<p>My son goes to a small public school in texas. he has good grades (3.9+), good Scores (35), and generally a good application in terms of quantative things. His concern is about how he looks to the top schools that really emphasize the "one passion, one thing" idea that like to see students who go overboard on one or two things other than thinning themselves out. his worry is that he doesn't have that. for example, a person with a music thing who joins all sorts of music related clubs, does music related ECs, does fundraisers, does music at school, etc looks better than a person who is spread thin. He isn't a world famous researcher nor is he a My son doesn't have tht in anything necessarily. he is in a few clubs who he is committed too. he has leadership positions in every club he is part of (every one of them he has been with for atleast 2 years). Outside of school, his main focus is on community service. He does alot of work with a youth council where he has been a part of for years and has leadership and awards. on top of that, he has joined a community service cultural group where he has the same as above. I know that leadership and community service can't be tht passion that colleges want to see. I just wanna hear what people have experienced in the past in terms of how colleges look at the above.</p>
<p>Why can’t his passion be community service? It looks like that’s where he spends his time. Ask why he spends so much time on community service. I suspect you’ll find his passion in the answer to the question.</p>
<p>Your son sounds fine. His list of ECs won’t nearly be as important as his rec writers’ anecdotes of him and his character. Don’t chase the other resume padders – mostly who come off as soulless and formulaic. If your son truly is a hungry learner and engaged, it’ll be attested to in his recs. Good luck.</p>
<p>Anyone else please??</p>
<p>Did you notice how many posts T26E4 has? T26E4 is an alumni interviewer for a top ivy – and if he says your son’s list of EC’s are fine, they are fine. </p>
<p>I think you and your son should relax . . . besides there’s really nothing your son can do about it now anyway. He just needs to send his applications out into the universe and see what happens.</p>