Is non-profit a must for admission to top colleges?

[Anonymous]

I noticed that many of the kids who were admitted to top colleges claimed to be the founders of non-profit organizations. I'm not saying this is a golden key to Ivy League admission, but is it now considered a must to be competitive for top college consideration?

[Anonymous]

It's a sham, is what it is. Lots of parents have the means and connections to help them start these orgs. Such a scam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a sham, is what it is. Lots of parents have the means and connections to help them start these orgs. Such a scam.

+1

[Anonymous]

No, it's not required, and the majority of kids get into top schools without starting a non-profit. However, most kids at top schools are hooked in some way or have exceptional ECs, such as national-level awards, competitive internships, and research that are equivalent to founding a non-profit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I noticed that many of the kids who were admitted to top colleges claimed to be the founders of non-profit organizations. I'm not saying this is a golden key to Ivy League admission, but is it now considered a must to be competitive for top college consideration?

We both alum interview; most are quick setups and a couple minor things. Not a good luck ImO.

[Anonymous]

I think colleges want to see kids who care about more than themselves. If their self- or parent-created non-profit is just a resume booster, it won't mean much. If the kid has done meaningful work trying to make the world a better place, they'll take notice.

(My kid is at a top 10 now and never started a non-profit, had a special internship, or did any resume-worthy research. But they did do a variety of advocacy work in HS.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a sham, is what it is. Lots of parents have the means and connections to help them start these orgs. Such a scam.

This. Lobbiest parents setting up nonprofits and hosting "work" parties for the friends (who get titles for it) is the ultimate dc parenting

[Anonymous]

If we can see through this BS, it's hard to believe the college admissions officers can't. Why these kids still believe this would give them an edge for college admission.

[Anonymous]

It used to work.

[Anonymous]

Yes, all the girls I know who were accepted to Ivies were magnet school kids with stellar academics who also founded non-profits and truly worked at them. They were not "fake".

The exception was a boy who was doing science competitions and did not found or work at a non-profit. He didn't win any big prizes, but he loved it and participated consistently, and was also a proficient musician.

College admissions officers are on the record saying that boys are generally favored in admissions (with the exception of a very few male-dominated programs), just because girls usually have better academic profiles than boys coming out of high school, so they must gender balance accordingly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I noticed that many of the kids who were admitted to top colleges claimed to be the founders of non-profit organizations. I'm not saying this is a golden key to Ivy League admission, but is it now considered a must to be competitive for top college consideration?

You are honestly thinking too 2016-21 here. It is now too widespread to make much of an impact on admissions unless your non-profit's impact is especially significant.
You need to think about things that will separate you from the pack. If the pack is doing it at close to the same level, it isn't going to matter much (which actually makes sense intuitively too).

[Anonymous]

You're late to the trend. It was a thing, then became overdone and done badly, and now is seen as pathetic. Except sometimes when it's not, and it relates specifically to the student's passion. "Passion projects" followed non profits as the golden ticket, but they're already crashing and burning. Except when they aren't.