Characteristics Colleges Look for in Students

When it comes to college applications, your personality matters. The characteristics colleges look for in students, while perhaps not all that unexpected, should be reflected in your profile. Before you submit your application, think about how you've grown as a person so far. Furthermore, you should think about how you can demonstrate these qualities in your application! In this article, we'll cover the basics, as well as what to do if you find you come up short on how to express these coveted traits.  

There's no perfect formula. Thousands of students in the US each year ask themselves the elusive question, "What are colleges looking for in students they accept?" What's more, can these qualities colleges look for be learned?

Nonetheless, patterns emerge. While you can look up what characteristics specific colleges look for, such as Ivy League colleges, there are some traits we found on college websites again and again:

• Leadership
• Commitment
• Work ethic
• Public service
• Openness
• Ambition
• Curiosity

Next, let's talk about each of these qualities that colleges look for, and break down exactly why colleges prefer to accept students who demonstrate these traits.

The ability to support and direct a team via leadership is one of the top responses to what colleges look for in top candidates! After all, true leaders can create lasting change in meetings and projects. From clubs to fundraisers, to study groups, and more, there will be plenty of chances for students to spread their wings in college and put their leadership to the test. Often, good leadership translates to good people skills in general.

Commitment to your ideas, projects, and values all matter. This strength of dedication also makes students more resilient in the face of obstacles. If you can prove that you are a dedicated artist, athlete, musician, or enthusiast over time, it positively reflects on your character. Students who commit are also likely reliable and willingly collaborative, so you'll contribute to their campus community!

Work ethic is one of the most critical qualities to show in your college essays. Successful students are nearly always hard workers, both in academic and personal realms. After all, when it all comes down to it, nothing can replace a good work ethic when it comes to studying and learning. These qualities are exactly what colleges look for.

Public service actions form an important piece of what colleges look for when reading apps. Donating time and skills to a good cause for the betterment of your community shows you can be empathetic and thoughtful. Not only that, students who regularly engage in public service have more realistic exposure to the world and how society works.

Openness can mean more than one thing. Firstly, be open to new ideas, as you will be challenged often in college. Second, be open and honest about your goals and past accomplishments. Though you may be able to craft a seemingly-perfect application that parrots what colleges are looking for, it's not worth fudging details or sacrificing your authenticity.

Ambition and drive, similar to determination, will help fuel your long nights of studying. Now, there's a difference between ambition and arrogance; when it comes down to what colleges are looking for, they simply want to know that you have big goals and plans in your life. A long-term vision for your success is the first step to achieving it.

Curiosity is another important quality to show in college essays. Colleges want students who are still proactive, energized, and enthusiastic about learning! The more questions you have, the more curiosity you demonstrate, and the more "intellectual vitality" you will communicate to readers. After all, what do colleges look for in students more than a love of education?

While you may feel you possess any or all of these qualities, you must be able to demonstrate them through your application. There are a number of convincing ways to do this that go beyond simply stating, "I am a committed leader," or something equally unsubstantial. 

The kinds of activities you've done—along with the roles you've taken on in these activities—can tell a college a lot about your character. Serving as the president of a club shows leadership, for example. Putting in long hours on a community project demonstrates work ethic and public service. Working on a complicated project throughout high school shows commitment and ambition. Think about what your activities say about you, or how you can frame your activities to demonstrate certain characteristics. 

An essay that blatantly states, "I am ambitious and have a good work ethic," doesn't prove much. However, what you choose to write about and how you write about it can demonstrate a lot about your character; it's a great opportunity to illustrate your points with evidence. Perhaps you talk about the time you built houses in South America. Giving credit to your team and discussing what you learned demonstrates a lot of admirable personality traits. "Show" rather than "tell" us about these moments of growth and maturity, and you're on track to a compelling personal statement.

Characteristics colleges look for in students carry a lot more weight when someone else attributes them to you. If your recommendation letters consistently share your positive characteristics, colleges will take notice. Further, if your letters of recommendation contradict what you wrote about yourself, they will stick out. Ensure you select the right recommenders and give them plenty of time to prepare a stellar recommendation.

If you don't have certain traits or don't have a way to demonstrate them well, don't try to make a mountain out of a molehill. Bring out your strongest characteristics instead. Perhaps you've never led a group, but you've participated in a lot of public service activities. Play that up! Additionally, if you find you can't demonstrate a certain trait outright, like leadership, but can show how you would make a good leader, that can serve you well, too.

In the end, the personality you represent on the college application is who the college wants to accept. If you embrace your unique strengths and the personal qualities that set you apart, you're much more likely to find a school that feels like home.

If you would like more college advice, check out our other articles in our blog. For more college help and advice, please schedule a free consultation with one of our college counselors below.