Final answer:
The characteristic not associated with McCandless when he met his college roommate's parents was wealth. McCandless valued experiences over financial wealth and is better characterized by his independence, idealism, and adventurous spirit.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks to identify a characteristic that was not attributed to McCandless when he arrived at college and met his roommate's parents. The options given are independence, wealth, idealism, and adventurous spirit. Based on the portrayal of McCandless in literature, particularly in Jon Krakauer's 'Into the Wild', which chronicles McCandless's life and travels, it can be inferred that while independence, idealism, and an adventurous spirit were indeed characteristics that defined him, wealth was not a trait that McCandless showcased or even valued. McCandless is often depicted as someone who shunned material possessions and monetary comfort for a more ascetic and nomadic lifestyle, valuing experiences over financial wealth. Therefore, the answer to the question is (b) Wealth; it was not a characteristic of McCandless as perceived by his roommate's parents when he showed up to college.