<p>This post makes me oh so cynical about the admissions process. </p>
<p>Short answer: </p>
<p>Will an “intellectual passion” help? Yes
Is it necessary? No, probably not. </p>
<p>I got into a top notch school 3 years ago. I had some ideas about what I wanted to do. Vague ideas. At that time, I did have a love of learning and I think that came through in my application. But in no way did all my extracurriculars and school successes line up together in one field of “passion.” </p>
<p>The earlier example of the daughter who loves the middle east, takes arabic, and is a belly dancer, well that is fabulous for her and will probably help a lot in the admissions process, but I don’t think many 17 and 18 year olds <em>know</em> what they want to do with their life. In fact, I hope they don’t. I think experiences can play a big part in what you become passionate about and sometimes it just takes time to find that thing that you “have to do for the rest of your life.”</p>
<p>I’m 21 and only beginning to form a rough idea of what I want to do. I’ve been in college for 1.5 years, one year right out of high school, and the other half in the past 6 months. I took a year and a half off, and I think I grew most during that time. If I had dedicated myself to what I thought was my passion coming out of high school…well, damn, I don’t know where I’d be. </p>
<p>I say, if you’ve “found it” good for you. If you haven’t? Don’t stress. Most of us are right there with you. </p>
<p>I don’t think it’s something that can be forced. I have this mental image of a HS junior trying frantically to find their passion for the college admissions process. I just don’t think it works like that.</p>