Washington Post reports: Colleges Want Passion, Not Well Rounded

<p>Fortasse, see my post #98. </p>

<p>Some of S's friends who are now at MIT were on the school's science team. The Team seldom made it past state, and most years, not even that. But they were dedicated and I'm sure it showed in their applications, list of ECs, and essays. Not every MIT admit was an IMO or USAMO or Intel finalist, went to RSI, patented an invention at 15 or did something extraordinary. S's friends are excellent students, love science, are a great fit for MIT but not superheroes (there are some of those, too, at MIT). If you are dedicated and focused, that is the most important thing.</p>

<p>Fortasse, it is ALLMUSIC, all the time, in my house. My son shows an unusual passion and proclivity for music, and plays in numerous bands, orchestras, ensembles, duos, trios; he also teaches, takes multiple lessons on multiple instruments, and does community service in music. It really is passion, with a capital P. And he really, really loves it.</p>

<p>I will say most other extra curriculars have fallen to the wayside, as a result of this passion. But it's all good, because I have a very, very happy kid (which really is most important of all).</p>

<p>

Good for him! :) Good luck with the rest of high school and college admissions!</p>

<p>Thanks, Marite. Sometimes I'm a little overwhelmed with some of the stats/feats I see, and it's good to know dedication can go a long way.</p>

<p>marite, You make good sense. However, you did mention the personal essay. And I am wondering, since there aren't many "clubs" for his particular passion in classics, how would he go about showing or unfortunately, "proving" to adcoms that this is infact his passion and he does it well? To what extent can you express your passion so that adcoms will understand in your essay?</p>

<p>For example, for someone who is passionate in history, but has little means around his community to exercise that passion, or to participate in it, how can he be a viable cannidate for a top school who is looking for people who arranged $5000 fundraiser dinners for the president and their cousins? </p>

<p>I'm sorry for the exaggerations, but I hope you guys understand what I am talking about. It seems to me lately that passions are defined by what is available in your school clubs, when in fact many times (such as in my case) there are no clubs which are remotely related to my passion, and there is little interest for it either.</p>

<p>For someone who is passionate about history, there is the National History Day competition. You can also write an essay talking about the particular themes in history that excite you. </p>

<p>For classics, as I suggested, there is the National Latin Exam. But a student can also write about what it is about learning Latin that excites him/her, what experiences s/he had along the way. A student does not have to belong to a club to show passion. S/he can write about tinkering in the family garage on some experiment; or the joy of getting a difficult bit of translation right, or the insights gained in reading Greek plays. Berurah's s made his own opportunities by approaching a local scientist and getting her to agree to mentor him. </p>

<p>As I've said elsewhere, passion may not be the right word. Commitment, dedication, enjoyment. Those are what adcoms look for. finally, it would be wrong to suggest that all applicants must show passion for ECs. Adcoms do understand that many applicants have to work, usually at menial jobs since they are teenagers.</p>

<p>well said marite. I do think I understand a little more.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, I only learned about NHD this summer :( I'm going to participate this year though, as a junior.</p>

<p>As for classics, interesting. I never thought of those essay topics, I am sure they can be applied to similar things then, things that you haven't necessarily participated in a "club" for though you are still committed, and dedicated.</p>

<p>A-san,</p>

<p>What state are you in? If you are interested in Classics, see if your state belongs to the National Junior Classical League. You can always start a club or just join as a member at large (that's what my son did originally). I hear colleges are a little suspect of people who put down Classics as an interest, so make sure you can back it up with online classes, classes at a local college, talking your school into proctoring the National Latin Exam. My son started his school's JCL chapter and has run it for four years. He's also taken a college course in Ancient Rome and a two day continuing education seminar on teaching Latin. There are many ways to show your interest in Classics. Go to ncjl.org for links and ideas.</p>

<p>
[quote]
For someone who is passionate about history, there is the National History Day competition. You can also write an essay talking about the particular themes in history that excite you.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Back when my passion was history I got our school to add two new history courses to the offerings. I also tried to write a historical novel for my senior year project. I know kids who add historical mods to the Civ 4 game. You get your history teacher to write your recommendations. You might tutor kids in history.</p>

<p>Our county historical society has several unpaid summer internships available for high school students. There might be similar programs at a historical society or history-themed museum in your area.</p>

