What Colleges Really Want in a Standout Application in 2025

Forbes

2 days ago

Every August, high school seniors across the country log into the Common Application (Common App) with a familiar blend of anticipation and anxiety. The questions feel simple—list your activities, share your test scores, write about a moment that mattered—but behind them lies a bigger one: What characteristics are colleges really looking for?
As a longtime college admissions counselor, I've seen students fixate on the wrong details—assuming a great essay can make up for weak grades, or that a stacked resume guarantees a spot at a top school. The truth? Admissions officers look to assess four core traits when they read applications:
While selective colleges review applications holistically, not all parts of the application carry equal weight. Here's what really matters, and how students can craft applications that are responsive to those criteria while reflecting their strongest selves.
Academics Are the Gatekeeper
No part of the college application matters more than the high school transcript. The first data points admissions officers check are grades, class rank (if available), and course rigor. In each category, they're making qualitative as well as quantitative assessments:
Selective colleges have reputations to uphold, and they're looking to build a class that maintains or even improves their academic profile. Colleges feature statistics about their classes on their websites, as much to highlight the strengths and diversity of their incoming students as to invite prospective students to assess fit. Look for where a college lists its median SAT scores and the percentage of enrolled students who finished high school with a particular ranking. Columbia University, for example, notes that 94% of its incoming first-year students were in the top 10% of their graduating high school class. These are helpful data points to determine whether you might be a good fit.
Colleges are looking for students who will engage meaningfully in community life. Admissions officers assess your extracurricular record with an eye to initiative and authenticity. Did you pick up the cello because your parents insisted on weekly lessons or because you couldn't imagine a week without music? Were you the volunteer who showed up for assigned shifts at the animal shelter, or the one who noticed adoption rates dropping and launched a student-led social media campaign that found homes for 50 pets?
It's not about doing everything. It's about doing something well. Admissions officers look for students who have made a genuine impact in a few areas rather than superficial involvement in many. Think local, not global. Spearheading an initiative in your town or neighborhood, like starting a community garden or creating a pop-up science workshop at the local library, makes a much more sustained impact than a passive fundraising effort for an international nonprofit.
Share Your Talents
In 1858, an obscure British scientist named Alfred Russell Wallace was conducting research in Indonesia when he made a discovery: natural selection drove species evolution. Rather than publish his findings; Wallace continued counting bugs, running experiments, and writing letters about his ideas to his friends. The next year, Charles Darwin published the same theory in The Origin of Species.
The takeaway? If you conduct meaningful scientific research, write a strong history paper, or have a portfolio of artistic talents, share your work. Nowadays there are many platforms that will feature high school writing and scholarship. Competitions like FIRST Robotics or the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards transform your hobbies and skills into accolades for your college applications. And elite universities take note. The University of Pennsylvania shared a narrative profile of the Class of 2026, noting that 'Nearly one-third of the admitted students engaged in academic research during their time in high school, many earning national and international accolades for research that is already pushing the boundaries of academic discovery.'
Essays Can Tip the Scale
If academics open the door, the personal essay is what gets you inside. In a competitive pool where thousands of students have similar GPAs and test scores, the essay is often the one opportunity to let your personality, perspective, and voice shine.
Strong essays don't require trauma, heroics, or elaborate narratives. The best essays reveal a student's intellectual curiosity, emotional maturity, and sense of purpose. They center the writer (not the writer's grandmother, coach, or inspirational peer) and their narratives turn on self-development or growth.
Admissions officers are looking for students who will contribute to the academic and extracurricular community of the college. As they sift through thousands of essays, they want to read memorable stories that show how their writers will do just that. The takeaway? Think fewer sunsets, vacations, and birthdays. Steer clear of cliché moments, and focus on what motivates you to keep learning.
The earlier you start to plan for your college application journey, the better: you can take more control over the courses you choose, the summer opportunities you pursue, and the leadership you cultivate. But it's never too late to make an organized and informed plan.
Final Thoughts
The most compelling applications don't try to reverse-engineer what colleges want. They present a clear, confident, and authentic story. They reflect students who know who they are, what matters to them, and how they hope to contribute.
Admissions officers aren't just assembling a class—they're building a community. Your job isn't to impress them. It's to help them understand, clearly and honestly, who you are and what you'll bring to the table.