The Importance of Personal Character Qualities in College Admissions
In the highly competitive arena of college admissions, academic excellence and extracurricular achievements often take center stage. However, many institutions recognize that personal character qualities are equally important and are looking for evidence of character and values in college applications. Attributes such as resilience, integrity, empathy, and leadership, which can often be overlooked in the traditional metrics of grades and test scores.
In 2013, Harvard’s Graduate School of Education established the Making Caring Common initiative, to support educators and parents in the effort to cultivate strong personal character in children. Making Caring Common partners with colleges and universities around the world to develop character tools and assessments used in college admissions. You can read more in their guide here.
In the guide, you’ll see examples from college websites detailing the personal character attributes they are looking for in applicants. In admissions essays, you’ll notice countless prompts asking students to share stories that showcase their values and perspectives.
Why Character Matters
Personal character qualities are crucial because they reflect a student’s ability to navigate challenges, collaborate with peers, and contribute to the community. Colleges are seeking students who demonstrate the potential to grow, adapt, and positively impact the campus environment. Here are several reasons why character is an essential consideration in college admissions:
- Resilience and Grit: Resilience, or the ability to bounce back from setbacks, is a quality that enables students to persevere through difficult times. Grit involves sustained effort and passion toward long-term goals. Admissions officers look for evidence of these qualities through personal essays, letters of recommendation, and extracurricular activities where students have faced and overcome obstacles.
- Integrity and Ethics: Colleges seek students who demonstrate honesty, strong moral principles, and ethical behavior. This is often gauged through an applicant’s involvement in activities that require a high level of responsibility, such as leadership roles or service-oriented projects. Students who exhibit integrity are likely to uphold the values of the institution and contribute to a culture of honesty and respect.
- Empathy and Compassion: Empathetic students are more likely to engage in collaborative efforts, support their peers, and contribute to an inclusive community. Admissions officers often look for signs of empathy in applicants’ volunteer work, community service, and interactions with diverse groups. A student who shows compassion is not only more likely to be a positive force on campus but also in the broader society.
- Leadership and Initiative: Leadership qualities are highly prized because they indicate a student’s potential to inspire and guide others. However, leadership is not confined to holding formal positions; it can also be seen in the ability to take initiative, influence peers positively, and drive projects to completion. Colleges look for students who have demonstrated leadership in various contexts, from school clubs to community organizations, as these experiences often translate into active and engaged campus involvement.
How Colleges Assess Character
Admissions committees employ a holistic review process to evaluate personal character qualities. This approach goes beyond quantitative measures to consider qualitative aspects of an applicant’s experiences and personal traits. Here are some of the ways colleges assess character:
- Personal Essays: Essays provide a window into an applicant’s values, motivations, and experiences. They allow students to share stories that highlight their character, such as overcoming adversity, committing to long-term projects, or making a difference in their community.
- Letters of Recommendation: Recommenders, often teachers or mentors, can offer insights into an applicant’s character that are not evident from grades and test scores. They can attest to a student’s resilience, integrity, empathy, and leadership through specific anecdotes and observations.
- Interviews: Some colleges conduct interviews as part of the admissions process. These conversations can reveal a lot about a student’s personality, character, and how they might fit into the college’s community.
- Extracurricular Activities: Participation in extracurricular activities often showcases personal character qualities. Involvement in sports, clubs, volunteer work, and other activities can demonstrate a student’s dedication, teamwork, leadership, and commitment to causes they care about.
What can IECs do to support students in this area?
In the Common Data Set, colleges report on the importance of “Character/Personal Qualities.” This information is now highlighted on CollegePlannerPro’s College Profiles under Admissions Considerations.
As you see in the below example from Williams College, Character/Personal Qualities are “Very Important.” With this information, IECs can help students understand the need to build relationships with high school teachers and others writing their letters of recommendation. Encourage students to take time on the counselor and teacher questionnaires and brag sheets to illuminate their character and provide examples of the ways they’ve made an impact in their school community. IECs can help students understand the importance of admissions interviews and the qualities and traits they can highlight in those conversations and in their essays to reveal their values and personal qualities.
The Broader Impact of Emphasizing Character
By prioritizing character in the admissions process, colleges aim to cultivate a student body that is not only intellectually capable but also ethically grounded and socially responsible. These qualities are essential for creating a vibrant and supportive campus environment where students can thrive.
While academic achievements and extracurricular accomplishments are important, the character qualities that students bring to the table are equally vital. Colleges that recognize and value these attributes are investing in the future success and well-being of their students, the campus community, and society. As the landscape of higher education continues to evolve, the emphasis on personal character will remain a cornerstone of holistic and forward-thinking admissions practices.