<p>Serious question: How do you get into an Ivy League school when you have no idea what you like to do/what your passion(s) is/are? I'm desperate for an answer.</p>
<p>well, the reason why you want to have a passion is to be unique and set yourself apart from the others. So unless you have something else that sets you apart, like extremely high scores, a hook, etc. it’ll be really hard.</p>
<p>I can get extremely high scores, straight A’s, and a rec. letter from a big donor (to one school), but that doesn’t feel like enough. Of course, I’m doing a lot of stuff with my EC’s (should I list everything?), but I just don’t have a passion or anything that makes me unique, really.</p>
<p>that’s kind of sad… this is probably something you should think about more in a life sense… i.e. beyond the applying to colleges sense…</p>
<p>I agree. On a short-term basis, it’s all for college (because, hell, getting into a great college is a passion itself for me), but on a long-term basis, I’m sure everything I’ve done to get into college will be handy.</p>
<p>Bump… 10char</p>
<p>How do you get into an Ivy without a passion? Set your sights on Cornell. XD
But seriously, Cornell has the most predicatable admissions of all the Ivies, and also the easiest (relatively). Last year was what, 18ish%, I think? Still low but a lot better than 8, 9, or 10%. </p>
<p>Definitely list most of your ECs…attach an extra sheet if necessary. But only if you have good accomplishments in each.</p>
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No… The reason why you have a passion is because you care deeply about that thing. If you have a passion for college admissions purposes, then it is clear that your only passion is college admissions. I am dedicated to social justice and radical societal change, but it would just feel dirty if college admissions played any part in that.</p>
<p>To the OP: Certainly, people have gotten into Ivy League schools without a “passion”. However, you should examine why your target is “an Ivy League school.” This group of eight holds individual schools that are very different from each other, unified only by academic excellence and an athletic league termed “the Ivy League”. While some may certainly fit you, it is doubtful that all will. Cast your net wider, but more personally, as well.</p>
<p>Assume that the college I want to go to is a top-tier one; not necessarily an Ivy League, but a very good one. The case is still the same. I want very badly to get into it/them, but I don’t know how. It’s very difficult for me to put this in the perspective of doing things because I want to do them without getting college involved in it.</p>
<p>I think the whole ‘having passion’ thing is slightly overrated. Having a powerful, singular passion will make you a “well-angled” applicant, but being a “well-rounded” is also valuable. I think colleges are looking for both. It’s unreasonable to expect everyone (even for the schools we’re referring to) to be highly passionate about one thing in high school. I for one am dedicated to several things, but I don’t know if I wouldn’t classify myself as passionate about any of them.</p>
<p>Well, think about it this way: when admissions officers make their decisions, they’re trying to build a community in itself. What do you have to offer that community? </p>
<p>To be honest, I think you need to stop and re-evaluate exactly why you want to get into an Ivy anyway - and it really can’t be because of the prestige or anything like that.</p>
<p>Kids want to go into Ivy’s because they know its a one-way trip to success. But why? WHY do you want to succeed, what do you have to offer? I think too many people forget this; they’re too caught up in the admissions process. Acceptance into an Ivy League college doesn’t guarantee happiness, monetary success, or even personal success. You really need to look at your goals before you go and apply to any college.</p>
<p>It’s what you want to do in that Ivy. And besides, if you don’t really know what you want to do, it’s really not a good idea to apply to an Ivy. Because you don’t know which one will be BEST for you, short-term and long-term. Say you don’t even APPLY to an Ivy - you apply to MIT, and you get in. Sometime in your stay there, you find that you have a passion for creative writing. Now you realize that you should’ve applied elsewhere - that you just wasted a whole year at MIT only to find out you hate it.</p>
<p>There goes thousands of dollars, AND you’re now a year behind what you should’ve been aspiring to be one year ago.</p>
<p>I think you need to sit down and think hard about your goals before you apply.</p>
<p>Well, think about it this way: when admissions officers make their decisions, they’re trying to build a community in itself. What do you have to offer that community? </p>
