This feature focuses on the five areas an institution needs to know before implementing holistic measures. These include: what does a holistic review entail, how to be legally complaint, Sedlacek's noncognitive variables, applying student success measures, and the vital importance of training.

The oldest Millennials are now well-established in their careers, requesting flex schedules so they can take their kids to soccer practice in the afternoons; they have little in common with the typical 18- to 22-year-old undergraduate in many college classrooms. For faculty at campuses serving primarily traditional students, it seems like a good…

Admissions committee members often speak of "it" as an important consideration during the admissions process; however, empirical evidence documenting the efficacy of "it" as a basis for admission is scarce. The purpose of this research was to test the validity of student-institution it as a significant predictor of college success--specifically,…

A study focused on two questions: whether the admissions rating scheme of Stanford University could effectively predict academic performance and whether students with different abilities gravitate to different academic departments. The relationship between academic performance and affiliation and such characteristics as sex and ethnic group were…

A study of the value of information about high school students' achievement and personal qualities for predicting performance in a combined baccalaureate/medical degree program and in the first year of residency is reported. The study was conducted at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine. (MLW)

It is more important than ever for colleges and universities to manage the resources they have and guard against unnecessary loss. Student bad debt is one loss that can be resolved. A study identified certain predictors of student bad debt, including academic indicators and student characteristics, and offers suggestions to institutions for…

A study investigated the relationship of students' age, race, gender, father's occupation, anxiety, and field independence with grade point averages, first-term grades, and standardized test scores in 85 freshman medical students in a variety of courses. Implications of the findings for different fields are discussed. (MSE)

A study of Black and White 1974 freshmen explored computing graduation predictions for admissions use. Sex, race, residency, major, high school rank, high school size, Scholastic Aptitude Test scores, and predicted grade point average were used as predictors. Correct predictions occurred for 64.5 percent of Blacks, 57.65 percent of Whites. (MSE)

A statistical analysis of the predictive potential of academic and nonacademic student characteristics in an architecture school provides a model for other institutions to make their admissions processes and programs for retention more effective. The study was of 10 freshman architecture classes at the University of Kansas. (MSE)

Data from graduate student applications at a large Western university were used to determine which factors were the best predictors of success in graduate school, as defined by cumulative graduate grade point average. Two statistical models were employed and compared: artificial neural networking and simultaneous multiple regression. Both models…