<p>I want to study international relations and i have MUNs (going to be secretary general next year), internships at consulates, mentorships with consuls, debates, impromptu speaking, NSLC (international diplomacy), and am hexalingual (Greek, ancient Creek, English, French, German, Chinese).</p>
<p>Is it bad that I pursue my major and future profession so exclusively?
I do have awards and medals at math competitions, and my courses are balanced -(IB courses) history, English and Greek on the one hand and math, chemistry and biology on the other hand, but is it bad that all of my ecs are mainly centered around my major?</p>
<p>To moderators,</p>
<p>I accidentally posted it twice in my effort to add an "of"...could you please delete this?</p>
<p>I see you deleted the other one:D:D
That's ok i guess..</p>
<p>no that is not bad at all. In fact I think its a big plus as it shows passion and commitment.</p>
<p>For example I desire to go to med/dental school. Here are my Extracirccular activities.</p>
<p>2 years of pre-med club
2 years of key club
250 hours volunteering at a hospital
Internship at the American Lung Association 1 year+ 1 summer
Summer Job at a hospital
Research project relatong to neuroscience</p>
<p>i see what you mean, i am just worried that it might be seen as a con in the sense that it is not so balanced.</p>
<p>The people who have balanced extracircular activities are those who do it just to add things to their application. It doesn't look good but make sure your courses are balanced.</p>
<p>well in my opinion...its important for most kids to centralize their courses in the field that they're interested in obviously..... but since most kids in the US r almost obssesed with community service then its important to show that ur not just GRADE ORIENTED but that u take part in the community too!</p>
<p>well in my opinion...its important for most kids to centralize their courses in the field that they're interested in obviously..... but since most kids in the US are almost obssesed with community service then its important to show that ur not just GRADE ORIENTED but that u take part in the community too, especially if you take part in a foreign one!</p>
<p>It is not really that important. Some people get accepted because they are well-rounded and excel across the board and others get accepted because they are great at a particular thing. Just pursue what interests you and you can't go wrong.</p>
<p>I got into Harvard this year and I am definitely more of the well-rounded type than the specialist, but I know several Harvard students who are there because they were extremely good at one or two things.</p>
<p>The best way for most people to seem stellar is to choose one thing and work their ass off at it to the exclusion of almost everything else when it comes to extracurriculars. I'd say you're in good shape.</p>
<p>Hexalingual? That's amazing! :D</p>
<p>My sister majored in int'l relations and I'm thinking about it, although my list of EC's isn't like yours at all. I'm not in MUN or debate or anything, although I feel like I should be. Our MUN and Mock Trial team is really messed up though, the teacher basically chooses the people he wants, and let's just say that he's a little sexist in his decisions.</p>
<p>Also keep in mind that what high schoolers are interested very often changes dramatically once they are well established in their undergraduate careers.</p>
<p>About potentially changing my major..i doubt it. And even if i do deviate from the topic at hand, namely int. rels., i wont go far away. Probably towards linguistics or history. But that has always been my passion and through MUNs, mentorships and so on, I have come to see the true nature of int. rels. and it is for that reason that I am so adamant about my major, because I know all about it.</p>
<p>Something that has "always been my passion" when you are 18 years old (or so) can change when you go to a place that is a life changing experience. It may not be from IR to biochemistry but you will grow intellectually in ways you probably can't imagine at this point in your life. And this (ability to be open to new doors) may well be something that admissions committees are looking for.</p>
<p>As I said, I would probably tap into other areas, most likely linguistics and history. And in my courseload I have included higher level chemistry and math (in IB) because I love them all. Actually, math is one of my favorite subjects and I have indeed been contemplating a double major (either in chem or in applied mathematics) but I have always loved international relations. Why do you consider it to be so definite, the fact that I wanna major in this and i might actually stick to it?? I've seen many people who were adamant as well, and that turned out just fine. Why cant somebody have a consolidated opinion simply because they love something?</p>
<p>I really dont understand why you question it. And i highly doubt that age has to do with that (to such a great extent).</p>
<p>"Being adament" is probably not what you want to be. Passionate, yes! My comments are just based on the (amazing) progression of interests of my kid and my kid's friends at Harvard over the past 4 years. As for age, I just believe that at 18 one can't begin to appeciate all that is in store for you (and that's a good thing). For example, as a high schooler, I hated history. Guess what I ended up majoring in?</p>
<p>First of all, there is no need to be rude, especially based on an honest typo...</p>
<p>What I am saying is that I do have other options, but what I will state as my major in the Harvard application is this..international relations. And I also think that you should not predicate your evaluation upon your son's changes of interest..different idiosyncrasies cannot be compared.</p>
<p>I really don't see a point in this debate, and I have not really seen your opinion about whether or not it is viewed as a good thing or a bad thing. Please reply only if you are willing to discuss this amicably.</p>
<p>Sorry, I mean to be rude!!! I hadn't even noticed the typo; perhaps that says something about my qualifications to respond! :>) </p>
<p>I think it's great that you might put international relations as your major and I think it is great that you have such fine qualifications to back up that choice. I guess that the point I was trying to make that there is a "Je ne sais quois" (sp?) about Harvard admissions that I think that is hard for high schoolers to appreciate - Harvard is looking so much at what you are going to grow to be, not just what you have accomplished. (And that is something you have to convey in your application.) </p>
<p>And I really don't think my daughter and her friends are terribly idiosyncratic for Harvard....</p>
<p>Oh, i didnt even realize that the typo was yours..i thought it was mine and you were quoting it...</p>
<p>I understand what you were saying and thanks for the evaluation...and btw, i did not mean idiosyncratic in a derogatory manner, i meant it as the unique traits and characteristics of me and your daughter as two different individuals..</p>
<p>Ah, i just looked it up...i was thinking in Greek. See, there is a slightly different meaning in Greek, which is the one mentioned above, rather than the "peculiarity of somebody" as it said in my dictionary.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you!</p>