Universities will take your ACT score, transcripts, GPA and class-rank all into account for admission but one essential trait examined for acceptance is missing. Extroverts tend to thrive in school atmospheres because a majority of school systems cater to them. In order to offer the best learning environment and most successful college experience, administrators need to take personality traits into account.

In some of my previous classes, I had the benefit of taking in-depth personality tests. However, when my feedback told me I was an introvert, I was not surprised. Regardless if you take a personality test or not, it is pretty easy to categorize yourself along the introvert and extrovert scale.

It is typical for people to fall along a range: major introvert, semi-introvert, introvert, extrovert, semi-extrovert or major extrovert. While individual personalities vary, there remain qualities typically recognized for each level.

Extroverts excel in environments that include large groups of people, plenty of interaction and face-to-face conversation, and using their communication skills with ease. Universities allow for extroverts to thrive, while introverts are often pushing themselves harder to try and achieve that same energy level.

Don’t get me wrong, introverts are not all about being shy and spending all our time alone. I was a cheerleader for most of my life and did some acting. I loved the rush of performing in front of a large crowd. I could even handle going to parties after cheerleading events with all my friends. But there are definitely nights filled with books, blankets, movies and cuddling.

For many introverts, there is a want to be pushed out of comfort zones in order to gain communication and social skills. Although for some stress levels can be high enough to display dangerous behavior.

In an article written by Jill D. Burruss and Lisa Kaenzig, extreme cases show that the individual has no friends, but not by choice, which can then trigger depression, that they will not work with others under any circumstance and they exhibit marked changes such as weight change, changes in their sleeping pattern, distress, withdrawal, etc.

While extreme cases such as the above tend to be rare, there are personality traits commonly found in people that harbor any resemblance to an introvert. According to Burrus and Kaenzig, these traits “don’t need to be cured” but instead they need “to be understood and accepted.”

With the ways universities are designed introverts have a harder time enjoying themselves.

Introverts are typically territorial; they want time and space for themselves and get edgy without enough alone time. Dorm rooms are small enough for one person, let alone two. On top of that, most one-bedroom dorms are assigned to upperclassmen. For introverts, this can create a lot of tension when they cannot find space to be alone for a while to recharge.

Introverts also quickly become drained around large groups of people. Kate Bartolotta writes, “for us, social time is giving our energy rather than receiving energy.” Bartolotta also made the simile of introverts being thought as “having a cup of energy available.” Extroverts have a constant full cup in large groups while introverts slowly lose a little from the cup the longer interaction continues.

Imagine the career fair. Professors and guest speakers often stress the importance of networking. Introverts are typically cautious when it comes to meeting and interacting with new people. This makes building connections with people that the introvert hardly knows very difficult. It also can make interviews terribly uncomfortable and awkward.

While extroverts love large groups, introverts prefer one-on-one communication. Large lecture halls are a complete nightmare for introverts. Many would then suggest visiting your professor alone during their office hours, which the point above exposes the problem with that.

Future employers will be looking for resumes filled with clubs and activities. It’s even better if you hold positions in said clubs. If you receive more than one, you then have numerous on-going tasks and projects, on top of classwork. That can be a good amount for anyone, but quickly becomes a lot for introverts.

It becomes obvious that personality policies should become a real thing for universities. The solution could be as simple as smaller group work, independent study time and speech classes filled with similar personalities. This will help integrate more positive college experiences and brighter futures for introverts.