By Adriel Morado
Published: April 16, 2025
It’s the golden question every high school student eventually asks: What do colleges look for in an applicant? Is it GPA? ACT or SAT scores? A moving personal essay? A laundry list of extracurriculars?
Well, yes…and no.
While academic statistics certainly matter, college admissions committees–especially at selective institutions–look beyond test scores and transcripts. One of the most important things they evaluate isn’t a number. It’s you.
Colleges are trying to build communities, not just classrooms. They’re not just admitting students who can succeed academically but also students who will make meaningful contributions to their campus, who will collaborate with peers, and leave their mark. How do they figure that out? They look for evidence that you possess personal qualities associated with success in college and beyond.
Demonstrating commitment means showing consistency, passion, and a willingness to stick with something–even when it gets difficult. Let’s say you have played the violin since 6th grade. Maybe you have participated in regional orchestra competitions, mentored younger students, or composed your own music. That’s commitment! You have invested time and energy into growing your skills and contributing to your orchestral community.
Or, perhaps you have worked a part-time job throughout high school while balancing academics and extracurriculars. This dedication tells colleges more about your work ethic than a dozen short-lived club memberships could.
The key is to highlight the activities that are most meaningful to you. The activities where you’ve displayed personal growth, taken on responsibility, and made a true impact. Remember, colleges prefer to see sustained involvement and meaningful contributions in a few areas than shallow participation in many.
Leadership is more than a fancy title on your resume. Of course, being student body president or captain of your varsity sports team is impressive, but what matters more to colleges is how you led. What did you do? Who did you inspire? What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them? Effective leadership is measured by your actions, your ability to influence others, and the positive changes you’ve helped make happen.
For example, did you organize a fundraiser for your school’s robotics club, helping raise enough money to attend a national competition? Or maybe you’re the editor of your school newspaper, and under your leadership, you’ve successfully expanded the publication’s reach by launching a digital platform. Even without a formal title, leadership can appear in subtle ways. Did you help your debate team develop new training routines? Mentor underclassmen in your STEM club? Advocate for mental health awareness in your school community?
Colleges value students who elevate those around them, recognize a need, and work collaboratively to address it. Whether you’re leading a team, a project, or conversation, your ability to inspire, organize, and guide others speaks volumes. It shows maturity, initiative, and a commitment to making a difference.
Colleges are drawn to students who step up, take action, and create opportunities where none previously existed. That’s the essence of initiative: the ability to recognize a need or challenge and take meaningful steps to address it. It’s a quality that reflects creativity, independence, and a proactive mindset—all of which are essential for success in a dynamic college environment.
For instance, maybe you noticed how difficult remote learning was for many of your classmates during the pandemic, so you started a virtual tutoring group. Or you saw a gap in extracurricular offerings at your school so you took it upon yourself to launch a club. This kind of initiative is admissions gold.
Colleges understand that not every student will have the same resources or opportunities, but they’re keen to see how you’ve made the most of your circumstances. Whether addressing a need in your community, solving a problem at school, or starting something entirely your own, taking initiative demonstrates maturity, determination, and commitment.
Now that you know what colleges are looking for, the next step is effectively demonstrating those qualities in your application. This is where your academic resume becomes a powerful storytelling tool.
Your extracurricular activities section is a chance to give context and meaning to your involvement. Instead of simply stating that you were “on the soccer team,” go further. You might say, “Served as varsity captain senior year, mentoring underclassmen and organizing weekly team-building exercises to improve cohesion and morale.” This shows leadership, initiative, and a commitment to helping others grow.
The same applies to your work experience section. If you worked a part-time job, don’t just say, “Cashier at a local grocery store.” Instead, explain the responsibility and skills involved: “Managed customer service at a high-volume grocery store 15+ hours a week while maintaining a 3.8 GPA, demonstrating time management, accountability, and strong communication skills.”
This level of detail helps admissions officers see the impact you’ve had, the growth you’ve experienced, and the qualities—like commitment, leadership, and initiative—that aren’t always captured by grades or test scores. Think of each activity as a small window into your character, and use that space to show what kind of student and community member you’ll be on their campus. Your goal isn’t to impress with a long list. Instead, aim to communicate depth, purpose, and personal development. Quality over quantity always wins when it comes to standing out in a sea of applications.
So as you prepare your applications, don’t focus solely on polishing your test scores or finding one more club to join. Reflect on your story. What do you care about? Where have you made a difference? How have you grown? Because that’s what colleges want to know.
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