When the University of Kentucky Office of Admissions receives a completed application, our staff begins a review of prior academic history and test scores (if submitted). If a student does not meet the certain admission requirements to the university as outlined by UK and the Council on Postsecondary Education, their application will be reviewed through a comprehensive holistic review process. In a holistic review process, we consider the applicant as a whole individual, not merely select parts, such as GPA or test scores. Students are considered not only by their academic performance but also personal achievements, extracurricular involvement, leadership, and any challenges a student may have faced along the way. We believe that every applicant has a story to tell, and we are dedicated to identifying students who demonstrate promise and the ability to thrive in our vibrant campus community.
Holistic reviewers consider several factors beyond academics:
• Personal achievement
• Distinguishing characteristics
• Academic achievement (beyond just a GPA)
Staff members across the university may be involved in the holistic review of the application. Once those reviews take place, the college to which the student applied will make the final determination for admission. In some cases, this may be a different college than the student originally applied due to competitiveness/academic requirements of the college.
Due to the complex nature of the reviews taking place, specific timelines for a decision will vary from student to student. While decisions resulting from holistic review may be made on a rolling basis, freshman applicants who meet our deadlines will be notified of their admission status no later than the end of March for the following Fall semester. Please reach out to the Office of Undergraduate Admission if you have any questions.
The FAQs below will help you better understand what holistic review entails, what we look for in applicants, and how you can submit the strongest possible application.