<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 in 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>
<p>he is right. admissions officers always say they are looking for a 'well-rounded class'. if u think about it, this is very different to a 'well-rounded person'</p>
<p>'Well-rounded class' would include 'well-rounded people'. I believe the Dean chap commented that one of three ways to get in was just to be a regular 'kid' who consistently achieves in a variety of things on a day-to-day basis.</p>
<p>"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."</p>
<p>If I were asked such a question, I wouldn't have answered it. Why? I think that my opinion might be viewed by the student as reflecting the admissions office's opinions, yet they may view the same applicant in a different way. </p>
<p>Indeed, an applicant's weakness may be something that the alum interviewer would know nothing about such as, for instance, an unusual abundance of applicants this year who have characteristics very similar to the student.</p>
<p>I also don't like the question. To me, the question implies that the student has been participating in activities and saying things in the interview with an eye on impressing Harvard, not following their own interests or revealing their true self. The question implies that the student's greatest interest is doing what's needed to fit into whatever the Harvard mold is instead of following their interests and then finding a college that will fit them.</p>
<p>"What is my weakness?" suggests that a student wants this info to change their behavior, and that's a problem when it comes to top colleges. If a student is interested in a variety of activities, they shouldn't try to present themself as passionate about only a couple because the student thinks that will make them look like Harvard material.</p>
<p>Incidentally, there certainly is a place in a well rounded class for well rounded students.</p>
<p>Hmm.. Maybe I phrased things in a wrong way. I really wanted to know how can I improve myself because I believe that there's always room for me to improve.
To Northstarmom: thanks for replying. Your response helped me get rid of some of my confusion about college admission.</p>
<p>I think that it's good to want advice on improving yourself. However, I don't think it's a good question to ask at a college interview that is designed to assess you for admission because your question could be taken the wrong way. When it comes to Harvard interviews, they are interviews in which the interviewer has to rate you afterward, and as part of that process will be comparing you to others. It's not like the college interviews that are designed to sell a student on a college or simply give the student info about a college.</p>
<p>Don't worry, though, about the fact that you asked the question. From what you've posted, it doesn't seem that the inteviewer took your question the wrong way.</p>