<p>It is very disheartening that I won't be able to attend my dream school (USC) because I do not exemplify a passion. I don't know what I want to pursue; it's sad they we are pressured to choose a career pathway at such a young age. I'm also afraid that "passion" won't show up in my applications. Can anyone elaborate on my issue?</p>
<p>What do you like to do? What do you spend most of your time outside of school doing? </p>
<ol>
<li> Don’t have a dream school. The concept just sets you up for more disappointment if you aren’t admitted or can’t afford the school even if you are admitted. Create a list of matches, a few reaches, and a couple of safeties (that you know you can afford), all of which you would be happy to attend.</li>
<li> Why do you think not having one passion would keep you out of USC? Ignore whoever told you that. If you pursued whatever activities that interested you with energy and some consistency, that is fine. Test scores and grades count for more anyway. Having NO ecs isn’t great on an application to a school with holistic admissions. But you certainly don’t have to be laser focused for life on one thing to get in. And passions often have nothing to do with career goals – one of my kids LOVED Quiz Bowl, and it showed in her app, but has no career ambitions related to it (okay, she would love to win a lot of money on Jeopardy!).</li>
</ol>
<p>You might get some advice on how to package/position your application if you list your statistics and ECs.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info! But here is my stats if you want to critique it.</p>
<p>Ethnicity/Gender: Vietnamese American/Male
Income: < $20,000 (single mother)
Location: Mississippi
Other: 1st generation to attend college</p>
<p>BLANKS = HAVE NOT OR WILL BE COMPLETING</p>
<p>ACT: 30 (27,32,32,27 Essay: )
PSAT:
SAT:
SAT II Math II:
SAT II US History:
SAT II Biology:
SAT II World History:
SAT II Spanish:
SAT II Physics:</p>
<p>Class Rank: 1/330
GPA: 4.00 (max)</p>
<p>Freshmen:
-Accelerated English - 100
-Accelerated Geometry - 100
-Accelerated Biology - 100
-Spanish I - 99
-STEM - 100
-Art I - 100
-P.E. - 100
-World Geography - 100
-Mississippi Studies - 99
-Health - 99</p>
<p>Sophomore:
-AP World History 100
-Algebra II 100
-Chemistry 100
-Spanish II 100
-Spanish III
-Accelerated English II
-Advanced Algebra
-Zoology</p>
<p>Junior:
-AP US History
-AP Biology
-AP Language III
-Trigonometry
-Pre-Calculus
-Spanish IV</p>
<p>Senior:
-AP US Government
-AP Language IV
-AP Calculus BC
-Physics
-Human Anatomy Physiology
-Economics</p>
<p>AP Self-studies:
-AP European History
-AP Physics B
-AP Spanish</p>
<p>Mississippi Subject Area Testing Program (This is SATP2, not College Board’s SAT II):
-Algebra: Perfect Score
-Biology: Perfect Score
-English II:
-U.S. History:</p>
<p>Extra curricular:
-Student Council (9th-Representative, 10th-President, running for president next year)
-Key Club (9th-Member, 10th- Editor, 11th - ran for president this month and won, may run Lieutenant Governor as well)
-Art Club (10th)
-Junior Leadership (10th-President; Can only be in once.)
