The Importance of Character Skills in College Admissions
Alright. So today, we're really diving into something that I know a lot of you think about a lot, and that's college admissions and how it's changing.
Speaker 2:You
Speaker 1:know, I remember back in the day, it seemed a lot simpler, you know, GPA, SAT scores, and you were pretty much good to go. But this blog post that we're looking at today really breaks down how much things have changed.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And it actually starts with this parent, Sarah, who's worried that her daughter Mia's amazing grades, you know, 4 point o, all the AP classes, all of that might not actually be enough anymore.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:And you know what? She's right to be worried because now it seems like it's all about these character skills.
Speaker 2:It's true, and it's something that we're seeing more and more of, I think.
Speaker 1:So this is like a real thing. This isn't just like a rumor. It's actually happening. Oh,
Speaker 2:it's absolutely a real thing. And it's becoming increasingly important, I would say. And it's fascinating, don't you think? It's like colleges are finally realizing that there's more to success than just being book smart.
Speaker 1:Right. Exactly. Like, you can't just ace a test and expect to, you know, be successful in life.
Speaker 2:Exactly. Yeah. You need so much more than that. You need to be able to work with people, solve problems, think critically, communicate effectively.
Speaker 1:All those things they don't really teach you in a textbook. Book.
Speaker 2:Exactly. And those are the skills that employers are looking for too.
Speaker 1:That's so true. So it's almost like colleges are trying to find future leaders and innovators, not just good test takers.
Speaker 2:I think that's a great way to put it. They're looking for students who are going to make a difference in the world, not just get good grades and graduate.
Speaker 1:So how does this whole holistic admissions thing tie into all of this?
Speaker 2:Well, it's all connected. Right? Holistic admissions means they're looking at the whole student, not just their academic record.
Speaker 1:So it's not enough to just be book smart. You need to have a strong character too.
Speaker 2:Exactly. They wanna see that you're a good person, that you're involved in your community, that you have passions outside of school.
Speaker 1:And that you have those character skills we were talking about.
Speaker 2:Exactly. They're looking for those noncognitive skills, the personal qualities that make you who you are, and they contribute to your success in all areas of life.
Speaker 1:And this isn't just for the Ivy Leagues. Right? This is happening everywhere.
Speaker 2:You're absolutely right. This is a trend that's happening across the board at colleges of all types and sizes.
Speaker 1:Wow. So it's really not just about getting your kid into Harvard anymore. It's about setting them up for a lifetime of success.
Speaker 2:That's a great way to think about it. Yeah. And that's what these character skills are all about.
Speaker 1:Okay. So then let's talk about these character skills. What are they exactly? I mean, the blog post breaks it down into 8 key traits, compassion, curiosity, gratitude, grit, growth mindset, perspective taking, purpose, and self control.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:Where do we even begin?
Speaker 2:Well, I think grit is a great place to start. It's something that everyone's talking about these days, but it's more than just, you know, finishing a tough project. Yeah. It really is more than that. It's about that bounce back factor.
Speaker 2:No.
Speaker 1:I see what you mean.
Speaker 2:Like, yeah, life throws you curveballs sometimes. Mhmm. And it's not about, like, never failing or never struggling. It's about how you respond to those setbacks. Right?
Speaker 2:How you pick yourself up, dust yourself off, learn from it, and come back even stronger.
Speaker 1:Right. So it's like if a student, like, totally bombs a midterm or something It's
Speaker 2:right.
Speaker 1:Someone with grit doesn't just, like, give up and think, oh, I'm terrible at this. They figure out what went wrong
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And they use that to do better next time.
Speaker 2:Exactly. They use it as a learning experience.
Speaker 1:Mhmm.
Speaker 2:And that's what colleges are looking for, students who can learn and grow from their mistakes.
Speaker 1:That makes a lot of sense. Okay. So then what about this whole perspective taking thing? I mean, that sounds pretty important too, especially these days.
Speaker 2:It's absolutely crucial. I think, you know, we live in a world where everyone's got an opinion, and it's so easy to just stay in your own little bubble.
Speaker 1:Oh, my gosh. Tell me about it.
Speaker 2:But college is all about being exposed to new ideas, different perspectives. Yeah. And you need to be able to engage with those perspectives even when you disagree. And do it respectfully. Right?
Speaker 2:Exactly. It's about having those tough conversations, but in a way that's constructive and not just, you know, shutting people down because you don't agree with them.
Speaker 1:It's so funny you say that because my son was like that in middle school. Like, everything was just black and white, right or wrong. No, in between. Mhmm. But
Speaker 2:then he joined the debate team. And honestly, as though the light bulb went off, he had to learn how to argue both sides of an issue.
Speaker 1:Oh, wow.
Speaker 2:And it really opened his mind. He didn't always change his opinion, but at least he could see where other people were coming from.
Speaker 1:That's fantastic. I love to hear that.
Speaker 2:Yeah. It was pretty amazing to watch.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So how do we actually help our kids, like, showcase these character skills to college admissions officers.
Speaker 1:Mhmm.
Speaker 2:Because it's not like they have a character score on their application. Right?
Speaker 1:Right. It's not as simple as just checking a box.
Speaker 2:So how do we make these qualities stand out?
Speaker 1:Well, I think storytelling is key. It's not about just saying, oh, yeah. My kids got grit. It's about showing it through their experiences.
