Well-Rounded or Well-Lopsided?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I am so confused. Do colleges want people who are "well-rounded" or "well-lopsided" (i.e. they are devoted to one thing)? I'm interested in all kinds of stuff, so I tried to explore one new area each year of high school....not for college admissions, but just because I though it was a good time to branch out before I had to commit to a major in college. Freshman year I was really into music (two choirs, cello, chamber orchestra), sophomore year I got into politics (Young Democrats, Howard Dean campaign), junior year I spent abroad in India, and this year I'm going to do a medical internship. I've had a great time doing all this stuff, but I'm worried that colleges are going to look at me and be like "Psh...she tries too hard. REJECT!"</p>

<p>Will they appreciate the fact that I'm well rounded, or will they view it as a poorly-executed attempt to stand out in the admissions process?</p>

2

<p>Most colleges, or atleast LACs, want a well-round student body, not well rounded students. That means you have to stand out.</p>

3

<p>.....So these things don't make me stand out?</p>

4

<p>i think it's good to have ONE thing you are committed to AND have a couple of other things you enjoy doing. so i think you are fine.</p>

5

<p>I think colleges used to prefer the "well rounded" candidate, but have since transitioned to the "well lopsided" candidate as you call it.</p>

6

<p>It really depends on the college. HYPS tend to want to see the lopsided so they can have the well-rounded student body. LAC's tend to be more open to a student with your background and varied interests.</p>

7

<p>:(</p>

<p>Yale is my first choice.....</p>

8

<p>I know Columbia, for one, is looking for "egg-shaped" students: students who do well in many or all areas, but specialize in one specific area.</p>

9

<p>Sorry. I think this is insane. It's like they want people who have already picked their majors and know exactly what they want to be when they grow up. After college, I'm going to have to pursue one career path for the rest of my life. Why should I neglect other opportunities simply to get a head start on that path?</p>

10

<p>It's not necessarily a career path but more an indicator of high level accomplishment in at least one area. Obviously this high level of accomplishment doesn't come after a year or two of involvement, therefore the dedication to one area for some length of time. At our local high school the first student to be admitted to Harvard in several years was not in the top 3 % of the class in terms of GPA but had won numerous musical awards at the state level and had won some medals for rowing.</p>

11

<p>I almost always stick with the activities I pursue. I had to give up one choir and orchestra because I couldn't fit them in my schedule, and the Dean campaign and the India program were only one-year stints anyway. I do, of course, have other extracurriculars in which I have participated throughout all of high school, such as debate, political activism, community service, and music. I just like to try new things as well.</p>