5 Qualities Colleges Look for in Prospective Students

Do you need a 4.2 GPA, 1470 SAT, and several AP classes to enter your dream college? The qualities colleges look for may surprise you.

What matters during the college application process? Maybe your school didn’t offer AP classes or you have test anxiety and your ACT score is embarrassingly low. No worries, because qualities colleges look for several traits in their prospective students. Most colleges are looking to diversify their campus and the best way to diversify their campus is to look at all aspects of their applicants.

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Here are the Qualities Colleges Look for in Prospective Students

Most colleges use a holistic admissions approach when they are reviewing college applications. This process looks for a blend of academic achievements and extracurricular involvement when assessing potential students for their college campus. Yes, GPAs and standardized test scores provide a quantifiable measure of a student’s capabilities, but applicants’ interests and experiences outside of the classroom are just as important.

If a student has strong academics and test scores but doesn’t do anything outside of the classroom, their application may not be as competitive, compared to a student whose academics were weaker but participated in sports, volunteer work, or held a part-time job.

College admissions officers not only consider past academic and extracurricular achievements but also look for indicators of future potential. They are looking for individuals who have shown resilience, adaptability, and a capacity for growth, which should be displayed in your essays and letters of recommendation.

You should use your college application to present your unique perspectives and life experiences, offering insight into your character and how you might contribute to your dream campus community.

As the admissions process becomes increasingly competitive, colleges continue to evaluate applicants holistically. I love this approach because it ensures that they not only meet the academic standards but also bring diversity to college campuses. This holistic review process supports colleges in their mission to cultivate not only scholars but also well-rounded individuals ready to face the challenges of the world.

Academic Achievements

Academics is a way to impress the admissions team. The real question is can you handle rigorous college courses? The university admissions officers will use your transcript to determine your readiness to take college courses.

They will peruse your high school transcript because they want to see the grades you earned in 9th, 10th, and 11th (Senior year grades may not be completed yet). They want to see your grade trend. Maybe you struggled to transition into high school but grades improved each year or you started strong and grades began to drop with rigor.

If your grades took a dive did they go back up? Admission offices are reviewing your transcript to see if your grade trend was consistent, ascending, or descending. If your grades slipped make sure you work hard to get your grades back up.

Your transcript may be filled with As and Bs, but did you take a challenging curriculum? If your school offered Honors and AP classes and your transcript shows that you didn’t take any advanced classes, but you are applying for our challenging Electrical Engineering program. This would raise a red flag.

Most institutions will review a prospective student’s GPA, class rank, and the rigor of courses listed on their transcript to gauge academic excellence. High school transcripts and honors distinctions give insight into a student’s long-term dedication and success in an academic environment.

Standardized Test Scores

Several colleges are test optional now but if your test scores are required or you choose to submit your test score, colleges will review your ACT/SAT/AP/IB scores to determine your academic preparedness. If your academics are not as strong, but you have strong test scores this can demonstrate your readiness for college-level work.

If you are trying to get into a college with a competitive engineering program, then math and science ACT/SAT/AP scores will probably matter. A prospective journalism student’s ACT/SAT/AP/IB reading and writing scores may weigh more than their STEM standardized test scores.

It is important to research potential colleges while you are in high school, so you know what the university and department academic requirements are.

Extracurricular Engagement

The university admission officers are interested in how you spend your time outside of the classroom. Colleges want well-rounded students who are engaged in extracurricular activities and have displayed leadership skills.

Your college application should showcase your contributions to your high school, as well as, your community. This is a great time to pull out your scholarship resume and review all your extracurricular activities including your volunteer experiences.

If you participated in several activities, you may not be able to list everything due to space limitations. Make sure you list your current activities and activities that demonstrate consistency. College recruiters are reviewing your activities to determine your level of engagement, team player qualities, creativity, public performance skills, and career exposure.

Did you hold a leadership role? Did you take the initiative and lead the club or take the lead on a specific project? Did you find a need to start a club at your school or did you start your own business? Admission offices are looking for applicants who can inspire others and have initiative.

The admissions committee wants to know what you can contribute to their campus. You thought this was a one-sided relationship? Some of the qualities colleges look for in prospective students are their talent and skills that can enhance their college community.

Character Traits

Are you well-rounded, ethical, and have the capacity to positively contribute to the campus community? Are you driven and able to take on challenges and overcome obstacles? Do you work well with others but can thrive independently?

Are you ready to engage in community service and willing to learn from diverse perspectives and experiences? The admission committee is looking for high school students who have overcome personal challenges, are self-aware, and are prepared to handle the rigors of college.

