My child is very smart but doesn't do many extras, would this be a good reason to ephasize tests?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the OP’s child sounds very one-dimensional and really needs to get out there and do something to show that they care about others and the broader community. Without that, they are not going to get accepted into a top college.

This...also admissions officers want to see that a student can handle multiple activities AND maintain good grades. Any smart kid can get good grades and prep for SAT if they are only focusing on that.

PP again. Disagree. The days of needing to be a "well rounded student" are long gone. This kid clearly has strength and passion in tech, probably to a level that surpasses any available activity in his school. Doing real-world stuff that he created himself will make him stand out so much more than a kid who plays a sport and belongs to a few clubs. Also, he sounds like the kind of kid who perhaps won't need much prep to do well. I definitely wouldn't sacrifice any time in the business to do something 200 other kids at his school are probably doing.

Lots of good schools are going to take this kid on the basis of excellent grades and test scores alone. Many will also take a pass on him out of a concern that he will never leave his dorm room. It’s one thing to be “well rounded” and another to be totally introverted and self-centered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the OP’s child sounds very one-dimensional and really needs to get out there and do something to show that they care about others and the broader community. Without that, they are not going to get accepted into a top college.

This...also admissions officers want to see that a student can handle multiple activities AND maintain good grades. Any smart kid can get good grades and prep for SAT if they are only focusing on that.

PP again. Disagree. The days of needing to be a "well rounded student" are long gone. This kid clearly has strength and passion in tech, probably to a level that surpasses any available activity in his school. Doing real-world stuff that he created himself will make him stand out so much more than a kid who plays a sport and belongs to a few clubs. Also, he sounds like the kind of kid who perhaps won't need much prep to do well. I definitely wouldn't sacrifice any time in the business to do something 200 other kids at his school are probably doing.

Lots of good schools are going to take this kid on the basis of excellent grades and test scores alone. Many will also take a pass on him out of a concern that he will never leave his dorm room. It’s one thing to be “well rounded” and another to be totally introverted and self-centered.

I think that the idea of being well rounded and a good citizen is probably why grads are failing and racking up student debt. It should be focused on employability and making at least your tuition back in salary in 2-4 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the OP’s child sounds very one-dimensional and really needs to get out there and do something to show that they care about others and the broader community. Without that, they are not going to get accepted into a top college.

This...also admissions officers want to see that a student can handle multiple activities AND maintain good grades. Any smart kid can get good grades and prep for SAT if they are only focusing on that.

This is so true. Kids who spend all day in school and then do more academic activities after school are less impressive than kids who do totally different, non-academic activities after school. It’s just a fact of life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the OP’s child sounds very one-dimensional and really needs to get out there and do something to show that they care about others and the broader community. Without that, they are not going to get accepted into a top college.

This...also admissions officers want to see that a student can handle multiple activities AND maintain good grades. Any smart kid can get good grades and prep for SAT if they are only focusing on that.

This is so true. Kids who spend all day in school and then do more academic activities after school are less impressive than kids who do totally different, non-academic activities after school. It’s just a fact of life.

Depends on the kid, but it says a lot about you that you consider this a "fact of life" lol.

[Anonymous]

This is way more impressive than the bs stuff that I see most kids doing because it looks good. God, I wish my kid had that kind of motivation. Also, I’m so sick of the community service done for the express purpose of getting into college. If you genuinely like volunteering, that’s great. But I don’t think it really says very much about you either way considering the number of schools that actually make kids do volunteer work for graduation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the OP’s child sounds very one-dimensional and really needs to get out there and do something to show that they care about others and the broader community. Without that, they are not going to get accepted into a top college.

This...also admissions officers want to see that a student can handle multiple activities AND maintain good grades. Any smart kid can get good grades and prep for SAT if they are only focusing on that.

PP again. Disagree. The days of needing to be a "well rounded student" are long gone. This kid clearly has strength and passion in tech, probably to a level that surpasses any available activity in his school. Doing real-world stuff that he created himself will make him stand out so much more than a kid who plays a sport and belongs to a few clubs. Also, he sounds like the kind of kid who perhaps won't need much prep to do well. I definitely wouldn't sacrifice any time in the business to do something 200 other kids at his school are probably doing.

