<p>Is it better to focus on a few things or to be well-rounded?</p>
<p>focus on a big thing</p>
<p>Both lol...</p>
<p>Colleges want a well-rounded class, not necessarily well-rounded people. The Ivies want a diverse student body, and so they select applicants with hooks who excel in one or two areas. They can be world-class musicians, Olympic athletes, etc. Of course, there are plenty of well-rounded people who get in. A friend of mine two years ago got in everywhere he applied (including 7 Ivies). He was the president of a bunch of clubs, he played several instruments, two varsity sports, and community service. Well-rounded people do get in, but it's much harder because you won't stand out in the applicant pool.</p>
<p>There is no one right answer to your question. The key is to stand out from the applicant pool and you can do so in both cases, the poster above provided some good examples of this. In the well-rounded case, Foreverzeros friend has strong leadership qualities and excelled in different type of activities - a very talented person. You also have to pursue what you truly enjoy.</p>