<p>I wonder if, at a top magnet, where many of her peers are likely very competitive, if she is worried her top 5% position is not secure. Her friends may be aiming for more weighted classes, over the next two years, and she could be concerned her standing could actually drop. </p>
<p>A lot of this still depends on where she might be applying to college. If she’s thinking of a tippy top, the competition in her own hs is also a factor. Maybe the GC will discourage all but a top few or so from applying to any given highly selective school. Her dance level will certainly help show her as a rounded and interesting, committed person, but the others may have their own depth of engagement, in their own interest areas, as well as breadth. Unfortunately, this is one of the down sides to a highly competitive hs. If you don’t think she’s looking at highly selective colleges, it does change things. </p>
<p>On CC, when folks talk of “passions,” I’m not sure they dig into how a passionate interest in something is supposed to translate. Adcoms don’t necessarily want to see that one activity you doggedly pursue- maybe supplemented by a few hs clubs and the mimimun easy volunteer things. They also want to see how you make choices, how you get engaged more broadly, beyond your own particular gratifying interests, etc. Their mission has as much to do with fostering their own community, getting kids who’ll try new things, take on challenges, get involved in activities and causes, have some sort of impact. </p>
<p>So, my concern would be: what’s she aiming for and what’s the rest of the story?</p>