Lots of good schools are going to take this kid on the basis of excellent grades and test scores alone. Many will also take a pass on him out of a concern that he will never leave his dorm room. It’s one thing to be “well rounded” and another to be totally introverted and self-centered.

NP here. What an obnoxious comment! Being introverted is not synonymous with self-centered. Colleges are recruiting way too narrowly on the extroverted end of the spectrum. What you end up with is a campus full of insufferable “pick me” types. I hope OP’s kid gets in over yours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is way more impressive than the bs stuff that I see most kids doing because it looks good. God, I wish my kid had that kind of motivation. Also, I’m so sick of the community service done for the express purpose of getting into college. If you genuinely like volunteering, that’s great. But I don’t think it really says very much about you either way considering the number of schools that actually make kids do volunteer work for graduation.

I was wondering... whats' the harm of volunteering just for getting into college? Kids not having fun? Lots of kids don't like math, they still have to do it.

[Anonymous]

OP, I think his app sounds great. I don't think his activities call for some sort of different application strategy. Apply widely to reaches, matches, and safeties.

I would not say that other activities are essential, so he can leave things be if he prefers. However, aside from community service, if he wants to add an activity, another possibility would be a regular teen summer job. There is value in the experience of working for a business even if the type of work is unskilled (and even though he apparently is already running his own business). There is plenty to learn from others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is way more impressive than the bs stuff that I see most kids doing because it looks good. God, I wish my kid had that kind of motivation. Also, I’m so sick of the community service done for the express purpose of getting into college. If you genuinely like volunteering, that’s great. But I don’t think it really says very much about you either way considering the number of schools that actually make kids do volunteer work for graduation.

I was wondering... whats' the harm of volunteering just for getting into college? Kids not having fun? Lots of kids don't like math, they still have to do it.

Because it's done to show that you are "engaged with your community." But some people aren't engaged with their community. I don't volunteer. My husband doesn't volunteer. We donate some money to causes we believe in and I've done a little political stuff close to elections, but we're introverts. I don't think that's really relevant to going to college. You go to college to learn. It's perfectly okay to want to go to college to just learn about things and get prepared for the future. The volunteering stuff just adds more things to check off the list and more stress. Like I said, if you are the kind of person who is motivated to volunteer, that's great. But it doesn't mean you're Mother Theresa, especially when your school mandates it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is way more impressive than the bs stuff that I see most kids doing because it looks good. God, I wish my kid had that kind of motivation. Also, I’m so sick of the community service done for the express purpose of getting into college. If you genuinely like volunteering, that’s great. But I don’t think it really says very much about you either way considering the number of schools that actually make kids do volunteer work for graduation.

I was wondering... whats' the harm of volunteering just for getting into college? Kids not having fun? Lots of kids don't like math, they still have to do it.

Because it's done to show that you are "engaged with your community." But some people aren't engaged with their community. I don't volunteer. My husband doesn't volunteer. We donate some money to causes we believe in and I've done a little political stuff close to elections, but we're introverts. I don't think that's really relevant to going to college. You go to college to learn. It's perfectly okay to want to go to college to just learn about things and get prepared for the future. The volunteering stuff just adds more things to check off the list and more stress. Like I said, if you are the kind of person who is motivated to volunteer, that's great. But it doesn't mean you're Mother Theresa, especially when your school mandates it.

It’s not about being Mother Theresa. It’s about being minimally social. Residential colleges should favor students who are likely to take advantage of being on campus to meet each other and do things together. There are plenty of commuter schools and online schools for people who just want to do coursework without getting to know their classmates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is way more impressive than the bs stuff that I see most kids doing because it looks good. God, I wish my kid had that kind of motivation. Also, I’m so sick of the community service done for the express purpose of getting into college. If you genuinely like volunteering, that’s great. But I don’t think it really says very much about you either way considering the number of schools that actually make kids do volunteer work for graduation.

I was wondering... whats' the harm of volunteering just for getting into college? Kids not having fun? Lots of kids don't like math, they still have to do it.

