NPR story on Harvard's Asian bias

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
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I’ve no idea why swimming competitively should even be worth mentioning compared to being competitive in academic competitions, seeing as how swimming offers no substantive contributions to society and frankly doesn’t demonstrate any unique qualities you couldn’t find out of, say, the robotics team - winning the IMO or even an essay writing contest probably require even more hard work and discipline than swimming, and clearly greater aptitude that is relevant to university.

Charities and leadership positions are more substantive, but frankly a lot of “well rounded” activities are just resume padding techniques.

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Why would academic ECs be discounted?

RMIB, I.m not sure you understand the full range of things kids can get involved in and how those can show a breadth and depth, willingness, adaptability, perspective and more. You keep focusing on depth in one field. And stats or something hierarchical, like winning over others. And you apparently don’t understand the efforts put into swim team and what sports, in general, can represent.

Don’t be fearful of “well rounded.” It’s a good thing, as long as the efforts aren’t some scattered list of whatevers.

This isn’t so much about getting into a most competitive because you were a great student in your hs, HRSMom. It’s about showing what they feel will make you a great college student. And great isn’t solely measured in college GPA.

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People have pointed out that academic EC’s may be viewed in a “one dimensional” light.

Yeah, you keep ignoring the actual arguments I brought up in favor of vague generalities. What I pointed out was:

  1. Academic achievements predict a greater potential to benefit society than being able to move your body through water really fast.
  2. Academic achievements will better predict a student's ability to handle the coursework in university.
  3. Academic achievements frequently require more hard work and discipline because they are not typically as entertaining, or as socially rewarding.
  4. None of the benefits you've pointed to these athletic and other trivial EC's are *unique* from what academic EC's can provide.

Being well rounded is good; so being good at a lot of academic subjects is definitionally being well rounded.

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@lookingforward not sure if that last part was for me, as I didn’t comment on being a great hs student, or getting into a competitive school. I agree with what you are saying. No argument here!

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