Colleges are looking for well-rounded students with good grades and extracurricular activities, who show leadership potential and have a passion for learning.
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Colleges are looking for well-rounded students who possess a combination of academic excellence, extracurricular activities, leadership skills, and a passion for learning. According to the College Board, “[t]he college application process is highly selective, and demonstrating excellence in every area will help your application stand out.” Here are some interesting facts on what kind of students colleges are looking for:
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Good grades are a must: While it’s important for students to have strong grades, colleges also look at the difficulty of the courses they’ve taken and their overall academic progress.
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Extracurricular activities show a student’s interests and passions: Colleges want to see that students are involved in activities that they enjoy and are passionate about.
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Leadership potential is highly valued: Whether it’s in the form of leading a club, a team, or a volunteer project, colleges want to see that students have the potential to make a positive impact.
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A passion for learning is crucial: Colleges want to admit students who are genuinely curious and motivated to learn. They look for applicants who have a deep interest in a particular subject or topic.
In the words of former Yale University dean of admissions, Jeff Brenzel, “If you are genuinely curious and motivated to learn, then you will be a good candidate for any school.” Here’s a table summarizing what colleges are looking for:
| Criteria | Why it’s important |
|---|---|
| Good grades | Demonstrates academic excellence and potential |
| Extracurricular activities | Shows interests and passions outside the classroom |
| Leadership potential | Demonstrates the potential to make a positive impact |
| Passion for learning | Indicates genuine curiosity and motivation to learn |
Overall, colleges seek students who are well-rounded individuals with a range of interests, accomplishments, and potential for growth. As Brenzel notes, “We are looking for young people who stand out not only for their test scores and grades, but also for their impact outside the classroom, their character, and their intellectual curiosity.”
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Good grades, a challenging high school curriculum, standardized test scores, extracurriculars, and a strong essay are a few key factors admissions officers assess. Each university may emphasize different elements of the application process.
Colleges are looking for students who will succeed academically, be involved, and use their talents to help others. When college admissions specialists review your application, they are asking themselves, "What qualities best describe this applicant?" It’s your job to give them the clues they need to make a favorable decision.
Most four-year colleges are looking at three buckets of characteristics, says Anna Ivey, founder of Ivey Consulting, a college and graduate school consulting firm: academics, extracurricular activities and personal qualities.
Top 10 Qualities Colleges Look for in a Student
- 1. Ability to excel in classes.
- 2. Ability to excel in college prep courses.
- 3. Willingness to take on a challenging course load.
- 4. Commitment to extracurricular activities.
Characteristics of a Prospective Student That Colleges Look for
- 1. The ability to perform exceptionally well in school.
- 2. The ability to do well in courses that prepare students for college.
Related video
In this video, Brooke from Super Tutor TV explains the four factors that colleges look for in activities that impress them. These factors include leadership, excellence, commitment, and passion. She also notes the importance of committing to an activity for a significant amount of time and finding a WOW factor that can make a student stand out in the college admissions process. Ultimately, colleges value a diverse set of activities and look for applicants who have made a significant impact.
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What personality types do colleges look for?
Here are 9 character traits that colleges often cite when they describe what they are looking for in students.
- Curiosity.
- Persistence.
- Risk-taking.
- Compassion.
- open-mindedness.
- Social Consciousness.
- Creativity.
- Collaboration.
What class do colleges look at the most?
Math, science, social sciences, foreign language, and English are the pillars of a high school’s core curriculum. In the eyes of admissions officers, core courses are what make or break a transcript. These are the high school classes colleges look for on applications.
How do colleges pick students?
The response is: Courses and Grades
Highly selective colleges look for students who: Complete core academic requirements. Take more challenging classes, even though they may have slightly lower grades than they’d achieve in lower-level courses. Enroll in several college-prep or college-level courses (such as AP) and perform well.
What do college students look for in a college?
Answer to this: The most important factor when considering a college is how the school made you feel. Regardless of all the programs, opportunities, and scholarships, the school you choose should feel like home, a place where you will be able to grow and develop not just academically but in all aspects of life.
What do colleges look for in a high school student?
Colleges want well-rounded students who challenge themselves academically. See which high school classes you want on your transcripts for college admissions. Colleges look beyond your GPA to assess what classes you take in high school. Some classes — like foundational subjects — count more than others.
What classes do colleges look at?
College admission officers look at more than your high school GPA. They also want to know what classes you took in high school. So what classes do colleges want to see? Colleges look at applicants’ core classes: English, math, science, and social studies. Many colleges even calculate a separate GPA for these foundational classes.
What makes a college a good choice?
Answer to this: Listed below are some examples. Liberal arts colleges, which encourage students to study broadly, may give factors such as essays and demonstrated interest considerable weight. Highly selective colleges attract thousands of outstanding students. These colleges typically look to the "next-most important" factors to make their decisions.
What character traits do colleges look for in students?
Response will be: Here are 9 character traits that colleges often cite when they describe what they are looking for in students. 1. Curiosity Colleges want to see that you are passionate about learning – not just about a single academic area, but about the world around you.
What do colleges look for in a high school student?
The reply will be: Colleges want well-rounded students who challenge themselves academically. See which high school classes you want on your transcripts for college admissions. Colleges look beyond your GPA to assess what classes you take in high school. Some classes — like foundational subjects — count more than others.
What classes do colleges look at?
Answer to this: College admission officers look at more than your high school GPA. They also want to know what classes you took in high school. So what classes do colleges want to see? Colleges look at applicants’ core classes: English, math, science, and social studies. Many colleges even calculate a separate GPA for these foundational classes.
What do colleges look for in a college application?
As an answer to this: Most four-year colleges are looking at three buckets of characteristics, says Anna Ivey, founder of Ivey Consulting, a college and graduate school consulting firm: academics, extracurricular activities and personal qualities. "Your record for your college application starts the first day of ninth grade," Ivey says.
What do colleges look for in essays?
The reply will be: That’s the answer to what do colleges look for in essays, according to Earl Johnson of the University of Tulsa. University applicants who demonstrate the following qualities of a good college student have more to contribute to a school: Overall, colleges want a mix of students to create a rich campus community.