The good old' "passion question"

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>I had my Harvard alumni interview just recently and the things the alum. and I talked about really made me doubt my understanding of what kind of a person the college likes.
I'm a well-rounded student, ranking 5th out of a class of ~700 people. I'm also involved in many ECs. In grade 10, I founded an "immigrant club" dedicated to helping new-comers (I'm still running the club). This year, I'm organizing a school-building project in China. And I'm also a Student Union executive. Band (1st flute); jazz (piano), choir, MUN co-chair/multiple awards winner, cheerleading squad (grade 10)...
I asked the alum what's my weakness. He answered that although I'm so involved and do so well in everything, I don't have a focus. I.e. I haven't found my passion yet. What he said is somewhat true; however, I honestly do everything with passion even though I still don't know what field I'm going into in the future.
So here comes the question: do Harvard and other Ivies want someone who has already found a true passion for life? Is spending 20hr on 4 ECs worse than spending 20 hrs on 1 EC?</p>

<p>btw, my SAT scores are: SAT I 2230; SAT II 800, 780, 740. My essays were well-written. Teachers' recs are very good (overall top 5%/outstanding rated)</p>

2

<p>To me your passion seems to be helping people from other cultures. Running that immigrant new comer club for all of high school and helping to organize the construction of a building in China. I would try to combine those in your applications either in your short answer or your essay.</p>

3

<p>Oo ooops! Why do I have two identical threads?</p>

<p>Anyways, to collegebound: thanks for replying. I did write about my immigrant club in my short answer. And one of my essays is about how I understand my own multicultural background. I hope that'll really help me carry out the message I intended to send to the colleges.</p>

4

<p>That sounds good. I would not worry. I am sure your passion was reflected</p>

5

<p>lol. elfelf, I sit in the same boat as you do. I feel as though I has too much breadth in my application and not enough of a stand out focus/area of concentration. However, contrary to your interviewer, mine viewed it as positive and dubbed me as a polymath. He made some auspicious remarks that led me to believe that being well rounded in not a thing frowned upon in admissions. So i don't know.</p>