College applications are evaluated holistically on more than just test scores and grades. Extracurricular activities, interests, background, and personal qualities also significantly influence admission decisions. Applicants who demonstrate passion, talent, leadership, persistence, and intellectual curiosity in various ways stand out.
Extracurricular Activities
Colleges look closely at extracurricular involvement throughout high school revealing applicants’ goals and character. Sustained commitment to a few activities shows deeper interest than briefly dabbling in many clubs.
Leadership in activities, like serving as team captain or club president, proves capability to motivate peers and contribute positively. Academic interests like debate club and robotics demonstrate intellectual engagement beyond required studies.
Passionate Interests
Sharing focused interests and hobbies paints a fuller picture of applicants as individuals. Colleges seek students who will contribute diverse passions to campus culture. A violinist who has played concerts, a coder active in forums, a history buff who does Civil War reenactments—unique passions make applicants memorable.
As admission officer Will Geiger explains, “We look for dedication to activities that energize applicants outside academics.” Sustained interests show authentic self-motivation.
Background and Identity
Colleges value composing classes containing diversity of cultures, backgrounds, and experiences that enrich learning. Revealing aspects of your identity, like family heritage, cultural traditions, faith, sexual orientation or artistic talents nourishes understanding.
Describing obstacles overcome due to aspects of background builds empathy. Explaining how support systems and communities shaped your trajectory makes you more than stats on paper.
Community Service
Serving others demonstrates social awareness and showcases applicants’ values. Describing insights gained volunteering at a homeless shelter or translating for patients at a clinic reveals your compassion.
Sustained service displaying commitment to causes tells colleges you will actively contribute to campus and communities. As Yale Dean of Admissions Jeremiah Quinlan says, “We hope to bring together caring, socially conscious students seeking to make a difference.”
Intellectual Curiosity
Top colleges seek intellectually adventurous students who demonstrate curiosity and openness to ideas beyond mandated schoolwork. Passionate about scientific theories? Take advanced courses and conduct experiments. Fascinated by philosophy? Read texts beyond class and discuss existential questions.
Exploring academic interests through reading, museums, documentaries, lectures, and outside classes signals minds eager to probe deeper. Former MIT admissions director Chuck Vest said MIT students’ “penchant for self-education beyond requirements reveals the intrinsically motivated minds we value.”
Overcoming Challenges
Recounting challenges reveals resilience critical to college success. Maybe you moved often due to family obligations and reinvented yourself socially each time. Or you overcame a learning disability through persistence and alternative learning strategies. Sharing how you coped with death of a parent or serious illness builds admiration.
As education expert Brennan Barnard explains, “It’s not the challenges themselves but how students responded to grow that tells us the most about their strength of character.” Seeing applicants overcome adversity predicts their future grit.
Leadership
Demonstrating leadership shows you can guide and inspire peers towards shared goals. Maybe you led a volunteer club rebuilding homes or a marching band to record victories. Authoring a petition on a social issue or organizing an event for your faith community exhibit leadership.
Even just supporting younger teammates and classmates responsibly reflects leadership potential. College consultant Arun Ponnusamy says, “Small daily acts leading by example reveal character as much as titled leadership roles.”
Maturity and Perspective
Colleges want students who have perspective on life and demonstrate mature reflection. Sharing experiences like traveling abroad, reading impactful books, or caring for siblings can illustrate personal growth. Describing insights gained through challenging interactions, like resolving conflicts or forgiving others, proves emotional intelligence.
Education entrepreneur Annaliese Watkins says top schools seek those “with depth of perspective who will enrich discourse on campus and in life.” Showcasing maturity matters.
Talents and Accomplishments
Success in artistic, athletic, academic, or technical pursuits highlights capabilities colleges seek. Winning poetry contests, earning prestigious scholarships, coding mobile apps, or placing in state orchestra auditions signals exceptional talents. Even small accomplishments like fundraising for charity or helping start a family business reveal strengths.
But admissions expert Mike Berger cautions applicants should “frame accomplishments humbly as examples of dedication to craft rather than status markers.”
Integrity
Colleges want graduates who will positively impact society, so they look for integrity. Taking accountability for mistakes, standing up to bullying, communicating respectfully with those of different views, and being honest even when it’s hard reveal character. Explaining lessons learned from tough choices shows maturity.
Former University of Virginia admissions dean Greg Roberts states, “We look closely for signs of moral courage and principles in challenging situations.” Character counts.
**Likability **
While accomplishments stand out, admissions officers are simply human. They connect with students they just genuinely like as personalities, whose stories uplift them. Essays with warmth and humor, communicating openness to growth, portray appealing individuals committees want on campus.
UCLA admissions director Youlanda Copeland-Morgan acknowledges, “We’re drawn to students whose spirit comes through so we can imagine them enlivening our community.” Likability subtly works in your favor.
Well-rounded applications transcending academics paint multidimensional pictures of applicants. Diverse experiences demonstrating passions, talents, persistence, leadership, curiosity, and wisdom distinguish candidates in a holistic process.