<p>To those who replied to my comment: </p>

<p>Regardless, I can still see college-crazed kids living their lives in a certain way so they can get into a certain college, which is a shame. Do what you want to do!</p>

<p>When I first started reading CC, one of the things that struck me right off the bat was the use (and overuse) of the word "passion." Students post questions like "how can I show passion in my EC's?" While there undoubtedly ARE students who are truly dedicated to one thing or another, this whole passion thing seems to be just one more requirement that students feel they now need to achieve or prove for college admission. Are interest, curiousity, enthusiasm, etc never enough? Are their parents and most other adults held to the same expectations that they are at 17?</p>

<p>"Are interest, curiousity, enthusiasm, etc never enough? Are their parents and most other adults held to the same expectations that they are at 17?"</p>

<p>Most colleges care only about grades, courses, and possibly scores.</p>

<p>Very few colleges care about passion. Indeed, few even care about interest, curiosity and enthusiasm. </p>

<p>Most people aren't expected to have passion for academics, their job, etc. The same is true of what is expected from most college applicants. It's only the most competitive colleges that seek passion.</p>

<p>This thread really made a lot of sense considering my past history. I went to a good public high school in the Northeast (graduated 2005), top 10%, 1480 SATs, took APs, and was involved in a TON of EC's</p>

<p>Student Body President
State Qualifier-Forensics
Editor of Lit Mag
Editor of Sports for School Newspaper
9 years of cello
3 varsity sports/ field hockey, lacrosse, indoor track/ (but never a captain or anything)
Environmental Club
National Honor Society
French Honor Society
President of Young Dems
Ski Club
Ultimate Frisbee</p>

<p>So:</p>

<p>Rejected from an ivy and top 5 LAC
Waitlisted by two top 25 LAC's
Accepted into 3 state schools (honors programs)
Accepted into 3 private larger schools (NYU, Fordham, GW)</p>

<p>So that said, I'm pretty much going to agree with the article. For state and larger schools, it doesn't really matter. But for the ivies and LACs, they really seem to be looking for focus. It's a shame though, I really don't think that 6 year olds are really ready to begin a lifelong passion for botany or the flugelhorn when what they should really be doing is exploring the world around them. Our decisions we made when we were in single digits shouldn't determine the rest of our lives (or the thick envelopes on April 1st).</p>

<p>Where did you go, Deerp1875? Are you happy where you are?</p>

<p>deerp1875's post reminds me why my son needs those safer schools on his list. I'd also like to know where you ended up and how you're liking it.</p>

<p>I ended up going to Penn State University in the Schreyer's Honors Program. The big school thing ended up being a really good choice for someone like me who as you can see had a lot of crazy interests. I like it a lot actually, which is surprising considering my top choice was a tiny LAC when I applied to colleges. For bethievt, for your son's safeties, I just wish I'd made an effort to find ones I would love as much as I did for my good match and reach schools. I think people really overlook trying to find a safety that fits them as well as their first choices and (as I can tell you haha) college admissions are a crapshoot. My biggest advice is make sure you love EVERY college on your list. I know a lot of kids who just applied to a safety that took the common app, it's the only school they got into, and ended up really disappointed.</p>

<p>Thanks deerp, he chose 2 safeties from 7 we visited. They are not as much a match in quirkiness, but he loved their International programs and knows he could make an excellent program for himself at either school. You are one of those students I would expect to get in "anywhere" and you did get into a great program, if not every one you wanted. I actually believe we end up where we need to be, to meet the people we need to meet, etc. Enjoy!</p>

<p>no. they want both.</p>

<p>A funny thing can happen on the way to building that beautiful list of ECs.
With the right perspective, all the community service, sports and music can create good people, not just good applicants, who are passionate about justice and politics and soccer and Mozart and oil painting and religion and computers and movies and cooking and friends and corpus collosums (or however you spell it).
With some balance from the dear parents, and this is where I have to work hard, the kids can learn too that they can't do everything, at once, right now. Maybe they'll learn to balance and focus those passions themselves, without our intervention. Before they go away to college.
At least that's my most fervent hope, for my DD and myself, as we slog through HS junior year.
If my daughter doesn't learn that balance by 18, maybe she'll learn it by 40. And maybe I'll learn it by 50.</p>

<p>I get into the discussion quite late, huh? I want to read the whole article presented in the first post <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15773980/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15773980/&lt;/a> but it got expired. Someone please post here again, thank you.</p>