question for everyone:
so i’ve been reading some threads and i’ve been seeing “does it look better if i do _____ or _____” “what would the colleges like to to see?”
but question is; why the questions? to get into our first choice college. maybe I am being idealistic if i say this but here i go anyway, do what you want and don’t worry about what the “colleges want” because your perfect college is the one where admissions looks for people like you.
just excel in what you do.
<p>well said.</p>
<p>i always tell people two things:</p>
<p>"Don't work towards a college; let the college come to you."</p>
<p>"The best college is the one that accepts you for who you are."</p>
<p>Just curious, how old are you above posters? Your thinking is indeed idealistic. If only it were true, but don't count on it! Think about what you want and what it takes to get it. Yes, follow your passions, but if you're waiting for colleges to come to you the wait will be really long!!</p>
<p>Sorry, but jazzpiano is right. Its great to do what you want. Do it well, do it with passion but do work towards college, because chances are slim that they will come to you.</p>
<p>I agree with Mercedes. Do what you want, and do it with creativity, skill and passion. Use every resources to create opportunities to do what you want. If in the future, continuing to do what you want means you'll need to go to college, then make sure that you also get the academic preparation to go to the type of college that would best let you pursue your dreams.</p>
<p>Search for the right college or other post high school alternatives that match your interests and talents.</p>
<p>Too many students spend high school trying to fit themselves into a mold to fit some college such as HPYS instead of allowing themselves to develop in a way that optimizes their best selves. They don't discover themselves, but create a sham self that the colleges that they want to attend will reject. The HPYS colleges not only aren't best for everyone, but they want students who do well academically plus also have developed some special passion or skill that differentiates the student from the crowd. To develop a skill at a high enough level to stand out in such colleges' application pool, one has to be fueled by an interest in that skill area, not by simply a desire to be accepted by the college.</p>
<p>I'm going to side with mercedes on this one, if only because of personal circumstances.
I did nothing 'for' college. I enjoy learning, so I read a hell of a lot; I enjoyed (note the past tense) swimming, so I swam a lot; I enjoy debate (etc, etc.). Not once did I ever do anything (other than the SATs and the applications) 'for' college. My philosophy was exactly the same as mercedes: my ideal college is the one that wants people like me, and it worked for me, I was admitted ED.</p>
<p>Northstar speaks from knowledge.</p>
<p>Put yourself in the position of the admissions folks. Do you think they know less or more about this process than us amateurs? If you think more, then don't you think they are well aware of the temptation to fashion a resume? Don't you think they can spot many of the attempts? </p>
<p>So, if you decide to do what Jazzpiano suggests, it is not enough to develop an activitiy that might appeal to the adcoms. You must also find an activity that every other kid making a similar decision does not pick (lest your uniqueness is swamped out), but since you are all working from the same information, you cannot do that. Meanwhile, the kid who motors along following his muses goes against the cycle and has a great, unique resume.</p>