<p>So I've made sure that I like my ECs and I'm definitely not just doing them for college applications. (Just want to get that out of the way). However, I've recently been noticing that colleges want well-lopsided students, so extremely good at one thing. But if I'm already well-rounded and I am able to show passion for my ECs, is that equally as good as winning the Junior Olympics for tennis or playing piano at Carnegie Hall? Will I be okay when it's time for colleges to accept people if I just do other things that show passion?</p>
<p>If so, then what kind of awards and achievements are "second-tier"? For instance, instead of playing piano at Carnegie Hall, I'm going to receive the National Piano Guild Diploma. It's not the very elite, it's just farther down the ladder. Also, does anybody know of any achievements or awards that could relate to my ECs? (writing/newspaper, musical theatre/chorus, Model UN, medicine/science, learning languages, Forensics, music: cello/piano, sports: tennis/soccer/maybe volleyball but probably not) I also hope it doesn't really look like a list, because I have a passion for every EC that I do. Trust me, I'll be able to show it, just not right now.</p>
<p>Nope, unless you’ve participated in the Junior Olympics or have cured a disease you’re automatically disqualified.</p>
<p>… Really… you need to stop worrying about this stuff. Everyone who applies is different, and universities (I know you’ve probably heard this before) aren’t looking for something in particular anyways. How can being a well-rounded applicant possibly be a bad thing? If you’re good at a lot of things that’s great. If you’re excellent at a couple things, that’s great too. As long as you show that you like what you do and you’re not doing it for colleges but for yourself, I think you’re all set.</p>
<p>Being lop-sided as opposed to well-rounded in academics is a whole different matter though.</p>
<p>Not so fast my friend…I believe being unique is a big plus. Makes you stand out among the crowd. Instead of the piano, how about the bagpipes or Hawaiian guitar? Instead of soccer, how about fencing or speed skating. Instead of Spanish, how about sign language? You get the idea.</p>
<p>Sorry I meant being lop sided in academics would be bad (eg: all A’s in math and physics but all C’s in language and history)</p>
<p>Being unique doesn’t mean you can’t be well rounded. But yeah, perhaps to some extent colleges want to satisfy niches and would be attracted to admitting the bag pipe player over the piano player. However I don’t think a well rounded piano player that plays varsity football and has excellent grades and is well rounded in general has any disadvantage whatsoever when applying to colleges.</p>
<p>Where do you get the idea that lop-sided ECs are something special? Something you heard on CC? From some hs kids?</p>
<p>They’re not looking for a bunch of outliers or some infinite number of unique passions. In fact, they want normal kids who can commit to (and take on responsibility and have some impact in) some pretty ordinary directions. Kids with that sort of interest/vision and the energy to stick with it. Some personal interests or goals, some group engagement, some solid community service. That’s a good start. That’s ime, working for a most-selective. Think about it.</p>
<p>By lopsided, do you mean the level of achievement, award, or recognition in the extracurricular? For example, national level achievement, award, or recognition counts for more than state level, which counts for more than regional level, etc… It is not too hard to see that winning a national or state championship in some sport counts for more than just playing it all the time without getting that good at it.</p>
<p>Of course, that depends on the college considering the extracurriculars to be important. Once you get away from the most selective colleges, the importance of extracurriculars tends to drop, since grades, rank, and test scores differentiate the applicants more.</p>