What to do if your kid is - gasp - well-rounded?

[Anonymous]

Are there any colleges/universities that look favorably on a well-rounded kid these days? Excels in range of subjects (but mostly math), high rigor coursework/high test scores, sporty, awards in debate and entrepreneurship but nothing national level, some student leadership, loves being involved at school, lots of volunteer hours, well-liked by teachers. But wouldn’t naturally develop pointy areas just for purposes of developing an application narrative. He thinks that’s phony.

[Anonymous]

Community colleges love profiles like this.

[Anonymous]

Sadly, there are none

[Anonymous]

That’s what I figured. Community college it is, then. Thanks PP!

[Anonymous]

literally any college outside the most absurdly selective?

[Anonymous]

Yes…about 3950 colleges do.

It’s only like the top 50 (including SLACs in that 50) that care about much more than grades and test scores and the kid seems to do other good things with their time.

[Anonymous]

Flagships. T20-T60.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Flagships. T20-T60.

Among T20, Rice and JHu are exceptions, if you got high stats.

[Anonymous]

OP here, that’s helpful. Will college counseling at a reasonably well-resourced private know how to direct a kid like this in selecting schools to apply to? Coursework, grades, and test scores will indicate a higher range of possible than what sounds like is actually possible.

[Anonymous]

Crazy responses. Someone like that has a decent shop at top schools. Not HYPSM but good schools. The pointiest kids are often awkward and well rounded kids help establish a great campus community.

[Anonymous]

They should. There is no reason not to have some high reaches. If you are full pay, that’s “pointy enough” for some schools these days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are there any colleges/universities that look favorably on a well-rounded kid these days? Excels in range of subjects (but mostly math), high rigor coursework/high test scores, sporty, awards in debate and entrepreneurship but nothing national level, some student leadership, loves being involved at school, lots of volunteer hours, well-liked by teachers. But wouldn’t naturally develop pointy areas just for purposes of developing an application narrative. He thinks that’s phony.

What do you mean? Elite colleges covet well-rounded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, that’s helpful. Will college counseling at a reasonably well-resourced private know how to direct a kid like this in selecting schools to apply to? Coursework, grades, and test scores will indicate a higher range of possible than what sounds like is actually possible.

If this is a feeder then it changes many things. Mediocre ECs with high stats will do fine. Anything is possible except for HYPSM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, that’s helpful. Will college counseling at a reasonably well-resourced private know how to direct a kid like this in selecting schools to apply to? Coursework, grades, and test scores will indicate a higher range of possible than what sounds like is actually possible.

apply broadly, keep expectations in check, love a "safety"
Good luck!
That's it.

[Anonymous]

“Pointy” hasn’t been a thing in about 10 years.