From our notes: What are colleges looking for?

We've been reviewing our notes from past campus visit and information sessions, and here are a few of the things we heard colleges say they were looking for in future students.  By all means you don't have to fulfill all of these, but you might find a few that you can target and develop even further.

• Students who are excited about the academic freedom that comes in college
• Students who show a willingness to engage with their academics
• Students who show a willingness to engage with their peers in academic conversation
• Students who show initiative
• Students who show intellectual spark, perhaps indicated by the books they've read, places they've been, attendance at outside lectures, etc.
• Students who show signs of independent learning
• Students who have the ability to bounce back from defeat or failure (resiliency)
• Students who have an appreciation for and understanding of other cultures
• Students who are globally aware, read the news, etc.
• Students who possess a strong moral compass and social graces
• Students who have an appreciation for diversity in all forms
• Students who have a sense of self (with some introspection)
• Students who are self-starters, self-motivated
• Students who are community participants, community builder

Perhaps one of the most important things I've heard recently however, is that colleges would like to find students who are not so focused on the end game that they forget to enjoy the in-between years.