<p>To be honest, I think you need to stop and re-evaluate exactly why you want to get into an Ivy anyway - and it really can’t be because of the prestige or anything like that.</p>
<p>Kids want to go into Ivy’s because they know its a one-way trip to success. But why? WHY do you want to succeed, what do you have to offer? I think too many people forget this; they’re too caught up in the admissions process. Acceptance into an Ivy League college doesn’t guarantee happiness, monetary success, or even personal success. You really need to look at your goals before you go and apply to any college.</p>
<p>It’s what you want to do in that Ivy. And besides, if you don’t really know what you want to do, it’s really not a good idea to apply to an Ivy. Because you don’t know which one will be BEST for you, short-term and long-term. Say you don’t even APPLY to an Ivy - you apply to MIT, and you get in. Sometime in your stay there, you find that you have a passion for creative writing. Now you realize that you should’ve applied elsewhere - that you just wasted a whole year at MIT only to find out you hate it.</p>
<p>There goes thousands of dollars, AND you’re now a year behind what you should’ve been aspiring to be one year ago.</p>
<p>I think you need to sit down and think hard about your goals before you apply.</p>
<p>oh crap, sorry for the double post. xD</p>
<p>PMHopeful made some good points.</p>
<p>Other than that, I suggest you turn your attention to something else. The real question should be: why are you fixated on getting into an Ivy school? </p>
<p>“Getting into a great college” should /not/ be some kind of obscure passion. Actually, on second thought, why don’t you list that as an EC/hobby on your applications when you apply to colleges? Twenty hours a week, 54 weeks a year. Heck, that’s more demanding than a part-time job. I’m sure adcoms would be flattered by your unique commitment for Ivy League acceptance letters ;)</p>
<p>People change their majors ALL THE TIME in college. Few people go into college knowing exactly what they want to do – and even if they do, plans are likely to change.</p>
<p>Plenty of people discover new passions and find that their old passions aren’t really what they want to major in. It’s nice for diversity purposes to admit applicants who can bring a breadth of passions and skills to an Ivy, but it isn’t a requirement. As long as you’re a really strong applicant with an obvious desire to learn and contribute, I think that in itself will give you a decent shot. Many of those at Ivies went in not really having any specific, hyperfocused passions.</p>
<p>As a regular person, I’m inclined to agree with Rhaegar Targaryen that “having a passion” is not only overrated, but at risk for becoming trite. </p>
<p>But as a person without a passion who went to an Ivy, I’d urge you to think hard about this. Suppose you’re admitted and enroll. You’ll be spending four years in a very competetive academic environment where most of the people you’re competing against will be passionate about conservative politics, or Latin lyric poetry, or reforming American education, or whatever. If you don’t have a passion, do you have a sufficient love of learning to thrive in such an environment? Or will you spend for frustrating, arduous years swimming against the current?</p>
<p>I don’t regret having gone to college where I did. But I had a wicked hard time keeping up with classmates who were a lot more motivated than I was. It took a lot out of me. And I’m not encouraging my kids to look at Ivies.</p>
<p>JMO, of course.</p>
<p>This is all valuable information, and I thank you all. I think I need to go for a long walk tonight and just reflect on this.</p>
<p>You’ve all pretty much said that a passion isn’t required, but then… what is, if not a passion? (the original question still remains)</p>
<p>What is required, if you don’t have a passion?</p>
<p>The ability to think quickly. The ability to think deeply, and to express your thoughts clearly. Extraordinary curiosity.</p>
<p>And the trouble with admission to all these extremely selective schools is that, while all those traits are necessary, none of it is sufficient to get you admitted.</p>
<p>Ok, going back to your original question, I don’t think you should be trying to find a sure-fire way to get into an Ivy League school. There really isn’t one IMO. All anyone can do is try their best throughout high school and hope for the best.</p>
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<p>This is the question you should be asking yourself. Do you need a singular “passion” (oh, how I hate that word) for admission to top schools? No. But you need something you offer that school, whether that’s a hook, an academic niche, or something else.</p>