Cal Newport book...

Prep School Admissions Prep School Parents
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<p>So, in another recent thread, someone mentioned the Cal Newport book "How To Be a High School Superstar". I started reading it over the weekend and like the perspective. </p>

<p>While SevenDaughter is just finishing up her first year at boarding school, I know that Junior year, SATs, and campus visits are not that far in the future...and Cal Newport's book makes a good argument for "zagging" against the current of maxing out on APs, etc. </p>

<p>I'm still in the first third of the book, but his recommendations on how to take notes and study make a lot of sense to me (even for maximizing productivity in the office) and I'll see if I can get my daughter to read the book this summer.</p>

<p>One key concept that Newport speaks to is how being "interesting" is more important than "being passionate" about something.</p>

<p>Wondering if anyone else has read it and what they think....</p>

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<p>I found it interesting as well. I gave it to my bs child one Christmas and he read it but wasn’t that interested–I suspect because he’s travelling a different road than the one recommended by Newport. I think it might be a better book for the middle child.</p>

<p>I’m not sure that I agree with the distinction between interesting and passionate–why does he see them as mutually exclusive?</p>

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<p>Being interesting AND passionate is best. :slight_smile: Given the multitude of applications each adcom person reads, those from really interesting students must be a breath of fresh air. </p>

<p>Although my daughter did not apply to Ivies, she took no APs at all and did not have problems with competitive LACs. I don’t buy into all the hyper testing around college admissions. I guess I’m fortunate that her school didn’t offer official “AP” classes. </p>

<p>I’ll have to pick up that book as we’ll be going through the process again soon. Thanks for the mention, SevenDad.</p>

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<p>@classicalmama: Newport includes this blurb about “interestingness”…</p>

<p>“When [college] admissions officers say they’re looking for students who show “passion”, what they really mean is they’re looking for the type of student who would appeal to an NPR talk show producer. That is, a student who could sit down and chat about a topic for thirty minutes and hold and educated audience’s rapt attention.”</p>

<p>He adds:</p>

<p>“Interestingness cannot be forced or planned in advance. It is generated, instead, as a natural by-product of a ‘deep interest’, which is a long-term pursuit that a student returns to voluntarily and eagerly whenever given a chance.”</p>

<p>Don’t know if that helps separate “interestingness” from “passion”, but there you have it.</p>

<p>@creative1: Your comment about the adcoms is echoed by Newport in the book. It’s like I’ve heard parents (and some students) tell BS prospects here…there are hundreds of applicants with great scores and grades…but what about you truly sets you apart?</p>

<p>I think it’s a worthwhile read based on being 45% done with it. Newport is trying to “sell” readers on how to have a more relaxed, under scheduled high school experience and still get into the college of your dreams. Sounds appealing, no?</p>

<p>BTW, early on there is a story about a panel discussion at a high school where the focus was “the idea that students should look beyond the Ivy League and settle for less-competitive schools that generate less stress”. According to the story, 20% of the audience left before the first speaker finished, because they were thinking it would be about how to get into the Ivies. </p>

<p>This reminded me of some of the reactions I’ve gotten when I advocate looking beyond “HADES” type schools to prospects…</p>

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<p>Hello, I’m planning on reading the book by Cal Newport :slight_smile: Why did you say it would be a better book for the middle child? Just wondering since I am one…</p>

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<p>SevenDad, I can understand why the audience walked out. There’s a fine balance between encouraging students to build a reasonable list and depressing expectations. </p>

<p>I’ve started the book. (shrug) It’s one more “this is the way to impress admissions officers” book, albeit with a different formula. So far, I don’t see anything that really deviates from the “find a genuine interest” advice. As a matter of fact, it seems to resemble ExieMITAlum’s advice to applicants.</p>

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<p>@Peri: At first, I felt the same…that he was really just advocating another way to “game” the system.</p>

<p>But the “efficient study tips” part sold me. Honestly, I think a few of the studying concepts Newport mentions are really good and could help kids like my daughter who cruised through middle school but who might be facing bigger challenges at BS. Though I guess you can find that stuff on his blog without having to buy the book.</p>

<p>I think what Newport is encouraging is adding action and dedication to passion…he mentions a concept of “the Saturday morning test”, i.e.: would the student prefer to sleep in or pursue his/her passion given the choice.</p>

<p>“Passion” can mean a range of things, so perhaps your and Exie’s definitions encompass more of an active pursuit than Newport’s. I for one don’t mind him playing semantics with his notion of “interestingness”.</p>

<p>I think in that “college panel discussion” example, most of the parents and kids who attended had UNreasonable expectations — as I think do many BS applicants I’ve seen in my two seasons on the forum so far.</p>

<p>Let’s circle back when we’re both done reading. Thanks for sharing your POV, btw.</p>

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<p>I also don’t like the tactic of dividing students into “winners” and “losers,” whether the author thinks “winners” follow the “laid-back superstar” approach, or the “Ivy-MAX” approach. There are all sorts of people in the world. There’s no need to criticize someone for a path they chose freely. </p>

