The Role of Character in US College Admissions: My Approach to Helping Students Succeed

In this edition, I’d like to share how I’ve been exploring the role of character in US college admissions and how I’m helping students navigate this important but often unclear aspect of the application process.

Why I’m Focusing on Character

This year, I’ve been especially interested in helping students understand how character plays a role in US admissions. According to the 2023 NACAC survey, 65% of universities stated that “positive character attributes” are either “considerable” or “moderately” important in holistic admissions.

But here’s the challenge: character can feel vague or abstract to students. So, I set out to create an activity that gives them a clearer perspective—one that allows them to see the process from the university’s point of view.

My Process

Step 1: Brainstorming Character Traits

I start by asking students to brainstorm traits they think universities value, like curiosity, kindness, or resilience. Then, we organize these traits into two categories:

• Ethical traits (civic and moral)
• Academic traits (performance and intellectual)

This framework, inspired by Harvard’s Making Caring Common initiative, helps students approach character systematically.

Step 2: Understanding University Priorities

Next, I help students understand that universities don’t look for every possible character trait. Each school focuses on the qualities that align with its unique mission and institutional goals.

I also introduce them to tools some universities use to evaluate character and explain where admissions teams typically look for these traits in an application, such as essays and recommendation letters.

Step 3: Role-Playing as Admissions Officers

One of the most engaging parts of the activity is when students role-play as admissions officers. Using their school’s mission statement as a guide, they work in small groups to decide which traits best align with their school’s values.

This exercise fosters critical thinking and gives students a firsthand look at how institutions prioritize character in admissions.

Step 4: Exploring Mission Statements

To deepen their understanding, I guide students through the mission statements of various universities. We explore examples like:

• Swarthmore and Georgia Tech, which explicitly outline traits they value.
• Bryn Mawr and Amherst, where honor codes reflect institutional priorities.

By connecting these mission statements to application materials, students gain insight into what universities are really looking for.

Step 5: Showcasing Character in Applications

I also show students how to highlight their character in different parts of their application, including:

• Personal statements and supplemental essays: We discuss how to reflect a college’s values while staying authentic.
• Recommendations: I provide sample letters to help students see what recommenders might highlight and how their actions can shape these narratives.

This step equips students with concrete examples and strategies to effectively present themselves.

Step 6: Staying Authentic

The final—and most important—lesson is authenticity. I encourage students to be true to themselves throughout the process, as genuine qualities resonate most with admissions officers.

The Results

By the end of this activity, my goal is for students to:

• Gain a clear understanding of how character factors into admissions.
• Learn practical strategies to align their traits with a university’s expectations.
• Feel confident in presenting their authentic selves.

Let’s Connect!

I’d love to hear how you approach character development in the admissions process. What strategies have worked for you? How do you help students navigate this aspect of their applications?

Feel free to share your thoughts or reach out—I’m always excited to collaborate and learn from others in this space.

Stay tuned for more updates in future newsletters!

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