I’ve always heard that it’s best to be not well rounded or pointy, but “star shaped”- don’t be severely lacking in any one aspect, but have several spectacular/dazzling “hooks.” @ucbalumnus is correct.
A way to be pointy is to have one very memorable, atypical EC – an “AND” that makes you stand out among thousands of equally-qualified applicants… I loved the CC thread in the link below because I believe that it hit on something important in admissions at highly-selective universities:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1797102-elite-admissions-finding-the-and-p1.html
Colleges love to brag about the interesting hobbies and talents of the incoming class. Stellar academics are, of course, necessary, but it’s the pointy EC that may get you admitted.
When we say pointy or angular, we aren’t saying you can have significant dips or trenches or low points in your app as well that is somehow “forgiven” because of your pointiness. Yes, you have to be a strong student across the board. That said, it usually isn’t enough for elite colleges, unless maybe you are legacy. And for developmental, all bets are off.
For unhooked applicants, to stand out, you will need some angularity no doubt. I disagree with Tigger’s Dad above, I think you CAN fill any unhooked spots with all angular students. Many, many applicants have stand-out qualities of some kind (or manufacture them) in their app.
@preppedparent - Whether you CAN fill any unhooked spots at elite schools with ALL pointy students depends on how you define “pointy” or, as you prefer to call it, “angular.” What you mean by pointy or angular may mean average well-rounded admit at these schools. What I mean by the same terms are those who stand out even among them. How many unhooked admits at each class of, say, HYPSM, are composed entirely of Intel ISEF winners, national and international music competition winners with Carnegie Hall and solo performances with professional philharmonics to their credit, delivered UN speech, a book out with major publisher, has a patented invention, etc. etc.? AND with their academic and test score base all covered, too? There aren’t enough of such admits to fill the entire unhooked class at each of these schools.
I agree wholeheartedly with @ClassicRockerDad! Far too many applicants try to focus on order to achieve something in the future (get into a particular school, go to the olympics, be a famous actor, etc), never get to " the promised land" and miss out on the life along the way. Worse yet, there are countless examples of people who have reached their destination and found no THERE, there (Josh Waitzkin, Phil Jackson, etc.). Being well rounded because you are enjoying what you are doing show you are enjoying the process, and that’s the key to a happy life. Certainly some “pointy” applicants do, but most miss today with focus on the horizon. All that said, the school doesn’t make you, your effort does. Good luck!
But if you are caught in the middle, trying to decide whether to try to present yourself as well-rounded or interesting, selective schools seem to say they lean toward interesting.
@Syrxis The Henry Ford model? It makes a firm efficient, the bigger they get, to have people specialize in a certain department/educational field.
That’s why BIG firms dry out a lot of employees. They pay well, but you’re literally doing 1 specific thing. In other word they would rather hire 6 people who are experts at each task than 1 person who can do 6 things.
While I’d agree with you, @vonlost, presenting yourself as well-rounded or “interesting” is a slightly different matter than being well-rounded or “pointy.” Presenting oneself as interesting is outside of already established accomplishments. If you look at a typical pointy candidate, the accomplishments have been long in the making and well established. For non-pointy candidates who “are caught in the middle,” so to speak, writing very interesting essays, for example, could prove to be the kind of presentation that could get them an edgy.
And that leads back to the OP’s concern, and it’s my opinion that there are ample opportunities for well-rounded candidates to land themselves at their dream schools. I’m aware of more well-rounded students attending elite schools than pointy ones from anecdotal evidences both personal and right here on CC.
Yes, @TiggerDad, different, but the same applies if trying to design yourself for admission, though I think we’d all prefer that kids choose schools that fit, rather than try to fit schools. But the selective school preference is still there.