<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>
<p>Lately I'm hearing more that well-lopsided students fare better in the admissions process. When you say you did music one year and politics another etc, are you saying that you quit the music stuff after your freshman year and changed to politics, then quit the politics stuff after that year, etc.? That would look like you were trying to create a laundry list of EC's, so you'll have to describe your love of a variety of things through essays, interviews, and recs. </p>
<p>If you just added new EC's but stuck to most of them for at least 3 years, then it shouldn't be too much of a problem. </p>
<p>The common saying is this: The supposed "myth" is that colleges are looking for well-rounded students, when in reality they are looking for a well-rounded student body. This simply means that the school's primary goal is to take in students that are strong in different areas, thus creating a school filled with "the best at..." students.</p>
<p>Yeah that's what I'm worried about. I kept most of my EC's. I had to give up a couple (one of the choirs, and the chamber orchestra) because I just couldn't fit them into my schedule. I'm doing the IB diploma, so basically I have one elective a year.
The internship, the study abroad, and the Dean campaign only lasted one year anyway, so I obviously couldn't keep those either. I've stuck with the rest of my EC's though.</p>
<p>I totally know how you feel. I'm a well-rounded guy (Science/math nerd who wrote for the litmag and takes a AP Studio Art), and I feel like I'm screwed for admission. </p>
<p>I had never heard of this "passion" requirement until this year. My college counselor took my well-roundedness for "can't commit to anything-ness." He said colleges want kids with an area that they are particulary committed to.</p>
<p>"Oh you play piano and guitar?" Yeah, but only recreationally. "You take Art?" Just for fun. "You run varsity track?" Just started this year. etc. He kept trying to take just one of the many things I do and make it my "passion."</p>
<p>Selective colleges are looking for interesting kids who do interesting things. Some are well rounded, some very focused. At any top college you will find many multifaceted kids -- athletes who are also musicians, musicians who are also political activisists, activists who are also actors etc, etc. The second question that the adcom asks (after can s/he do the work?) is what will this student contribute to the campus community? So having a couple of seemingly diverse interests is not a bad thing.</p>
<p>What the adcoms can smell a mile off is a pumped up, insincere resume padded with activities that the applicant thinks will help get him/her into college. </p>
<p>Your interests sound sincere and well, interesting. :) Don't worry about appearing scattered.</p>
<p>SomebodyNew - I hope you're right. All these people with passion for just one thing are the most boring people on earth. I want to be a Renaissance woman when I grow up.</p>