<p>Ditto (though I’m white as snow). IMO, this is the best approach: Let your kids do what they want, but they must do it avidly. My sister, for example, wants to be a fashion designer. Fine. But when my parents see that her portfolio hasn’t gotten bigger, they get upset. They talk with her art teachers and sign her up for AP art; they look for summer programs in design; they push her to design for a fashion show where she takes sewing lessons; etc. (And, for the record, two Asian students I met on my Harvard visit, one male and one female, were both aspiring fashion designers. So there’s something to the, “Be non-Asian,” mentality, even if it’s faintly racist/stereotypical.)</p>
<p>There is, of course, the risk that you scare them off of this “passion” by trying to force accomplishment onto them. (Though I think passions are superficial interests until they’re backed up by accomplishment.) But I thought the most poignant part of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother’s advice was that Asian parents assumed “strength rather than fragility.” Tell your sons that if they start to spook.</p>
<p>I’d also look towards some less traditional Asian routes for college. Research universities have their fair share of Asian science-types; LACs don’t, and your sons may have better luck with the elite LACs than with T20 universities.</p>
<p>Doesn’t seem to hurt the 2300-SAT, piano-and-tennis-playing Jewish applicants nearly as much.</p>
<p>And there are plenty of Asian kids who play other instruments or sports other than tennis - it doesn’t help if you don’t have the grades/scores to beat out the other top Asian applicants.</p>
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<p>Yeah, that’s why Jewish students make up the biggest % of students despite making up the smallest % of the US pop. and why these top schools are aggressively recruiting Asian students from Asia (meaning Korea, China and to a lesser extent Japan) while ignoring the lower/middle income Asian students in the US from other Asian ethnicities.</p>
<p>I am an Asian male and my upbringing, as well as my strengths/interests, are unconventional in MANY ways. Since I am currently a Junior, I do not have a definite answer for you. However, I am looking forward to sharing my story next year after the process is all over. This issue has been bugging me for a while now and I know it has also been bugging a lot of other people, especially with the recent exacerbation in the whole “Tiger Mom/Dad” issue.</p>
<p>As an Indian junior at my high school, many of my other Asian friends are taking what you may call the “overachieving path” by taking whatever 5.0 classes, clubs and organizations the school has to offer. While it may make them look like they are hard workers, it just seems, in my opinion, that they are being too try hard(trying to be stuck up to the colleges). I take many 5.0 classes and AP classes, but I choose what AP classes I want to take rather than randomly picking one just because it gives me high credit.</p>
<p>What I suggest is ask your sons when they go to high school what clubs and organizations interest them, and what sports or music interest them and encourage them to pursue that club(just like other posts). More so, let them choose a select few clubs(not over 5+ clubs), and push them to get really really involved in them. I myself made the mistake of joining some clubs I didn’t even participate in, and in the end its not worth just signing up for. What interested me most at my school was FBLA(Future Business Leaders of America), and then FIRST Robotics, because these clubs allow me to become involved in what my major deals with. </p>
<p>Also let your sons choose their own goals(although don’t let them stoop down into a community college). I set my goals too high and I was over confident, and that got the better of me, but I still have a great shot at other colleges. Do not get your sons over-hyped up over one goal when they do realize that there are thousands of other paths to choose.</p>
<p>I will tell you one person in my high school that got into Harvard. She was in the top 50, and wasn’t in lots of clubs, but her three greatest achievements came from her IMMENSE dedication to choir, NHS(National Honor Society), and FBLA. This set her apart because the usual top graduate only was involved in art for 1 year, National Honor Society, and all these honor clubs. Diversity matters A lot. I would urge you to stay away from clich</p>
<p>K&S: You just proved my point. Diversity. Chinese doesn’t equal Chinese-American.
And you obviously have some anti-semitism, so I’ll leave it at that.
Best of luck to your three kids Tigerdad.</p>
<p>There’s not much difference “diversity-wise” btwn Chinese and recent Chinese immigrants.</p>
<p>Let’s get real - the reason why these schools are chasing after students from China is due to $$$ (Do you think these students from China are more “diverse” with respect to their activities? More like the other way around).</p>
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<p>No, just pointing out the hypocrisy when it comes to attaching stereotypes to Asian students.</p>
<p>The exact same thing can be said for Jewish students, but people seem to focus on Asian students.</p>
<p>You, yourself, could be a bit more even-handed about throwing out accusations about being prejudiced.</p>
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<p>And as for this whole “passion” thing, yeah passion is nice, but it can also be manufactured.</p>
<p>Let’s get real, it’s mostly about “gaming the system” (assuming the applicant generally has the scores/grades).</p>
<p>I’m Asian. I want to do engineering for my major. I’m guessing that screams typical, am I correct?</p>
<p>Anyway, would being interested in engineering and literature be a hook? I’ve won some awards in both areas and it’s obvious those are my two passionate areas… Thanks</p>
<p>All of the Asians I know (I am also an Asian) who simply do things for college end up at decent schools. However, the kids that I know who truly follow their passions end up at amazing schools. </p>
<p>Let your kids find what they are passionate about and let them pursue it. Give them your wholehearted support.</p>
<p>I couldn’t agree more with digerati. If you’re Asian, and you love engineering, who cares if it’s stereotypical? If you’re truly passionate about it, you’ll do phenomenal and it will show. Also, if any Ivy doesn’t accept you there are plenty of other places you can get high quality education, and be happy too. </p>
<p>On a side note, I’m pretty sure all questions about race are optional.</p>