<p>What would you say are the most important personal qualities colleges like Columbia look for in applicants?</p>
<p>stunningly good looks</p>
<p>all right, time to be serious now...</p>
<p>umm... I'd say dedication (intellectually or otherwise) is pretty important to most schools. It might not be the <em>most</em> important trait but it's up there.</p>
<p>having the strength and perseverance to overcome adversity</p>
<p>be unique. Columbians are a different bunch in general than peer schools in that most ppl here have a genuine thirst to understand what is going on around them in terms of current events/politics. Almost everyone in Columbia college is extremely well rounded that can articulate and write well in addition to receiving top grades/scores, and amazing awards.</p>
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[quote]
having the strength and perseverance to overcome adversity
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</p>
<p>Um, no. Half of Columbia's incoming class grows up with silver spoons and never had to overcome adversity. That's simply not a quality that's among "the most important personal qualities colleges like Columbia look for."</p>
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be unique.
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</p>
<p>Good choice.</p>
<p>Be honest. They do take away your admissions if you lie (about certain things) and/or cheat.</p>
<p>A non-exhaustive list of personal qualities that are important:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>intelligence / intellectual potential / smarts / etc.</p></li>
<li><p>intellectual curiosity / a passion for your academic/intellectual pursuit(s) / being driven to challenge yourself academically/intellectually</p></li>
<li><p>being unique / interesting / diverse (diverse in more than having the right skin color)</p></li>
<li><p>maturity / potential to be a leader</p></li>
</ul>
<p>C02's second item would be what I would say is most important. Not everyone on campus, but maybe 25% of them, are extraordinarily passionate about at least one thing, generally an academic subject, and if you get them talking about that thing, their eyes light up and they just get excited talking to you about it. These people are relentlessly curious about their world and are driven to pursue their interests out of genuine love. They may not have all the specifics worked out the minute they show up on campus, but they have the kind of personality that will latch on to something their first couple of years and take it to the bank.</p>
<p>If you're that sort of person, Columbia wants you. Because they don't fill their entire class with people like that, but they really want to.</p>