Colleges want passion?

Applying to College
1

I’m currently a sophomore in high school, I’ll be a junior this fall. I’m planning on applying for Ivies in senior year, probably won’t get in but won’t hurt trying XD I’m planning on applying for around 15 colleges, I know it sounds crazy.

So I’ve always heard of colleges want students who have passion. So before I go into that, I’ll try to give my stats for those who want to know… idk? Lol. It’s not the best but it’s alright:

(Would prob go up idk since I’ll be taking more AP classes)
Current Weighted GPA: 4.55
Current Unweighted GPA: 3.85
Current Rank: 8/450

My classes:
Freshman:
Spanish 2H
Biology 9H
English 9H
US History H
Algebra 2
Studio

Sophomore:
Studio 2H
Chemistry H
Spanish 3H
Pre cal H
APUSH
AP Seminar

junior:
Spanish 4H
Physics I AP
AP Statistics
AP research
AP Lang
AP Calculus AB
AP World

Senior:
AP Spanish (unsure)
AP Physics II (unsure)
AP Literature
AP Psychology
AP Environmental Science
AP Calculus BC

Not too sure about senior year schedule lol. But I’m planning to take like 14 AP classes in total. But i promise I’m not overworking myself because I’m rather interested in the classes haha.

Haven’t taken sat/act.
No sports/instruments either.

Clubs/extracurricular:
VP in leadership Mentor Club
President Interact Club
President Relay for Life
President Asian Culture Club
Member of NHS
VP for Y leaders
Historian for Key Club
Worked for Chinese Culture Connection
Worked in Chinese restaurant
American Red Cross
*specialities
I speak both mandarin and English fluently
I paint a lot.

So here comes my question. As you can see, most of my extracurricular is mainly volunteering and helping out the community. I’m also very involved with my own culture. However, what I’m good at is art, painting. But I really want to pursue math as my major. However, if colleges want to see a speciality from me, it’ll be art. I won’t say I’m the best but I won’t say I’m bad. But I just don’t know how I would portray that in my application. I want to show colleges I do have a passion and speciality that I’m good at. But I’ve never participated in any art competition. I often just paint in my free time and upload it on social media, most often on Instagram. I did take studio in soph and freshman year but I don’t think I’ll be able to in junior year and senior (prob senior year maybe) since I want to focus on my core academics.

The thing is I’m just mainly confused on how the college application work. Like for the extra curricular that you put, does it need to be a club or like anything you do in your free time?

I really want to hear your guys opinion! Thank you :)))))

2

Also I probably won’t put all of the clubs in doing in my application. The ones I listed above are just some of the ones I’m doing that I can remember right now

3

Yes. They definitely don’t want unmotivated people.

4

Colleges want interested & interesting applicants. They aren’t looking for a laundry list of clubs. They especially like to see people who forge their own path to some extent. If you can find a way to get your art recognized, that would be a good step. Any kind of award process, 4H/county fair entries, juried art shows, etc. or a small business selling your work. Or extra classes in it at a community college. Or see if you can get a local business or community facility to let you exhibit some of your art.

5

Passion is a strange word that is used to describe strong feelings and energy about what you do. When do you speak more loudly, enthusiastically, and emotionally about your beliefs and behavior, etc. So what are they asking? What are the things,activities that interest out?

It seems to me. that volunteering in your community draws you. How and where do you volunteer in you community? Do you prefer food banks, or tutoring children, taking the elderly to appointments, etc. Look for the theme that ties your volunteer activities together. What do you find fulfilling and do versus what do volunteer opportunity do you reject? That seems to me to be your passion. Moreover, you are interested in learning more about your cultural background. How does this fit into what, why,how you volunteer. Does art fit into your preference? How we spend time time such as volunteering indicates our passion. I think you have a passion that you need to think about, link in how various activities tie together, and consider motivation and what gives you satisfaction Passion is your theme related to what you choose. How does math feed into your theme–what path applications it into you theme now or in the future. I think you will find and flesh out your passion by thinking about what you do and even have some personal ah hah moments.

6

The colleges you are thinking of will often have specific requirements for submitting art. Some will only look at submissions that have been juried. If art is your passion and you are going to highlight it in your app, then you need to support it by submitting some artwork. Otherwise it’s a hobby, and that is a bit different. I suggest you contact an art teacher and ask for honest feedback as to whether or not anything you consider submitting is good enough. I say this because some schools will have an art prof give an opinion as to the quality of the work. I don’t think you will be able to convincingly portray to tippy top colleges that art if your passion in light of the fact that you mainly seem to do it as a hobby.