ECs limiting choices?

[Anonymous]

Reading about how well rounded kids are disfavored by top schools made me wonder how I should advise my DS. He's a rising sophomore, so nothing is set in stone.

Based on his grades and rigor, he is on track to be interested in the most rejective schools. He doesn't yet have any scores, but historically he's a strong test taker, so I believe that he is capable of top scores.

His main ECs are a robotics team that is highly ranked internationally (and even after 9th grade, he's a leader on the team) and an unusual individual sport. He's not interested in the majors that many of his robotics teammates are (CS, ME, ECE, etc) and is leaning more toward math or statistics or some sort of quantitative social science. He doesn't have time to add another high time commitment EC and he doesn't want to drop robotics. Has he ruled himself out of selective schools because his ECs don't "match" his intended major?

(I don't know what he'll do in the next two summers)

[Anonymous]

No but he should think about how to show SOME interest in math or statistics outside the classroom.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps check out opportunities for him to volunteer as a math tutor for underserved kids or work at a STEM summer camp over the summer? Or send some inquiry emails to local colleges' math departments asking if anyone is in need of a high school kid to assist with research/data entry? Both would be low time commitment during the school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reading about how well rounded kids are disfavored by top schools made me wonder how I should advise my DS. He's a rising sophomore, so nothing is set in stone.

Based on his grades and rigor, he is on track to be interested in the most rejective schools. He doesn't yet have any scores, but historically he's a strong test taker, so I believe that he is capable of top scores.

His main ECs are a robotics team that is highly ranked internationally (and even after 9th grade, he's a leader on the team) and an unusual individual sport. He's not interested in the majors that many of his robotics teammates are (CS, ME, ECE, etc) and is leaning more toward math or statistics or some sort of quantitative social science. He doesn't have time to add another high time commitment EC and he doesn't want to drop robotics. Has he ruled himself out of selective schools because his ECs don't "match" his intended major?

(I don't know what he'll do in the next two summers)

What is his HS like? He'll be competing against other kids, so if the other math kids are doing competitions all the time, he will need to stand out.
What type of quantitative social science is he thinking of?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reading about how well rounded kids are disfavored by top schools made me wonder how I should advise my DS. He's a rising sophomore, so nothing is set in stone.

Based on his grades and rigor, he is on track to be interested in the most rejective schools. He doesn't yet have any scores, but historically he's a strong test taker, so I believe that he is capable of top scores.

His main ECs are a robotics team that is highly ranked internationally (and even after 9th grade, he's a leader on the team) and an unusual individual sport. He's not interested in the majors that many of his robotics teammates are (CS, ME, ECE, etc) and is leaning more toward math or statistics or some sort of quantitative social science. He doesn't have time to add another high time commitment EC and he doesn't want to drop robotics. Has he ruled himself out of selective schools because his ECs don't "match" his intended major?

(I don't know what he'll do in the next two summers)

I'd probably apply to arts & sciences undeclared. And try and find a thread to unite all the ECs. Also, do things outside of school. Every single kid from our private who got into a T20 did impressive things outside of school clubs.

[Anonymous]

You are overthinking this.

Top grades/scores are the cutoff. Then essays at the top schools. They don’t care what you do as long as you do something.

My kid was well-rounded and did very well at T10s-20s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are overthinking this.

Top grades/scores are the cutoff. Then essays at the top schools. They don’t care what you do as long as you do something.

My kid was well-rounded and did very well at T10s-20s.

What major?

[Anonymous]

I'd read up on stuff and listen to podcasts. You have a lot of time!

https://www.koppelmangroup.com/blog/2025/6/16/math-extracurricular-activity-strategy-for-sophomores

https://www.koppelmangroup.com/blog/2025/5/28/data-science-extracurricular-activity-strategy-for-juniors

https://www.koppelmangroup.com/blog/2025/1/31/best-and-unique-data-science-extracurricular-activities

[Anonymous]

For top schools it's important to have some ECs that are related to choice of major or at least in the same basic area.

[Anonymous]

Is he good at his unusual individual sport? Is it me that is played in college?

How competitive is his high school? This is really one of the most important factors. It’s harder to stand out alongside many really high achieving students.