I am an applicant for the 2022-2023 season applying to The Webb Schools and Mercersburg Academy.
I was wondering what the Character Skills Snapshot exactly was. As I saw some of the example questions on google, I was wondering if wouldn’t it be easy for someone to fake their identity and pretend to be a super nice student, hence, earning the best scores possible.
I was also wondering if it would bring any disadvantages (to an international applicant) if I did not take the test.
Please feel free to leave any advice, I would greatly appreciate it.
CSS is developed by the same people who makes SSAT, the EMA, I believe. It is widely valued in many prep schools. As the name states, it’s used to measure a student’s character skills – Your preferences, attitudes and beliefs.
If you have time then definately do take it. It is required for some schools and optional for most. No answer is wrong in the CSS, the schools just want to know you as a person better.
It is exactly what it says - Character skills. It is NOT a test nor is it a place to be dishonest about your self. Schools are building a class and the information gathered is there to assist the admissions team.
I would highly recommend you complete all pieces of an application - both required and optional.
Also a “super nice student” wouldn’t earn the highest scores - it just doesn’t work that way. No such thing as highest - as it is measuring development.
We discussed it with the admissions staff at our school several years ago (shortly after it was released).
It is NOT used in admissions decision making or class building (at least not at our school). It is used to get an idea of ways that the school can support particular students or the class in general.