Why do colleges require essays in the application process?

Why do colleges require essays in the application process?

In order to get a window into the student's soul, they are looking for that exceptional story in the essay, to learn about the student's character. In saying that, I have to say that quite frankly, some of the brightest people who probably got straight A's in high school and did great on standardized tests may have been criminals. So I think it's very important for schools to identify things about the student through their essays. I do know of a university this past season that actually hired some psychologists to sit in on some of their admission committees to help evaluate their essays to try to get an idea of the personalities behind the applications. How do you personalize them? How do you really learn who this person is? And by the student telling their story and being passionate and sincere and intellectually stimulated in their writing, it will give the application and the admission committee a real sense of who they are.