide range of life successes, but minimal academic success will receive a fresh start of sorts, enabling them to eventually impact their community and even give back to the university that allowed them to succeed.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison has already adopted and is utilizing a holistic approach to admissions. In fact, many universities have adapted this policy. In order to compete with other universities, a holistic approach to admissions must be applied.

The Admissions and Records Policy Committee (ARPC) have thoroughly researched the language, philosophy and technical aspects of the new policy. They have been discussing the policy update, as seen in their meeting minutes, since at least 2005.

A variety of aspects have been acknowledged and addressed to ensure the most politically correct way of handling admissions. Even the ARPC admits that the new rules are “guidelines” and not “requirements.” Using this well-thought-out admissions policy is will only serve to enhance the university’s credibility, not degrade it.

In a society moving toward growing pro-affirmative action policies, UWM will be able to compete with other intellectual and corporate entities once the holistic approach to admissions is applied.

Culturally, UWM will gain as many new experiences and positive dialogues as the students that are admitted into the university because of the new admission policy. The holistic approach to admissions can only serve to strengthen students, staff, faculty and the university.

UWM should be thankful to have such an important growing experience lying ahead of it.

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