-Science Olympiad (10th)
-Math and Science Club (10th)
-Student Against Violence Everywhere (10th)
-Beta Club (10th, running for presidency next year)</p>
<p>Sports:
-None, due to severe myopia (-12.00)</p>
<p>Work Experience:
-None yet</p>
<p>Community Service & Activities
-Carolling for cans annually
-Elementary art camp annually
-Nursery homes
-MC’ed a trash fashion show to encourage recycling and creativity
-Directed a blood drive at school campus as chairman
-Will have attended a state HOBY Leadership seminar (1 sophomore from each school chosen)</p>
<p>Awards:
-President’s Education Award
-American History Award
-Letters About Literature Semifinalist
-High Honor Roll (2008-present)
-Who’s Who – Most Likely to Succeed (9th, 10th)
-Wise and Worthy Student of the Month</p>
<p>Other:
-Trilingual (Spanish, Vietnamese, English)
-Sufficient with Word, Powerpoint
-Will teach myself how to code
-Will work during summer
-Will intern during summer
-Will be awared AP National Scholar (hoping so)
-Will be awarded PSAT NMF (hoping so)
-Will perform in community theatre
-Will join acting class
-Will join Mu Alpha Theta next year
-Will join dancing class
-Will organize community projects
-Will study to compete in AMC12
-Will swim junior and senior years</p>
<p>This “passion” thing makes me laugh. People think it’s like a jacket you can pull out of a closet and put on. Don’t be fooled, Tommy. 98% of these college applicants don’t have measurable “passion” – some only think they do. And they do fine. So will you. Stop following the crowd and live life. Do you think the college that prints your diploma one day is going to be that different than 15 or more others? It’s not. Been there done that.</p>
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</p>
<p>Ah, teenagers and their “dream schools”! Most colleges are pretty much the same. Some have better living arrangements, at some the students will be smarter than at others, and some have more money to spend on tutoring, financial aid, fancy buildings, etc. But the classes are all taught from the same textbooks, and are taught by teachers who went to the same graduate schools.</p>
<p>As for passions – almost no one has a “passion”. Many have “interests”. Don’t buy into the myth that you need a “passion” to get into college. Just try to do your best in school, and do whatever interests you. You will do fine.</p>
<p>I know the fascination of high school students and their dream schools. Don’t get me wrong, I understand the disappointment from students who get rejected. But there’s something about my “dream” school that attracts me. If I get rejected, oh well. I’m sure everyone in the college world has had a dream school, or at least a school in which they want to be in. @socaldad2</p>
<p>Have you visited USC? Have you run the Net Price Calculator to see if the financial aid will be sufficient for you to attend? If I were you I would study up and take another run at the ACT, see if you can squeak out another point or two to help your odds (will do you more good than a “passion”). If the Net Price Calculator looks affordable, then go for it. But be sure you find some other schools to put on your list as well. You might consider some test optional schools that meet full need, as your grades are very good.</p>
<p>Your passion is finding your passion. Those are pretty good stats for a soph.</p>
<p>Which USC? STEM or? You’re a soph now? It’s not a bad start but everything is basically in the hs or hs propelled.</p>
<p>@intparent @archer1415 Thank you for the compliment. I haven’t been to USC, but I’ve seen numerous videos and images of the site. And I haven’t done the financial NPC yet. I do have safety schools that would offer me full scholarships. As for the ACT, I’m taking it again in April and June. A 30 is definitely not good for me; I have very high standards as you can tell. Thank you for your responses.</p>
<p>@lookingforward Can you explain what you said? I had a hard time comprehending it…lol</p>
<p>Which USC? There are two- in CA and SC. What are you thinking your major may be? STEM or not?<br>
Everything you are doing now is about high school, what’s avail there, what you heard about there, etc. Tell us the first two, then we can explain more, if needed, k?</p>
<p>So many top tier schools meet full need. Find a few that you would be happy to attend, in case USC doesn’t work out. You have a bright future no matter what, so try not to be myopic about your college choice. (Wink, wink, nudge nudge) ;)</p>
<p>Oh sorry, I meant Southern California. And I know I should choose a college that best fits my major, but I’m undecided right now.</p>
<p>Quite a few people apply undecided. My daughter did and got accepted to all but one of her colleges. She did have pretty strong EC’s though. If you are already saying you will not be able to attend USC because of qualification that is strange attitude to take. If for money, that is more understandable. But if you think so, then spend your time exploring all the other great colleges out there. Keep involving yourself in activities and find what type of things appeal to you. Don’t take any more tests expect the psat until Jr year. There isn’t any point tp taking tests over and over, just take when ready. Jr spring is perfect. I have a young friend like you she doesn’t have any particular area she is sure about, has some random EC’s that are decent but no focus/passion yet.and she is applying undecided to USC this year, we’ll see.</p>