What extracurricular activities are more important to get the kids into top colleges?

Parents Forum
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[QUOTE=someone with a numeric id I can’t remember]
Does anyone have an opinion on whether a student who has a long-standing passion (performing arts), and devotes all spare time to successfuly competing in and performing in several aspects of this passion, is making a mistake by not dropping something to add community service to the mix?

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I’ll echo another post on this thread by saying that community service opportunities probably exist with a close relationship to just about any passionate pursuit. For example, the performing-arts student could arrange performances at nursing homes or children’s hospitals… or start a benefit concert/revue/exhibition… or volunteer at a summer arts camp sharing the joy of performance with young or disadvantaged kids. If the student is involved in “several aspects of this passion,” he may already have the connections (with directors, teachers, and other students’ families) that can make this happen if you help him keep his ear to the ground.</p>

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<p>Community service may also give a person the chance to extend what they know WAY beyond what they could learn in the classroom. Non-profits are often eager for an extra set of hands for those “dream projects” that generally require funding. Someone with good sklills and hard work can make a real difference.</p>