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

[Anonymous]

This is the kind of kid for whom "demonstrated interest" is key. Colleges are going less for on-paper achievements, and more for interesting and interested students. Get to know the admissions officer for your region. Attend any fairs at which top picks will be present. Sign up for applicant webinars, then GO, and ask questions.

I hear you that it seems phony to your kid to chase status points (and I agree!) so he should identify a few places he would genuinely like to go, and focus on them. Schools keep track of who is engaged, and those kids have an edge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

That is the truth.

[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.

I believe it's possible that a kid can make a great case for a top choice reach. But not for 5 "top choices" among 20 apps total.

[Anonymous]

Lots of kids are well rounded but selective in what they mention on their application. He doesn’t have to mention every single thing. The issue with too much scattered stuff is that rather than well rounded you risk being forgettable or interchangeable from a lot of other applicants.

[Anonymous]

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

They stopped being interested in porcupines. They are looking for unicorns. OP is not at porcupines level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:literally any college outside the most absurdly selective?

+ 1

This kid will have so many great options. They may not get into the very most selective schools, but they don't need the very most selective schools. Most state flagships, plenty of private schools, both LAC and R1 universities outside of the top 10 - 20.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

They stopped being interested in porcupines. They are looking for unicorns. OP is not at porcupines level.

Naw they just prefer brown and trans people, ideally first generation. And legacies and athletes. No Asians need apply.

[Anonymous]

I think any big state school could be a perfect fit.

[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.

They should!

You just have to know that the Top 10 is a lottery ticket/crapshoot/pick your metaphor.

[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.

Your public state college. Made for well-rounded kids.

[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.

Nope. Sadly there is nothing at the top and no scholarships for kids like this.
Ask me how I know. My 4.3, multiple state championship, IP, Nationally recognized athlete pales compared to the kid who does grades and "starts a nonprofit" and has parents who can afford high paid college counselors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

They stopped being interested in porcupines. They are looking for unicorns. OP is not at porcupines level.

Naw they just prefer brown and trans people, ideally first generation. And legacies and athletes. No Asians need apply.

LOL troll

You can’t explain 43% at MIT.

[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.

You have to ask the pointed questions, like you are here though.
What does he want to study? What type of atmosphere does he want (urban/rural or big/small)? Greek life? ECs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Nope. Sadly there is nothing at the top and no scholarships for kids like this.
Ask me how I know. My 4.3, multiple state championship, IP, Nationally recognized athlete pales compared to the kid who does grades and "starts a nonprofit" and has parents who can afford high paid college counselors.

For scholarships, you have to go down 1-2 levels. Everyone knows that.

[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.

Honestly, this sounds like a Dartmouth kid, provided he's also outdoorsy.
If you haven't visited D, you should this fall and check out the Entrepreneurship center: https://magnuson.dartmouth.edu/
SLACs love this kind of kid too.

If Dartmouth isn't his thing, also check out:
Vanderbilt (esp given the leadership and debate)
Duke
Stanford (have seen more "star" academic kids without spikes recently, and they LOVE their interdisciplinary entrepreneurs with multiple skill sets)
Rice
WashU

If you are at a private school, look at the kids who were admitted to these and other schools from HS. Did they have a spike? Which ones had no spike? Your kid might actually know.

If you answer a few questions on entrepreneurship, it might become evidence that that's a mini spike.