<p>Hey everyone,
Many people on CC need to read the book "How to be a High School Superstar" by Cal Newport. People just try to do too much. For example, here is a list of Extracurriculars that I saw posted on a Yale chance thread:</p>
<p>"Extracurriculars:
Temple City Voice Newspaper: Joined Junior Year, Assistant Editor
Junior Statesmen of America: Joined Sophomore year, Current Convention Director on Chapter, Current Vice-Mayor of Angeles Region
Rubik's Cube Club: Joined sohpomore, Activities Director Junior Year, Current President, also currently ranked 192 in the nation for fastest solve
Model UN: Meeting Director and attended one Conference at UCLA.
History Club: Joined sophomore, PR Officer Junior Year, Current President
Chess Club: Joined Freshman, Current PR Officer
Founded the Ocean Science Bowl Team at my school and Directed Science Bowl team my junior year. Founded the Quiz Bowl Team at my school Senior year
Trading Card Game Club: Joined Sophomore, Vice-President Junior Year, Current Vice-President
Speech and Debate: Joined sophomore, Acting Director of TTI Forensic Academy Junior Year
Tennis: Co-Captain Sophomore and Junior Year, Played Singles 1, 2, and 3. Led team to CIF Div. 2 Quarterfinals Freshman/Sophomore Year, and CIF Div. 1 Round of 16 Junior Year
Individual Doubles went to third round of CIF Finals.
Computer Programming: Member of Temple City High's Zero Robotics Team hosted by MIT that requires C-Programming.
Violin: Member of Euphonic Young Musician's Orchestra, which participates in a charity concert every year, Member of Private String Quartet which plays for weddings, member of Honors Orchestra of Temple City which won Unanimous Superior in my Sophomore and Junior Year.</p>
<p>Awards:
Tennis: Won Rio Hondo League Individual Doubles 3rd Place Freshman and Sophomore Year
Won Rio Hondo League Individual Doubles 2nd Place Junior Year
Won Rookie of the Year Freshman Year and Shot of the Year Junior Year
Won four satellite tournaments, two open doubles tournaments, one one open Singles Tournament
Community Services: Won Youth Teaching Services Award at FAITH United Methodist Church
Speech and Debate: Second Place California Lutheran Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Four Best Speaker Gavels in JSA, 5th Place Ramona Museum Speech Contest (50 dollar scholarship)</p>
<p>Summer Activities
Intern at Center for Asian American United for Self Empowerment Junior Year
Intern at Kaiser Permanente Hospital Fontana Junior and Senior
HSPDP Parliamentary Debate Camp at Claremont McKenna College Junior Year
WSDC Parliamentary Debate Camp at Claremont McKenna College Senior Year (auditioned for Team USA, not sure if I got in yet.)
Georgetown Summer School Session II: Speech and Political Communications"</p>
<p>Here is the reply that I gave to the person:</p>
<p>"You have a very impressive list of activities. BUT that's all it is. A list of activities. It's a list of activities where you did a lot and did get some awards, but it doesn't show interest. The only thing that I think you truly care about is Tennis, and maybe Debate.</p>
<p>Yale see's many kids that are sleep-deprived their four years in high school to build up a list like yours.</p>
<p>What they want to see is someone who goes above and beyond. This person spends most of their free time on this activity. They love to do this activity, and would choose it over browsing the web or watching TV. It's their (Forgive me for saying this word, but I couldn't find a substitute) PASSION. These will be the people that will choose this passion as a career and then make changes to the world. These people don't care about getting awards; the awards come as a result of their time and TRUE interest.</p>
<p>These are the people Yale is looking for. If I was to compare you to the average High-School student looking to apply to Yale, you are simply fantastic. But if I was on the admissions committee, I would say "This kid did a lot, but didn't care about it."</p>
<p>It's better to be focused on one activity than to be a Jack-of-all-Trades. Many people think that all colleges, including the Ivy Leagues, look for well rounded people. This is a play on words. They look for a well rounded CLASS made up of FOCUSED people.</p>
<p>This was just my take on your application. Good luck! "</p>
<p>Adding on to what I stated above, I will give a quick summary of one part Cal Newport's book (Forgive me Cal ). First off, follow the law of under-scheduling. What this means is that you will never be able to find an interest and pursue it if you are taking 8 AP classes and are involved in Tennis, Baseball, XC, Debate team, and robotics. You MUST drop some of these activities.</p>
<p>Many student might react with shock when they first hear that you must do less in order to be more impressive. Cal then goes on to give examples of students that followed this rule and got into the Ivy League, MIT, Stanford, and others. There was an example that I recall. This guy (Maneesh) dropped many AP's and activities, and even got his school to let him go home after lunch, around 11:30.</p>
<p>He would go home and do what he loved; Computer Programming. His true interest led him to write a best selling book on computer programming. He is now a student at MIT. Many readers think "He probably had to do more work than the over-achiever to write a book like that!"</p>
<p>Maneesh himself admitted that he spent ( I don't recall exactly) around 4-5 hours a WEEK. He was so laid back that he even gave the book to the publisher 1 YEAR after it was due. Now Maneesh didn't start computer programming because he had plans to write a best selling book a few years down the line. He had the true interest.</p>
<p>Find something that truly interests you, but don't think about the awards. Your interest might be as crazy as dressing up as a unicorn to go deep sea diving. But it's your interest. Do what you love, and the awards will come tumbling after.</p>
<p>Thanks for your time. If this gets positive feedback, I will continue to add more thoughts.</p>
<p>Oh, and everything on this thread can be applied to ANY college, not just the Ivy's.</p>
<p>P.S. I'm not an expert on the subject by any means. Heck, I'm not even in college yet. But I have read plenty on this subject, and have talked with even more people who know about this.</p>