Hi,
I’m just wondering - if I’m an applicant who aspires to the top schools without sports or music, do I have a chance? I’m Asian male too - ugh…affirmitive action… What if I have almsot no ECs in the Humanities and Arts as well? Or should I just look forwards to the local university? (As a sophomore, I’m really thinking about simply entering it next year and I will do so if I don’t forsee myself as having a chance to Caltech/MIT/UChicago). I’m not intent on Ivy but I’m applying anyway - although my main goals are Caltech, MIT, and UChicago.
Of course, passion in something is admired more than being the most well-rounded person. But still, colleges want people who are more or less well-rounded. I might be able to show passion in something but it’s still too early to decide (since I am still yet to see science/math awards or acceptances to research programs). If I only win a few sicence/math awards but manage to show that I’m doing as much research as possible while maintaining high grades and test scores, can I land at the top without sports or music? I’m in IB too - so there’s CAS hours (but will that be only seen as fulfilling a requirement, not doing any ECs on my own?).
One of the common adages of college admissions is that doing sports and music is unexceptional, because “everyone does those.” Yet, I’m not one of the “everyone.”
Thanks!