College Admissions & Applications

What Qualities Do Colleges Want? 

Colleges want to see more than just good grades and test scores on your college application. They want evidence that you possess personal qualities associated with success in college. They are looking for qualities that foster cooperation, community, and compassion. “It’s no longer the individual leader at the helm; now it’s the collaborative team member who attracts attention; students’ self-centered career ambitions are not appreciated as much as sincere personal and professional aspirations to make the world better a better place.

Highlight the "7C's" in your essays and college applications: 

• Collaboration
• Commitment
• Character
• Curiosity
• Cultural intelligence
• Challenge
• Creativity

When colleges describe their ideal candidates, here are 9 character traits that colleges often cite when describing what they're looking for in students.

9 Personality and Character Traits Colleges Look for in Applicants

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1. Curiosity - Passion for learning and enthusiasm about the world around you
2. Persistence - How do you challenge yourself, persevere through those challenges, set goals, and achieve them without giving up? 
   1. EXP: Sticking with challenging classes or activities even though you struggled or faced setbacks)?
   2. The key is to show that even when you faced obstacles, you maintained your energy, enthusiasm, and passion for what you set out to achieve.
3. Risk-taking - How have you ventured out of your comfort zone, either in the classroom or in life. Colleges are looking for students who are not afraid to make mistakes, and who understand that mistakes are part of the learning process. 
4. Compassion - How do you show concern for your peers and classmates? How has being compassionate and having empathy made you a stronger person? 
5. Open-Mindedness - College can be a great opportunity to engage with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures, and to consider ideas, perspectives, and opinions that might be new or different from your own, and do it respectfully?
6. Social Consciousness - Colleges seek individuals who care about the world, and believe they can make it a better place...and who have the courage to try. 
7. Creativity - Do you think creatively or out-of-the-box? Are you a good problem solver, innovator, or entrepreneur? How do you come up with creative solutions and unique approaches to a problem or assignment?
8. Collaboration - How well do you collaborate with students and faculty? Do you put the needs of your team over your own? Do you demonstrate leadership abilities in a group setting? How do you bring people together? 
9. Cultural intelligence - Do you appreciate cultural diversity? Are you eager to engage with and learn from people who come from a wide range of cultural backgrounds? Are you interested in the world, in other peoples and cultures, and enjoy examining important issues from a global perspective?