What’s more desirable on college application?

[Anonymous]

1) Invest your time in some super duper extra curricular activities, like mountain climbing, diving, being Eagle Scout, President’s Volunteer Service Award

+ not the best GPA

2) Invest your time to get the best GPA
+ non earth shattering extra curriculars like competitions, olympiads, clubs, etc.

[Anonymous]

Whichever your kid is actually interested in is the right path.

[Anonymous]

It’s really going to depend on the kid and the college and what sort of GPA you’re talking about. But if a kid is aiming for the most selective schools, they absolutely need to be more than stats. They need to have GPA/test scores to make it through the first hoop, then they have to have all of the other stuff. You don’t need perfection to get through the first two. You just need really good. What “really good“ means is going to vary by kid, by high school, and by what colleges they’re interested in, but you get the idea. The extra stuff is critical for most selective schools and where the holistic review happens

[Anonymous]

Your examples of super duper aren’t super duper.

Better example is be a recruited athlete (for D1 school) and not great GPA.

High GPA in highest rigor courses will trump any activity you list.

[Anonymous]

To be a D1 recruited athlete into too you have to probably be the best in your sport in the state.

But you don’t have to be spectacular to, for example, get into Auburn. And what’s the point if you can get fairly easily into it anyway?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your examples of super duper aren’t super duper.

Better example is be a recruited athlete (for D1 school) and not great GPA.

High GPA in highest rigor courses will trump any activity you list.

I agree that those examples don't overcome a mediocre GPA.

[Anonymous]

all of above and still get rejected?

[Anonymous]

Both.

My kid had both and did very well.

Also high test scores.

It shouldn’t be one or the other.

[Anonymous]

You need both. And even then, may not be enough. So many high stats Eagle Scouts get rejected. If you are into cliff diving, have you invested in it? Are you ranked? Do you have awards? How does this tie in with you as a student/whole person? You can't just staple something on and make it fly.

Here are a few top tier school admitted students I know:
STEM magnet school. 4 unique ECs in stem and arts with regional and international accolades. Some arts activities had some relation to stem fields and others added to creative development, and kid tied that in. Got an occasional B, but GPA still very high and lots of rigor. Also high test scores and portfolios for 2 arts areas.

Public school. Athlete with recruitment potential for DIII and walk on for D1. 4.0, lots of APs, all 5s. Strong Visual art portfolio and regional awards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1) Invest your time in some super duper extra curricular activities, like mountain climbing, diving, being Eagle Scout, President’s Volunteer Service Award

+ not the best GPA

2) Invest your time to get the best GPA
+ non earth shattering extra curriculars like competitions, olympiads, clubs, etc.

It is not about GPA alone: you need good grades and hardest classes/course schedule. And you need ECs and good letters of rec. The courses and grades are the most important. Kids do have hardest courses plus highest GPA plus Eagle/equivalent, plus academic awards, plus near perfect scores. Those kids have the most successful admissions, among unhooked without a tragic story to write about .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your examples of super duper aren’t super duper.

Better example is be a recruited athlete (for D1 school) and not great GPA.

High GPA in highest rigor courses will trump any activity you list.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Hit post too soon.

Magnet school. 4.0 or close to it. Attended highly selective, nationally known summer program. International team competition. Excellent school leadership.

I also know a kid who had similar tier activities who did not get into T20s. There is so much more to admissions than the right data combo, be it GPA/test or ECs/awards. Essays, recs all play a roll.

[Anonymous]

It’s not really a matter of what is desirable but rather what is required to make it past the first cut and you really need both to do so.

[Anonymous]

Grades and scores matter first for T20, 30. Mine did just fine with average ECs.
If your kid cannot get those, pursue some crazy unique EC and maintain a A minute, B plus gpa..

[Anonymous]

Everyone wants to know the formula but there really isn’t one. What does exist is baseline expectations to stand even a chance of getting past the first round. Assuming not a recruited athlete this means the best grades, top rigor, best test scores and amazing ECs. But you can do it all and not get in. Therefore, I think the best advice is encourage your child to do their personal best but to follow their natural interests and play to their strengths so that if things don’t work out, they didn’t sell their soul. Even if your child isn’t a high stats kid, they still probably have their own version of a dream school and still there will be no perfect formula. Your child should be their genuine self and enjoy the journey. Kids today are under tremendous pressure and the expectations are harmful.