Rachel is ambitious, confident, dramatic, and determined to become a star. In Season 4, she attends NYADA in New York, studying musical theatre and chasing her Broadway dreams. She lives with Kurt and becomes involved with Brody, another NYADA student. However, she still has strong feelings for Finn, making her love life complicated.

Finn is kind, loyal, caring, and sometimes unsure about his future. In Season 4, he returns to Lima after leaving the Army and works at Burt's tire shop. He becomes involved with New Directions again and helps direct Grease. Finn begins considering teaching as a career. He and Rachel are separated but still have feelings for each other.

Kurt is fashionable, dramatic, confident, creative, and ambitious. In Season 4, he moves to New York, attends NYADA, and lives with Rachel. He also gets an internship at Vogue.com, working in fashion. Kurt starts the season dating Blaine long-distance, but Blaine cheats and they break up. Kurt still has feelings for Blaine while focusing on his new life.

Mercedes is confident, talented, outspoken, loyal, and passionate about music. In Season 4, she lives in Los Angeles, attends UCLA, and works as a backup singer while pursuing her own music career. She still has feelings for Sam, although they aren't officially together. Mercedes remains supportive of her friends while working toward becoming a successful singer.

Quinn is confident, intelligent, ambitious, and more mature than she was earlier in the series. In Season 4, she has graduated from McKinley and attends Yale University. She occasionally returns to Lima to visit her friends and get involved in their lives. Quinn is focused on her education and future and is not in a serious relationship.

Artie is funny, intelligent, creative, sarcastic, and passionate about filmmaking and music. In Season 4, he is still at McKinley and remains part of New Directions. He becomes interested in directing and helps Finn with the school's production of Grease. Artie is mostly focused on his friendships, creativity, and Glee rather than relationships, and is single.

Santana is confident, sarcastic, competitive, outspoken, and fiercely loyal. In Season 4, she attends the University of Louisville before eventually moving to New York. Her long-distance relationship with Brittany becomes difficult, and they break up. Santana later begins dating Dani. In New York, she becomes close with Rachel and Kurt while figuring out her own future.

Brittany is sweet, funny, unpredictable, innocent, and sometimes surprisingly intelligent. In Season 4, she is still at McKinley before graduating early. She discovers her extremely high SAT score, giving her the opportunity to attend MIT. Brittany struggles after Santana leaves and their relationship eventually ends. Despite breaking up, Brittany still cares deeply about Santana.

Sam is friendly, kind, optimistic, loyal, funny, and slightly goofy. In Season 4, he is a senior at McKinley and an important member of New Directions. He becomes more confident and takes on more responsibility within the group. Sam remains close friends with Blaine and still has feelings for Mercedes, although they are not officially together.

Blaine is charismatic, friendly, supportive, confident, and passionate. In Season 4, he is a senior at McKinley and becomes one of New Directions' leaders. He begins the season dating Kurt long-distance, but cheats on him, causing them to break up. Blaine regrets it and still has strong feelings for Kurt while becoming increasingly close with Sam.