<p>In the end, I don’t like the tactic of judging someone by their college acceptances.</p>

<p>Yes, let’s circle back when we’ve both finished it.</p>

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<p>So far I don’t get the vibe that he’s judging people…I do think he’s making it a point that if the uber-selective schools are your goal, there is a less stressful, less-race-to-nowhere route that people may not know about. FWIW, I don’t know how freely kids choose taking a bazillion APs…or chasing a few hundred points on an SAT.</p>

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<p>They are choosing the high-pressure path. At any high school, you’ll find some students who are working much harder than others. We can call them “ambitious,” “driven,” or “stressed”–it all depends on our point of view. At the same school, you’ll find students who aren’t working as hard. Are they “mellow,” “slackers,” or “reasonable?” Depends on the POV.</p>

<p>It usually takes a heart attack to convince a Type A to emulate the Type Bs.</p>

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<p>azntennis: I think Periwinkle’s point is what made me feel the book wasn’t a good fit for my son number one–who is naturally a high-pressure kind of kid --and might be a better one from son number 2, who is a lower stress, pursue “interests” type. I think I need to go back and reread before posting any further though.</p>

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<p>Mixed feelings, but a generally positive review.</p>

<p>Newport advocates for a non “race to nowhere” high school experience and I can get behind that. I guess neither of my children are “type A” personalities who I could see clamoring to take as many APs as possible, etc. Should Newport and Amy Chua ever be on the same panel discussion, it would get ugly fast.</p>

<p>I think some of the ideas championed in the book are sound, and much of it I’ve never really even thought about in any depth (maybe I’m just a lazy/terrible parent?!?). For example, Newport talks about the power of focus…so instead of doing seven ECs a little, do one ALL THE WAY. What’s not to like about that idea? Instead of shuttling my kid to a bazillion meetings/practices/obligations…just one? Sign me up!</p>

<p>He also puts forward the idea that “if an activity is easy to explain or someone can see how any high schooler can do it…it’s not going to be that impressive to college admissions counselors”. I don’t have the time to unpack this idea as much as I’d like here, but the thought is “what’s more impressive…being president of the student body or writing a book that’s a top seller on Amazon”? And he describes the path that the student author took…and how it didn’t really represent a time commitment above and beyond “normal” HS ECs.</p>

<p>But here’s where my mixed feelings come into play:
I don’t know who comfortable I am with thinking about “how impressive” my daughters look to colleges. Or if I want them to worry about how “impressive” they seem to anyone.</p>

<p>Now, that’s either the one of the most balanced things I could say as a parent or the most irresponsible…but I’m hoping it’s the former. </p>

<p>I just don’t want my kids to think in terms of how to “game” any particular system. Especially for my older girl, I’ve never been that nervous that she’ll be able to get into the college she wants to go to. Though an Ivy grad myself, I’ve never pushed that goal on her. If she wants to go to U Del or Sewanee…more power to her.</p>

<p>One last point about the book is that, as much as Newport comes across as painting the path of “relaxed superstars” in his book as within reach of everyone…I know it’s not. In addition to needing to be an above average kid with genuine and deep interests…there is a lot of luck and some networking involved. A neighbor who runs a lab, etc. And not everyone is going to have luck go their way.</p>

<p>So, in the end, worth reading. But not a some roadmap to guaranteed “success” (however you define that).</p>

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<p>Good synopsis 7D (as always, well stated). I think you just saved me a lot of reading and time by highlighting your take-aways from what seems to be an interesting approach. </p>

<p>I think from our (parents) collective experiences of learning that prep schools want kids who excel in one particular area vs. well rounded students for their well-rounded classes, what he asserts about how to approach things makes good sense.</p>

<p>DS told me that many of his CHASED school upperclassmen got what they wanted; however some did not. Some super scholar and trivarsity athletes got passed over bythe school of their dreams, leading some to conclude with the common app and more more applicants, that getting into a top school may still in the end be but a crap shoot. Without getting too jaded, all one can do is keep working hard, pursue one’s particular interests and hope that a school sees something special in you.</p>

<p>Good Luck to all in what has become college application madness. At these top select school it still appears to be a seller’s market.</p>

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<p>Check out: “In! college admissions and beyond: The experts’ proven strategy for success” Luterman & Bloom. It emphasizes building a story, not just doing a lot of “high profile” and often “routine” EC. It is a nice way to combine a passion and turn it into an interesting story for admin officers. Having been on the other side of the table reviewing college applicants, there is a lot of really useful information.</p>

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<p>Any updated published books on college essay writing? My DC pointed out to me recently that book we had for her summer reading from the Admissions Director at Brown was somewhat outdated, thanks.</p>

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<p>I am reading this book as well. Interesting read so far. Talking about not inundating the kids with AP courses, I watched an interesting video series on youtube called Ivy Dreams. </p>

<p>[Ivy</a> Dreams 1/10 Intro - YouTube](<a href=“Ivy Dreams 1/10 Intro - Asians Documentary - YouTube”>Ivy Dreams 1/10 Intro - Asians Documentary - YouTube)</p>