<p>So I'm a good student, 4.0uw, I'm taking the hardest classes at my school (will probably be valedictorian), and I have great test scores. The problem is that I don't know what my passions are...I do well in school just because I just like succeeding in things and I'm extremely competitive. I've joined some clubs and stuff but I'm not really that interested in them. The other clubs at my school aren't really interesting either. I played some baseball when I was younger but I've been moving around a lot so it's been hard to get settled and play baseball (my dad's in the navy so I move every 2-3 years w/o question). I do like my classes and school (however surprising that may sound...) but only because I love beating other people at things. I don't really have a "favorite" subject. I like them all because I'm good at them all. I'm a Junior this year and now I've really gotta start thinking about where I'm gonna go to college and w/o any solid ECs I think I'm pretty screwed (I <3 Stanford). I do have some "hooks" I guess (10+ schools, pacific islander for race, i'll be applying from hawaii) but I don't think that's enough for colleges to overlook my lack of ECs.</p>
<p>I mean really the only thing I've really LIKED doing outside of baseball and beating people at things is competitive online video games. For the past 2 years I've played hardcore and won a bunch of tournaments/money online. Unfortunately I doubt colleges care at all about my video game prowess =[ </p>
<p>So my question:</p>
<p>What can I do to find my passion in life? How can I get involved in that? </p>
<p>There must be something out there for you. Don't get desperate. People change "passions" all the time. </p>
<p>Try new things. Probably this might be the best way. Also go back to those things you tried, it might just take a good new professor that will inspire you into a field that you did not like before.</p>
<p>Yes, keep trying new things, and even if you can't be on the varsity baseball team where you are, try to be on the JV team since you enjoy it. You also could even start a fun informal baseball team/league with friends. Think outside of the box.</p>
<p>There may be some colleges that care about video games. Seems that I read or heard that MIT had some courses that were related to video games. Still, it would be good if you expanded your video game interest by starting a school club or something for people who enjoy doing things like that.</p>
<p>H.S. and college are the best times in your life for finding activities that interest you, things that may end up being your lifetime vocations or avocations. So, try lots of things, and be creative.</p>
<p>With the exception of the very top colleges -- places like HPYS and other top 20 ones, most colleges do not weigh ECs heavily if at all in admissions. Most colleges admit the majority of their applicants, and do that overwhelmingly based on applicants' grades, scores and courses. ECs may count mainly for merit aid consideration.</p>
<p>You sound like the kids going to Princeton this year from my school. However, I wouldn't take it for granted that your "lack of passion" will be overlooked.</p>
<p>I think arrogance will be noticed though, not a charming attribute</p>
<p>If you come across as "i am better" than everyone as you do here, good luck</p>
<p>I think you need to grow up a bit in the next year and look beyond just "winning", and seeing the world for all it has to offer, maybe then you will find a "passion", something beyond yourself</p>
<p>ps- I moved every year and a half, and I was able to be involved in lots of things</p>
<p>Oh, I don't think that's entirely fair, cgm. I understand where you're coming from, but there are other ways to read this than "arrogance." Arrogance is generally a defense mechanism against internal feeliing of low self-worth, and it is not the same as confidence. The OP could be arrogant, but that's not a foregone conclusion.</p>
<p>OP, I'd say that your main problem is that you seem to take great pleasure in beating people at things, but I wonder about your not playing baseball. How good are you at it? Good enough to be the best on every team where you play? If not, why is it that you're really not playing baseball? No one is good enough to beat everyone else at everything, and I wonder if baseball is one of those things you're not as good at as other things. Maybe not MLB material?</p>
<p>I like competition too, and I like to win. But I also like to play people who are much better than I at some things and learn from how they play. I've learned a lot about chess that way, but I will never be a grand master or even close to being one. Still, I enjoy the game.</p>
<p>One problem you will face if you make your competitive urges clear to the most elite colleges is that they are quite aware that some competitive people get good grades by never taking any risks. The best students are very rarely the valedictorians, in my experience. Vals tends to do exactly what the assignments say and hit all the teacher's buzz words to get the A. That's not necessarily what colleges are really looking for ... at least in all cases.</p>
<p>If I were you, I'd find some cause that turned me on, where competition is not an issue. Working on a political campaign, or to end child abuse, is not competitive, but it can be very, very rewarding.</p>
<p>He comes across as arrogant, so if he is or not is irrelevent when you think about it, impressions mean a lot</p>
<p>confident people don't say they are better than everyone else, they don't need to </p>
<p>the OP feels the need to be the "Best"- beat everyone</p>
<p>the OP needs to look outside himself alot more, and then he will find his passion, he has chosen to be focused on beating others academically, and that doesn't even mean being smart</p>
<p>I pointed this out, because as an outsider reading his posts, I am like a admissions person, don't know him, but that would be my first impression, and the OP needs to look at how he comes across, if he comes across in a post like that, then imagine in person</p>
<p>I agree with cgm. OP, there are a ton of people out there who are just as smart as you, and a ton who are much smarter. In fact, virtually everyone applying to Stanford is just as smart. If you enjoy beating people, then you are not passionate about learning as you claim, but rather about being better than everyone else. That is not who true scholars are-they enjoy learning for the sake of learning, not because they want people to know how good they are. I would seriously reconsider your attitude if I were you, because if you sound like that on a college app, you will not get in. Especially at Stanford.</p>
