349. College of Charleston - Ashley Holdridge - Regional Assistant Director of Admissions

🎓 In this episode of The College Admissions Process Podcast we welcome back the College of Charleston 🌴, this time featuring Ashley Holdridge, Regional Assistant Director of Admissions. Building on the college’s original appearance in Episode 195 📚, Ashley offers fresh insight into what continues to make Charleston a vibrant and attractive destination — especially for students from the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions 🗺️.

Ashley shares a compelling overview of academic life at Charleston, where a liberal arts foundation 🧠 meets career-ready pathways 💼 in high-impact programs like:

1. Marine biology 🌊
2. Business 💰
3. Education 🧑‍🏫
4. The arts 🎭

From internships at the Charleston Music Hall 🎶 to hands-on field research on the water 🐚, real-world experiences are deeply woven into the student journey.

🔍 In this episode, we explore:

1. The holistic admissions review process 🔄, including how applications are evaluated through two key lenses 👓: academic performance and everything beyond the classroom
2. How Charleston uses a contextual review 🔎, understanding students based on what was available to them in their high school environment
3. Why depth > breadth 📈 when it comes to extracurricular activities — it’s not about doing it all, but doing it well
4. How a thoughtful and reflective personal statement ✍️ can show resilience, growth, or key turning points
5. A host of student support services 🤝, such as:

The First Year Experience Program 🎉

Peer mentoring 👥

The popular Majors and Minors Fair 📖

Advice on navigating the waitlist ⏳ and how to connect with your regional admissions counselor 📬 (hint: she says go for it!)

💡 Ashley also encourages students to ask deeper questions 🤔 when researching schools — ones that focus on values, vibe, and fit ❤️, not just rankings or prestige.

✨ Don’t miss Ashley’s top 3 pieces of advice for students and families just starting the college journey:

1. Visit campuses when possible 🧭
2. Learn how to manage your “free time” in college (spoiler: it’s not always free! ⏰)
3. Show yourself and others grace throughout the process 💗

Whether you’re considering the College of Charleston 🌟 or simply looking to understand how admissions teams evaluate applicants in 2025 and beyond, this episode is packed with clear advice, encouragement, and expert perspective.