Speaker 2:So, like, giving specific examples.
Speaker 1:Exactly. So, for example, let's say your child volunteered at a local food bank.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:Instead of just listing that on their resume, how can they use that experience to demonstrate their grit? Maybe they organized a fundraising drive that hit some roadblocks, but they didn't give up. They found a creative solution, and they ended up exceeding their goal.
Speaker 2:Right. So it's like show, don't tell. Exactly. You wanna paint a picture with your words.
Speaker 1:And it doesn't just have to be extracurriculars. Right?
Speaker 2:Not at all.
Speaker 1:What about, like, personal challenges they've overcome or times they've shown resilience in the face of adversity?
Speaker 2:Exactly. Those personal stories can be incredibly powerful because they give a glimpse into who your child really is as a person.
Speaker 1:And that's where letters of recommendation can be so valuable too. Right? Because teachers and counselors, they see these kids in action every day.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. They can speak to a student's work ethic, their integrity, their ability to collaborate, all those things that don't always show up on a transcript.
Speaker 1:Right. Because you might be a straight a student, but still be kind of a jerk.
Speaker 2:Exactly. And on the flip side, you might have a student who's not a straight a student, but they have a fantastic work ethic, and they're always willing to go the extra mile. And those qualities are gonna take them far in life.
Speaker 1:So true. And, of course, if a college does interviews, that's, like, the prime opportunity to really let those personalities shine through.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. Interviews are all about making a personal connection and allowing students to showcase their character in their communication skills.
Speaker 1:It's like colleges are saying, we wanna meet the human behind the application, not just the transcript.
Speaker 2:Exactly. And I think that's a really positive shift.
Speaker 1:I agree. But I have to admit, thinking about all of this can feel a little overwhelming at times.
Speaker 2:I can understand this.
Speaker 1:Like, okay. On top of good grades and extracurriculars and standardized tests, now we have to add character development to our to do list as parents.
Speaker 2:Right. It can feel like a lot.
Speaker 1:So how do we make this more manageable? What are some practical things parents can do to help their kids develop these skills without adding a ton of extra pressure?
Speaker 2:Well, I think the first thing to remember is that it doesn't have to be another item on a checklist.
Speaker 1:Okay. That's good to hear.
Speaker 2:It's more about approaching the things you're already doing with a different mindset. So for example, a lot of academic pursuits naturally lend themselves to character development.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's interesting.
Speaker 2:Think about research projects, for example. They require persistence, problem solving, often collaboration.
Speaker 1:It's true. You don't just crank out a research paper overnight.
Speaker 2:Right. And even just engaging in class discussions can help students hone their communication skills, learn how to articulate their thoughts respectfully, consider different viewpoints.
Speaker 1:So instead of seeing it as academics or character development, it's more about approaching those academic challenges as opportunities for growth on multiple levels.
Speaker 2:Exactly. And the beautiful thing is when students are engaged in something they're passionate about, those character skills tend to develop organically.
Speaker 1:That makes a lot of sense. Okay. So now for the question I know is on every parent's mind. What if my kid isn't naturally gifted in these areas?
Speaker 2:Right. That's a valid concern.
Speaker 1:It is. Yeah. It's that fear that, you know, some kids are just born with it and some kids aren't.
Speaker 2:Right. Like, there's a grit gene or something.
Speaker 1:Exactly.
Speaker 2:But, thankfully, that's not how it works.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:These are schools, and, like, any skill, they can be developed and strengthened over time.
Speaker 1:So you're saying it's not too late?
Speaker 2:Absolutely not. It's never too late.
Speaker 1:Oh, thank goodness. Because I know a lot of parents listening are like, my kid's a junior in high school. I haven't done any of this.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:But you're saying it's not too late to start nurturing these qualities.
Speaker 2:It's never too late to start. Yeah. And think about it this way. You're not just doing this for college applications. Right.
Speaker 2:You're giving your child tools that they'll use for their entire lives. Mhmm. We're talking about resilience, empathy, purpose. These are the building blocks of a meaningful and fulfilling life.
Speaker 1:Okay. So this is about way more than just getting into a good school.
Speaker 2:Yes. So much more.
Speaker 1:This is about raising good humans.
Speaker 2:Exactly. And those two things aren't mutually exclusive. In fact, I think they often go hand in hand.
Speaker 1:That's such an important point. So to wrap things up, I just wanna say I think this has been such a helpful conversation.
Speaker 2:Me too.
Speaker 1:We've learned that college admissions are changing characters, becoming more and more important, and there are things that parents can do to help their kids develop these essential skills. Right? And remember those 8 key character skills we talked about, compassion, curiosity, gratitude, grit, growth mindset, perspective taking purpose, and self control.
Speaker 2:And if you're listening to this and feeling a little overwhelmed, don't worry. You're not alone.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:It's a journey, not a race.
Speaker 1:Exactly.
Speaker 2:Just take it one step at a time, celebrate the small victories, and most importantly, model those positive character traits in your own life.
Speaker 1:Because we can all use a little more compassion and grit in our lives. Right?
Speaker 2:Absolutely. On that note, we'll wrap up this deep dive. Be sure to check out the show notes for links to the blog post and all the other resources that we talked about. And if you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss out on future deep dives. Until next time, keep learning, keep growing, and keep those character muscles flexing.