Because it's done to show that you are "engaged with your community." But some people aren't engaged with their community. I don't volunteer. My husband doesn't volunteer. We donate some money to causes we believe in and I've done a little political stuff close to elections, but we're introverts. I don't think that's really relevant to going to college. You go to college to learn. It's perfectly okay to want to go to college to just learn about things and get prepared for the future. The volunteering stuff just adds more things to check off the list and more stress. Like I said, if you are the kind of person who is motivated to volunteer, that's great. But it doesn't mean you're Mother Theresa, especially when your school mandates it.

100% agree. I think volunteering is overblown, in schools and in workplaces. Do it like any other activity or hobby. Contributing to the society (yes agreed everyone must do it), but everyone has different way - donate money to charity is equally good!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the OP’s child sounds very one-dimensional and really needs to get out there and do something to show that they care about others and the broader community. Without that, they are not going to get accepted into a top college.

Disagree. I think OP’s child sounds pointy and interesting. Admissions are tiring of the “well rounded” kids who do things just for the sake of their college app.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the OP’s child sounds very one-dimensional and really needs to get out there and do something to show that they care about others and the broader community. Without that, they are not going to get accepted into a top college.

This...also admissions officers want to see that a student can handle multiple activities AND maintain good grades. Any smart kid can get good grades and prep for SAT if they are only focusing on that.

PP again. Disagree. The days of needing to be a "well rounded student" are long gone. This kid clearly has strength and passion in tech, probably to a level that surpasses any available activity in his school. Doing real-world stuff that he created himself will make him stand out so much more than a kid who plays a sport and belongs to a few clubs. Also, he sounds like the kind of kid who perhaps won't need much prep to do well. I definitely wouldn't sacrifice any time in the business to do something 200 other kids at his school are probably doing.

Lots of good schools are going to take this kid on the basis of excellent grades and test scores alone. Many will also take a pass on him out of a concern that he will never leave his dorm room. It’s one thing to be “well rounded” and another to be totally introverted and self-centered.

NP here. What an obnoxious comment! Being introverted is not synonymous with self-centered. Colleges are recruiting way too narrowly on the extroverted end of the spectrum. What you end up with is a campus full of insufferable “pick me” types. I hope OP’s kid gets in over yours.

I didn’t equate being introverted with being self-centered. I said this kid’s profile suggests that he’s both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the OP’s child sounds very one-dimensional and really needs to get out there and do something to show that they care about others and the broader community. Without that, they are not going to get accepted into a top college.

This...also admissions officers want to see that a student can handle multiple activities AND maintain good grades. Any smart kid can get good grades and prep for SAT if they are only focusing on that.

PP again. Disagree. The days of needing to be a "well rounded student" are long gone. This kid clearly has strength and passion in tech, probably to a level that surpasses any available activity in his school. Doing real-world stuff that he created himself will make him stand out so much more than a kid who plays a sport and belongs to a few clubs. Also, he sounds like the kind of kid who perhaps won't need much prep to do well. I definitely wouldn't sacrifice any time in the business to do something 200 other kids at his school are probably doing.

Lots of good schools are going to take this kid on the basis of excellent grades and test scores alone. Many will also take a pass on him out of a concern that he will never leave his dorm room. It’s one thing to be “well rounded” and another to be totally introverted and self-centered.

NP here. What an obnoxious comment! Being introverted is not synonymous with self-centered. Colleges are recruiting way too narrowly on the extroverted end of the spectrum. What you end up with is a campus full of insufferable “pick me” types. I hope OP’s kid gets in over yours.

This 100%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child is very intelligent and tests very well.

SATs are going to be very high but we don't have many extras to submit

furthermore he has built businesses on roblox selling games, hiring people, creating backend servers etc. how can we showcase this and does that help offset lack of extras?

How are his grades OP? That's the #1 factor. His ECs are excellent. List them in the activities section or weave them into his essays. For example, if he's applying for Computer Engineering, talk about why the target school's CS program is great and how he was inspired by something prof.XX did and incorporated it into building his servers, etc. His ECs are waaaay more valuable than the cookie cutter debate, model UN, sports ECs that most kids have.