Holistic admission process replacing academic-only criteria in Indian universities

These essays are meant to assess what motivates the candidates, what sets them apart, and what their aspirations are.

An interview further explores the student's thinking, including their passion for tech and conceptual understanding of the scientific fundamentals required as a foundation for learning at Plaksha.

The admissions team, consisting of non-academic professionals and internal faculty members, then evaluates all aspects of the application to identify attributes desirable in an incoming student.

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At Ashoka University, apart from Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT)/American College Testing (ACT) score, there is a mandatory on-the-spot essay which evaluates critical thinking, clarity of thought, and creativity, followed by the Ashoka Aptitude Assessment to evaluate the thinking skills of the applicant.

Similarly, to gain admission into Mumbai’s Universal AI University, which claims to be the first artificial intelligence (AI) university, students have to submit a Statement of Purpose (SoP), Letter of Recommendation (LOR) from the school, and Portfolio for the Design & Music programme, along with extracurricular certificates. This comprises only 25 percent weightage.

Further, all students have to appear for an AI-driven entrance test, along with a personal interview (PI), which together holds 50 percent weightage, and the remaining 25 percent weightage is given to class 12th or academic scores.

With this approach, the institute has attracted most of the students with 70-85 percent score in their academics, and the remaining with 90 percent score.

Risk of losing toppers?

While the Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) score is a crucial initial filter for selecting candidates to the interview pool of various programmes, its influence on the final selection to get into the XLRI-Xavier School of Management is relatively limited.

Instead, the process places significant weight on personal interviews and XLRI said it values a student's engagement in extra-curricular and extra-academic activities.

“While not solely preferring high rankers might suggest a lower number of toppers, the comprehensive evaluation process ensures that students with diverse talents and abilities are selected,” Fr Dr KS Casimir, Director of XLRI Delhi-NCR, told Moneycontrol.

He further added that this approach does not exclude academically strong students but rather includes them alongside those with exceptional extra-curricular and extra-academic achievements and unique problem-solving skills.

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“Being toppers in terms of marks or grades is one thing. Evolving into an achiever, innovator, thinker, problem solver, and entrepreneur in the real world is another. Success does not end in mark sheets; rather, it starts there,” said Professor PG Babu, VC of Vidyashilp University.

Vidyashilp University, Bengaluru, also focuses on personal statements, faculty interviews, and student’s involvement in extracurricular activities – sports, arts, community service, or any other pursuits.

Hard to follow?

Educational experts say such a method is only feasible in selective courses and requires systemic changes. For instance, multiple scholarships are focused on academic excellence rather than holistic development which pushes students to opt for the former and ignore the latter.

“Holistic admission process in AI-focussed universities, for example, makes much more sense since it's a niche field and may not just require a good percentage in 10+2,” said a Delhi-based 58-year-old educator, clarifying that requiring a certain percentage is not a discriminator but an insurer that students will excel in college life, too.

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Echoing the view, Kanchi Khanna, Senior Director of Admissions at Plaksha University, said many schools and colleges lack the necessary resources, such as trained personnel and comprehensive evaluation systems, to effectively assess extracurricular achievements, personal qualities, and socio-economic backgrounds.

“Additionally, such a process demands significant time and effort, posing logistical challenges for large-scale applications. Consequently, while a well-rounded assessment could foster a more inclusive and fair admissions system, practical constraints make it difficult for all institutes to adopt this comprehensive approach,” she added.

Others have different views.

“Other colleges probably have not been able to adopt this method of admissions, as they have been driven by academicians, and not by corporate heads who have led global multinationals ... understand the work pool of the future,” said Professor Tarun Anand, founder and Chancellor of Universal AI University.

While not solely focusing on marksheets might seem to be a progressive idea, implementing such an inclusive process remains challenging for many colleges, especially those with limited resources and large applicant pools.