<p>If you got into an IVY, what do you think was the hook that did it for you. It's obvious that grades and SATs aren't enough. I'm looking for the right ECs and other things to get in. What worked for you, and what school?</p>
<p>Mensa, I have seen posts bragging otherwise, but I have never seen anyone with a major EC hook that got them into college that was not a natural extension of their interests and unique abilities. If anyone deliberately picked an activity to pursue to get into an Ivy, and it did end up being a major pursuit of there's, it is pretty much a coincidence. There are so many talented kids in every activity, that it really takes a lot to bring an activity up to the national level. Debate, for instance, is a great EC that can catch an adcom's attention, but the time, talent, and work that goes into getting up to that level, is not something you just jump into doing. You had better love it . It's not like just doing your homework that is assigned.</p>
<p>I got into brown, and while this is just a part of my application, I'm pretty sure my 4 years of latin, and 4 semesters of college greek, plus my desire to be a classics major caught their attention.</p>
<p>Mensa:</p>
<p>How old are you? Why are you so obsessed with getting in to any ivy? Do you honestly think that any ivy would do in a pinch?
If you are applying to college any time soon, it is probably a bit too late to artificially create an image that will get you "in". Any adcom will see through such transparent attempts to create the "perfect" applicant.
If you are really are a current high school student, you need to step back, take a deep breath, and figure out what you really enjoy doing. You probably should also research each college that you might be interested in on an individual basis, rather than taking such a global view.</p>
<p>You shouldn't be looking for the "right" ECs to get in, no school is going to want someone like that.</p>
<p>LEGACY is a good one. But hard to create!</p>
<p>
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"You shouldn't be looking for the "right" ECs to get in, no school is going to want someone like that."
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Really? That's 90% of what they have now. What applicant would really want to be in some of the ECs out there. So many students do it just to look good. That means everyone should do the most ECs just to have a chance.</p>
<p>So you should do it because everyone else is? Awesome. There are no right ECs, colleges admire decidation to something that you personally care about. Having the most ECs is not better than putting much of your time into few ECs and demonstrating that you actually care.</p>
<p>I disagree. My son was in his sport that was a passion since he was 8 years old. No one takes up that kind of commitment unless they love it. Yes, as he got older, he had doubts at times since he had a schedule much fuller than most kids, and he would have loved to use the time to hang out, just "chill". But he also loved being in the sport even with the pain, early mornings, work to your limit, limited social life. Those kids who burned out or lost interest were gone even if they had the talent and knew it could get them in a top school. We are not talking about a dab here or there, but a true passion. Take a look at the book "What it Really Takes to Get Into an Ivy League School" by Chuck Hughes. When you look at the EC page, and where you have to be to make a difference in your app for the top schools, you have to love it and be very, very good at it, and have put in the years.</p>
<p>" What applicant would really want to be in some of the ECs out there. So many students do it just to look good."</p>
<p>I interview for an Ivy. It's fairly easy to differentiate the students who do ECs to look good and those who do the ECs out of their own passion. When it comes to the ECs that make a difference for admission, what counts is talent, demonstrated commitment and passion. Just doing something for a long time isn't enough. Having ECs that impress top schools isn't something that is easy or can be faked.</p>
<p>Students who choose ECs to look good are students who aren't the type of people whom the top colleges are looking for. The students who are sought after by the top colleges are the ones who'd never think to choose ECs on the basis of what would impress colleges.</p>
<p>My D just got into Dartmouth. I would not say she had a major "hook". She has very good grades and SAT's. Her application portrayed her as a very well rounded student. I would bet that none of her EC's got her into Dartmouth. I think her "hook" was her academics> She has a lot of interests but she did not pick her activities hoping that they would catch the eye of an Ivy adcom. Most of her activites are sports(not a recruited athlete) that she did since she was a young child. My son is a freshman who is also quite academic. I am not encouraging him to work his college app. He is going to work hard in school and on all the standardized testing. He will take the most rigorous courseload at our mediocre public high school. His EC's are very ordinary. He loves to run so he runs a lot of track. Hopefully all this will lead him to the college he is meant to go to.</p>
<p>yes mensa, ditto the comments above...</p>
<p>Most tops schools are looking for kids with passions-- interests that they would be likely to continue in college and that would enrich the college community. Deep or long-term involvement in one or two ECs displays passionate interest and probably also means the student has reached a high level of achievement as well.</p>
<p>The kids that have 17 EC clubs on a resume are not fooling anyone.</p>
<p>What if at age 17 a kid does not have a "passion"? Are they excluded from the club.....</p>
<p>Most people do not have passions. Even most smart people do not have passions. In general, Ivies and similar schools are looking for the rare smart teens with talents and demonstrated commitments in areas that are their passions.</p>
<p>I'm not so sure that you need a passion or a "hook." Maybe you do for HYP but I don't think that you do for some of the other Ivies. I know many very bright kids that have gone on to the other Ivies without a "hook."</p>
<p>I agree, NSM. About a third of the kids in the very top schools are admitted for pure academic excellence. These are the rare birds who are the very top scholars, not only through test scores and grades, but with an interest and record of going beyond what the school curriculum. Then you have your hooks which include legacies, athletes, and specialities that also have high academic standards. Certain areas get more attention at certain times. That oboe isn't going to help a bit, if the orchestra is flush with oboists, and a sport the college yawns about isn't going to get you in either, even if your academics and other profile are excellent. So "hooks" are a relative thing. There is a lot of serendipity that goes into being selected with a hook because something rare one year can be a dime a dozen the next, or there is no interest in that hook. Even athletes learn that some schools just don't need your skill and you have to look where you are wanted to have your hook count. But often you have no idea what they want in a given year. So you can pick a hook, and work your tail off on it to find that your target schools are not a bit interested. You do activities because you want to do them, not in hopes they become hooks.</p>
<p>My D applied to one UC where her sport is Division 1, and she would not be able to play on the team. </p>
<p>Nevertheless, at this UC (according to the UC standards) she will be getting extra "points" for her sport: 4 years Varsity, captain, Conference championship, 1st team all league... These are "leadership" type points. </p>
<p>Thus being a kid who takes things on, excels, cares, etc is still a help to the application, even if the "hook" might be better if she was a top D1 player.</p>
<p>I was recently selected to Columbia ED, and I suppose my hook was my music. I play Oboe/English Horn/Alto Sax/Tenor Sax and sent in a CD. I have a lot of Music EC's and very few others (pretty much just political groups and robotics). I also had good grades and wrote a very unique essay. I do believe they look for dedication in one or two areas and demonstrated excellence. </p>
<p>Mensa, I do think you need to realize that there are amazing schools that are not in the Ivy League. EC's are not everything, but dedication is needed.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Really? That's 90% of what they have now. What applicant would really want to be in some of the ECs out there. So many students do it just to look good. That means everyone should do the most ECs just to have a chance.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>You should write that in your applications somewhere. I think the adcoms would love to hear that.</p>
<p>that's a great idea ;)</p>