Many try to limit the definition of merit to academic stats, and that is in large part the disconnect between those who don’t understand/like holistic decisions and those who are proponents of holistic decisions. Merit isn’t limited to academic stats. It encompasses any attribute a school or organization values - eg, athletic ability, talent in the arts, leadership ability, extraordinary community involvement, to name a few. So when I see someone try to equate merit only with academic stats, i find it problematic.