What do colleges mean by "passion"?

<p>Everything I read about getting into a high-end college/university mentions the word passion. I think I have a different view about this subject than a lot of people. My passions are dance and music. I now love to do both just for my enjoyment. I used to do competitive dancing (I won some awards), but I didn't like it so now I take dance lessons for the heck of it. I used to be involved in state band and marching band (won a bunch of awards in each), but now I just take lessons on violin because it is soothing and sounds beautiful.
By these standards (just taking dance and music lessons), it sounds like I could do much more with what I love because other people that like music are heavily involved in multiple bands, and other dancers participate in professional shows. It seems like on paper to an admissions officer, I don't have things to which I dedicate myself. However, I love what I do and what I do is enough for me. I guess what I am asking is are what I do 'passions' or just things to pass time from the eyes of admissions?</p>

<p>Yes, what you do are passions. Obviously adcoms like to see multiple years and hundreds of hours dedicated to an activity, but if you don’t have that, use your essays to show your passion.</p>

<p>“Passion” is highly overrated, and the word is so overused in the context of coloege admissions as to be clich</p>