These elements of personal development suggest that a high school student is ready to transition into college. These traits can often be seen through a student’s life experiences and response to them. Colleges are looking for prospective students who can collaborate with people with diverse perspectives and are prepared to take on challenges head-on.

Demonstrated Interest

Your college application should give the admissions team a snapshot of who you are. If your chosen major is journalism and your career interest is to be a newspaper journalist or a news reporter, this should be reflected in your application.

Were you a reporter or editor for your school’s newspaper? Were you a photographer for the school’s yearbook?

Maybe you want to be a doctor and you plan to major in Biology. Does your transcript reflect a variety of AP, IB, Honors, or college-level science classes? Did you attend science camps, pre-college programs, or do any research?

High schoolers may think they are interested in a certain career, but if they don’t participate in any school or community-related activities, take related classes, or attend career-oriented summer camps, do they know if this is their dream career?

Career exposure is important for several reasons. The student should get some experience in their chosen career field, because their future career may not seem as glamorous once they gain hands-on exposure.

Colleges have a limited amount of spots for each major and they want to fill those spots with genuinely interested students. If there is nothing related to your future career or major in your application, the admission team may think that you are unsure of your future career goals and would rather fill the spot with a prospective student who has demonstrated career interest.

Besides, career interest students should demonstrate an interest in their college choice. A common question on college applications is why do you want to attend our college. This is a question that a lot of students give a cookie-cutter answer to.

Admission Officers know their school has a great reputation, a wonderful location, the best football team, and blah blah blah. They want to know that you have done your research on the school and that you are truly interested in their university.

Talk to alumni and current students if possible. Go on the university’s website to learn more and make sure you go to your future department’s page too. If possible schedule a college tour through the admissions office.

Build a relationship with the regional college representative. The regional representative will be the person who comes to your high school to promote the college and answer students’ questions. Usually, the representative will participate in local college fairs in your area too.

Whether the regional representative is at your school or a college fair, go up and introduce yourself. Ask questions related to the college and ask for a business card. Make sure you email the representative the next day to thank them for answering your questions.

Keep the business card in your portfolio for future reference. You can contact the representative if you have more questions or if you want to plan a college tour. If you have not had the opportunity to meet a representative from your college of choice, call the college admissions office and ask for the name and contact person for your region.

Continue to keep in contact with your representative through in-person visits, by phone, or via email. You want your name to stand out among the thousands of other students. Taking the initiative to stay in contact with the representative is a way of showing that you are interested in the university.

Being genuinely interested in their college are qualities colleges look for in prospective students.

Whether you are committed to your community, engaged in the classroom, or actively involved in extracurriculars these are qualities colleges look for in prospective students. Admission Officers receive thousands of applications each fall for their upcoming freshman class. Will your college application leave a lasting impression on the admissions office?

Frequently Asked Questions

What are considered academic strengths in the context of college admissions?

Academic strengths include a rigorous curriculum, high GPA, and outstanding performance in advanced courses or subjects relevant to the student’s intended major. Colleges also look for consistent academic achievements over time and aptitude in areas critical to your career interests. They are also looking for intellectual curiosity, hard work, and interpersonal skills.

What do colleges look for besides grades?

Colleges want to know if you are a good fit for their university. They want to know how you spend your time out of the classroom. Are you involved in school activities? Do you have family responsibilities? They want to know what are you passionate about. Are you good at storytelling, are you musically inclined, or did you teach yourself a foreign language?

Have you had a positive impact on your student body? Are you well-respected by your teachers and peers? Do you have career or work experience or have you held leadership roles?

Colleges are looking for well-rounded students who have demonstrated personal growth and who have used their free time wisely.

How can a student’s extracurricular activities impact college admissions?

A student’s extracurricular activities can reveal several things. The student’s activities will gauge commitment, leadership, teamwork, and the ability to balance multiple responsibilities. Colleges seek students who demonstrate passion and dedication, whether in sports, community service, or other areas that contribute to a well-rounded individual.

What do colleges look for in gpa?

The admission committees will look at your classes, rigor, and grades. A student may have earned mostly As but the transcript is filled with few core classes and several electives, which waters down the grades. For example, if a student earned mainly Bs and took 4yrs of Math, English, Foreign Language, History, and Science, and 8 AP courses versus another student at the same school who earned all As and took 4yrs of English, 3yrs of Science, 2yrs of Math and History, and no Foreign language—-The student that earned mostly Bs appears to be strong academically just based off their grades.

The selection of courses and rigor will be considered when evaluating grades.