<p>I have found contradictory statements about what the ivies, Columbia specifically, are looking for in EC's. Do you think they want a well-rounded varitey of activities or outstanding achievement in just one area?
What do you base your opinion on?</p>
<p>Outstanding achievement in one area plus a variety of other activities, breadth and depth, would probably be best. However, the reason you're seeing contradictory statements about ECs is because people get accepted with just one, or get accepted with many, or get rejected with just one, or get rejected with many. Columbia's not looking for any one thing, I'd say, other than showing a real dedication to something. They're not looking for Person A who's in Key Club, NHS, Math Club, Science Club, Health Club and Chess Club just to be in them. Do something you love and do it well.</p>
<p>I have to agree with bird. Having a small number of clubs for all 4 years is much better than a whole bunch your last year. Judging from the ED decisions, it appears that Columbia is more focused on people who are genuinely interested in what they do than people who do a lot of random stuff.</p>
<p>definitely outstanding achievement in one area</p>
<p>u need some hardcore participation, showing your passion, for at least 3 years of ur high school career. They won't fall for the massive pile-on of EC's in the junior and senior year, when u realized that u dont have **** on ur EC plate, and u needed some to get into a legit school.</p>
<p>you need to have shown interest from the start, focused on a goal/passion, and followed through on that goal/passion throughout your entire high school career</p>
<p>I think their emphasis is more on the well-rounded class made of people who are outstanding in their areas rather than on the class full of supermen/women who are good at everything.</p>
<p>yes, they're make a well-rounded class, by choicing those who are excel in an area, not by choosing those who have dabbled everywhere</p>
<p>I agree with the previous posters--Ivies are more interested in genuine passion, commitment, and achievement in one or two ECs than they are in a long laundry list of superficial activities.</p>
<p>Of course, it gets annoying when people only do things that would look good to ivies, like sticking to something they hate, or starting a club</p>
<p>I remember the woman at my HArvard info session saying they seek lopsided people. SO much for striving to be balanced in life! Then Dartmouth stresses being well rounded...</p>
<p>Being well rounded is esentially the same as dabbling. What are you saying?</p>
<p>A student who is really excited about one thing or two will get other members of the class excited about it, will introduce someone else to a new thing, will make interesting things to talk about, interesting stories to tell, different backgrounds. Well-rounded people, well, yeah sure they're well-rounded, but a class full of well-rounded people makes not a well-rounded class but a homogenous, boring class. The interests should be really strong. That will make an interesting class. And it will make interesting discussions in the dorm rooms and as well as in the classrooms. Did I say "interesting" a lot? That's telling.</p>
<p>*theoretically/hopefully</p>