What Is the Character Skills Snapshot? Private School Personality Assessment Guide
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What Is the Character Skills Snapshot? Guide for Private School Admissions


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What Is the Character Skills Snapshot?

The Character Skills Snapshot is a 20–30-minute online behavioral assessment offered by the Enrollment Management Association (EMA). It’s designed to give private and independent schools a holistic view of a student’s personal strengths, beyond academic ability measured by the SSAT.


It evaluates essential character traits that support success in rigorous school environments, and is often required or strongly recommended by many top-tier private schools in the U.S. and abroad.


What Traits Does the Snapshot Measure?

The Character Skills Snapshot assesses eight core character skills that elite schools care about:

Character Trait

What It Evaluates

Resilience

Ability to recover from setbacks

Open-mindedness

Willingness to consider new ideas

Initiative

Drive and motivation to achieve goals

Teamwork

Collaboration and cooperation with peers

Social Awareness

Empathy and understanding of others

Self-Control

Managing emotions and behavior

Intellectual Curiosity

Passion for learning and exploration

Responsibility

Accountability and reliability

These skills are considered key indicators of long-term success, leadership potential, and cultural fit in independent schools.


How the Character Skills Snapshot Works

  • Eligibility: Students in grades 5 through 11

  • Length: Takes 20–30 minutes to complete

  • Format: Online — includes multiple-choice, forced-choice, and situational judgment questions

  • Availability: Accessed via the same EMA portal used to register for the SSAT

  • Fee: Free when registering for the SSAT; $25 if taken separately

  • Results: Sent directly to schools chosen by the student/family


Note: Students cannot “fail” this assessment. It’s a non-cognitive tool that schools use alongside academic records, interviews, essays, and test scores.


Why Schools Use the Snapshot

Top private and boarding schools seek well-rounded applicants who:

  • Demonstrate strong academic performance

  • Show emotional intelligence and leadership potential

  • Contribute positively to school culture and community


The Snapshot gives admissions officers deeper insights into how a student might engage in class discussions, group projects, co-curriculars, and social settings.


How to Prepare (and Why You Don’t Need To)

  • No studying or prep is needed — the Snapshot is designed to be spontaneous and authentic

  • It’s important for students to answer honestly and thoughtfully, as the tool is built to identify consistent character patterns

Over-preparation or “gaming” the test can actually work against its purpose



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