<p>Now, in regards to your original question, it is not too late to try something. ECs are the one part of your app. that you have control over, along with the essays, and they define who you are. Stanford is more likely to take someone who has dedicated themselves to researching solutions for Parkinson's Disease (which some applicants will have done, or at least something on a similar level), than a video gamer. Do something, be it baseball, research, volunteering at a hospital, whatever! It is a must for admission to any elite school.</p>
<p>If you love computer games, you could build from that. </p>
<ul>
<li>If you have some interest in business, set up a club, hold a tournament. You could do it properly and seek sponsorship, etc, and show some entrepreneurial flair. </li>
<li>If you are more interested in engineering, learn how the games work and teach yourself or take classes to program your own, learn how computers work and build your own.</li>
<li>You could think about the artistic side of it in relation to computer graphics and take some classes in that.</li>
<li>You could do some scientific research related to computer games. There have been some studies on dexterity and how the brain works that have used computer games and programs with people who have things like Parkinsons and also autism.</li>
</ul>
<p>If you really just enjoy beating people at stuff, then there are many competitions in all different fields that you could take part in to expand your repetoir. Or channel your competitive spirit into being the best fundraiser for a cause you think is important, or the most dedicated class officer, the star of JV baseball, whatever you can think of that you might enjoy doing. The first step is trying something, anything.</p>
<p>Cgm obviously has little idea what she's talking about. If you don't enjoy beating people at stuff it'll be very hard to compete at the top schools. Arrogance in and of itself is not detrimental to the application, what is if one does not treat his/her peers with respect. As long as the OP doesn't appear to be someone who disrespects others (which I doubt he does), the arrogance will be at the very least neutral. If you don't think and act like you're one of the best, why should any adcom at a top school choose you? Now I'm not saying that one should prepare their application thinking they are shoo-in, not even thinking that he or she will get in, but the person's frame of mind should be I'm X-school material and should thus prepare his/her application like a student of X-school material would (well crafted essays and presentation of his/her achievements in the best possible light within reason)</p>
<p>Hey it's not too late to play baseball. At my school baseball is during the spring so you have all year to prep for it. If a spot on the team is competitive, then you'll need to work hard to make the team. Maybe run track/field to get in shape before the season. Also you could continue this your Senior year.</p>
<p>If that's not your thing then maybe try getting a job at a local sports park that has baseball fields. Or even volunteer work. Anything.</p>
<p>And about the video games, maybe start a gamers club? Founding clubs looks great on college apps. Also does your school do the Great Computer Challenge? If so do it IMMEDIATELY. </p>
<p>Unfortunately my school and the whole Oahu School system is really ghetto and we don't really have anything. There aren't any academic leagues or anything I can join and there's only like 15 clubs at my school. Another thing that really screws me over is that we have a thing called "TASK" in the middle of the day on Tues-Thurs for 40 minutes when all the clubs/extra study hall/extra class time happens. Unfortunately, on Tuesday and Thursday I'm required to attend my AP World History and AP Physics classes so that only leaves Wednesdays for me to join/make a club. </p>
<p>In regards to baseball, I'm pretty sure I'm gonna try out for Varsity this year. I'm training atm (I'm a pitcher) and with all the time before Spring I should be good to go. </p>
<p>In regards to the arrogance comments, I guess I'm a "little" arrogant but definitely not in a bad way. In class I'm the most helpful guy you can know. I usually grasp concepts first and then I help out my classmates understand the material. If anyone needs help with homework I'm there. </p>
<p>I've been doing some thinking and I might try making a Tutoring service at my school. My school doesn't have any kind of tutoring service (like I said it's really ghetto..) and there a lot of kids that struggle with school here. I guess that could give me a lot of volunteer hours and maybe it would look good for apps. </p>
<p>atm the only real EC I have is Band/Marching Band. In 2006 I marched in the Rose Parade and some other notable parades. I'm a pretty good Clarinetist and next year I'll be trying for Hawaii's Youth Symphony (it's basically like All-State).</p>
<p>I'm also self studying AP Bio, AP Env Sci, AP Comp Gov, AP US Gov, and maybe APPsych/Human Geo. I'm hoping I can get the SAAP Scholarship award for the state of Hawaii.</p>
<p>On the subject of the Video Game Club...honestly I really don't think colleges will care/like me making a "Gamers" Club at my school...It's not like you can really "reach out to the community" in a club like that. I dunno.</p>
<p>What do you guys think about the Tutoring Service idea? Thanks for all the comments btw guys =D</p>
<p>I think the tutoring thing is a good idea, made even better if it's free (which I think you said it would be). It's all about a passion. If you don't like doing something, it will show through in the end. It sounds like you enjoy teaching others concepts that come easily for you. And, from what I gather, your school could use a few more teachers. Start it! Invite other intelligent students to join, more people probably feel the same way than you think! good luck!</p>
<p>"Cgm obviously has little idea what she's talking about. If you don't enjoy beating people at stuff it'll be very hard to compete at the top schools. "</p>
<p>You are wrong. I went to Harvard, and students talked very little about grades and spent very little time comparing their grades to others. What they did talk about a great deal were the ECs. Virtually everyone avidly pursued at least one EC that they loved.</p>
<p>Actually, I think that students pay far less attention to others grades at a place like Harvard than perhaps top students do at less competitive universities because at Harvard, the students who want to go to medical or law school know that they are virtually 100% guaranteed to get into some medical or law school. Obviously, they aren't all going to get into Harvard or Yale, though dozens do, but they know that they have excellent chances of at least getting into their state flagship's medical or law school.</p>
<p>I echo Northstarmom. The best students compete with themselves. What everyone else is doing is not important to them, nor should it be. Mozart would not have won a composition competition in his own day.</p>