How can introverts be successful in the college admission process?

[Anonymous]

I've been an Ivy interviewer for a while. Kids with no extracurriculars are not really in the running. Ivies see extracurriculars as evidence of motivation. There are, however, many ways to have extracurriculars.

If your son prefers independent study projects, make sure he submits them for some kind of third party evaluation. The suggestions about essay contests are good, but top colleges are looking for evidence of commitment, continuing participation, and increasing mastery. Science projects submitted to Siemens and Intel are great, and papers submitted to the National History Day competition or the Concord Review are nice. Perhaps he'd like a job in a lab. If he likes the classics, there are Junior Classical Leagues.

He should do something with his summers. The Ivies actually like kids who get real jobs.

[Anonymous]

On the other hand, having loads of extracurriculars that don't fit and appear just slapped on to beef up an application also aren't so compelling.

My DS, a total introvert with few extracurriculars (but those he did he was very committed to) got into all the schools applied to, and is now at an Ivy. The issue isn't really introversion, I think, but recommendations and sense of commitment to something.

[Anonymous]

hmm..unless I'm missing something my concern is for the kid and less about his college. the presentation of nothing in common with kids his own age, a loner, stays at home, had me wondering about a basic evaluation from a mental health professional to check the box on whether there might be other issues? maybe this has been covered by the school--just asking the question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Charisma and popularity count for a lot in this world. Sadly, sometimes more than intelligence, work ethic and ability.

Very true. Sad, but true.

[Anonymous]

"He is bright and serious about his studies,"

I would not fret about anything. He will excel wherever he goes to school as long as his interests are engaged. You don't need an ivy league education to be exceptional and happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:hmm..unless I'm missing something my concern is for the kid and less about his college. the presentation of nothing in common with kids his own age, a loner, stays at home, had me wondering about a basic evaluation from a mental health professional to check the box on whether there might be other issues? maybe this has been covered by the school--just asking the question.

1. yes, focus on the kid for the reasons you mention
2. seriously talk with kid about whether an interview is a good idea, and perhaps avoid
3. if you are thinking of the child and think a mental health evaluation might be a good idea, why not do it regardless of school admissions. I would not, however, raise it on an application. See 2.

[Anonymous]

Extracurricular activities are often used to overshadow bad or mediocre grades and sats.

[Anonymous]

All of these posts are very helpful. But, the bottom line here is that introvert or not, and I'm not suggesting you change the child, but some degree the child has got to take the initiatiive and demonstrate an interest in progressing his educational career. You can set up all the ECs, counselors etc. you want but he has got to demonstrate a real interest in the process and getting into the school of choice. You are only kidding yourself if you think otherwise.

[Anonymous]

But why do you assume an introvert is not interested in anything? Different dimensions of personality, it would seem.

[Anonymous]

If he's a serious kid who is highly intelligent and can function in a mature fashion then he doesn't have to join high school clubs - he can volunteer at a farmer's market, soup kitchen, etc., and work among adults. Adults love well-spoken and reliable teenagers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If he's a serious kid who is highly intelligent and can function in a mature fashion then he doesn't have to join high school clubs - he can volunteer at a farmer's market, soup kitchen, etc., and work among adults. Adults love well-spoken and reliable teenagers.

Agreed but he has to do SOMETHING.

READ the Ivy League recrutier post above.....if you do nothing ....you are not in the running.

[Anonymous]

I also do interviews for an Ivy League school. One thing I would suggest, especially for introverts, is to make sure they're comfortable holding a conversation with adults. This is acheived by practice, and doesn't have to be about "deep" topics. I'm going to write the best reports on those with whom I've had the most interesting conversation, even if it's about something fairly trivial.

Make sure they can look the interviewer in the eye, have a balance between being able to steer a conversation and allowing someone else to speak, and have worked on removing some of the annoying verbal tics out of their repertoire. Again, this is best achieved by practice throughout the child's life, not by coming up with preselected, canned responses. It's not about the kid who is trying to blow smoke up my a** -- I've got a good BS detector -- but the one who is thoughtful and can get their point across.

I don't ask a lot of hardball questions, and I'm not given, nor am I supposed to ask for, transcripts or brag sheets. I'm not going to write a negative review based on one misstatement. In fact I'm probably going to be favorably inclined to someone who can recover from something. I'm also looking most for the answer to the "why" questions - why you enjoy something - rather than a list of what you do. I've had a bunch of candidates for whom when I've tried to get at the "why" of any issues, it seeps from every pore that "it's what I'm supposed to do".

[Anonymous]

I've had a bunch of candidates for whom when I've tried to get at the "why" of any issues, it seeps from every pore that "it's what I'm supposed to do".

Oh God, yes!! It's really sad. I interview for an Ivy and have the same experience about 8 times out of 10.

[Anonymous]

Look, the honest truth here...which no one has been willing to say...until now...if this kid is such an introvert.....he simply is not Ivy material. Those schools are looking for someone who is willing to make a contribution to the school. They are turning down kids with perfect SATs all the time becuase they do not offer anything ...other than their scores.

If you apply to an Ivy with nothing to show but your grades and you're unable to carry on a conversation....I'd direct my time and attention elsewhere....if you don't do it voluntarily they willl.

[Anonymous]

But an introvert can be intellectually curious and pursue his/her interests with zeal. As a former admissions officer, I saw many kids like this who were quite successful in college applications. In fact, they were often more successful than the kids described by some PPs as loaded up with extracurriculars for which they have no real passion (an overused term, I know -- my apologies, but I"m writing fast here). Selective colleges aren't looking for a class full of team captains and club presidents (and I say this as the parent of 3 kids who were exactly that and who did quite well in college admissions), they also need a few poets, a few history geeks and a few kids who will live in the lab until they get to the bottom of whatever they're chasing. The thing is, though, grades alone will not demonstrate that kind of commitment. Entering contests is a good idea, but even that doesn't nececessarily show a sustained pursuit of a goal. That's what distinguishes succesful applicants in a pool full of top GPAs and test scores.