Do smart kids without extracurriculars get into top schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If this is a high stats kid, isn't she the definition of "spiky"? the kid who is focused on one thing?

No. At this tier of school, everyone has high stats. Specialized magnet or DE classes coukd be somewhat helpful, but many applicants have these. The kid will want more tangible ways to demonstrate a spike -- awards, portfolio.

There are plenty of great schools for which high stats alone recommend a student. But, for top tier schools, high stats are kind of the base, since so many applicants have them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Frankly, this kid seems refreshing for not getting caught up in the BS activities around them. Except for a few, most kids are doing activities for college so kids who like writing and art who are not caught up in the rat race may end up being happier. So many useless non- profits are shut down as soon as the kid gets into college.

Except there are plenty of kids who have developed portfolios, submitted for competititons, have had their work displayed or read somewhere, for poets, had a reading, etc.

So sure, she can make the claim, but there are thousands of other applicants who will have some way of accounting for it.

There is no way these kids who are in multiple activities as captains, presidents, etc. are actually doing much of anything along with a rigorous course load and lots of AP. They show up, do the minimum and that's it. (said as a mom of an overloaded kid)

Speak for yourself. Lots of kids (mine included) do far more than the minimum in their activities. Of course, not everything is top priority all the time, but mine definitely don't phone in tge minimum-- how can you even do that as captain?

+1 Mine as well.
It is one reason that our college counselor suggested that if you put in the hours to volunteer, follow the steps to get the PVSA or Congressional Award. Then people know you really did the hours and didn't pad them or make them up entirely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My friend has a daughter who has always been smart and gifted. Family never pushes her to do anything she doesn’t want to do. She has no extracurricular activities besides enjoying writing and drawing. I don’t think she has any competitions or awards. Both parents attended public state schools.

Can a girl like this get into any top schools? UVA?

Probably not a T10, but a very good school, certainly. IMO, the brightest kids resist behaving like trained monkeys and follow their own paths, so they do not always jump through the right hoops and get into top schools. One of my friends decided her unfortunate child, who was then about 8, was going to go to a top school. She consulted one of those admissions corporations, and they came up with a plan for this poor child. She did exactly what she was told for years but didn't enjoy any of it. She played two sports, became a Gold Star Scout, and engaged in student council. Hated all of it, but plodded along as programmed. She was bright but not exceptionally so and is rather unimaginative. Her "natural" ACT result was about 30, which caused much alarm. The poor child was dragged off for hours and hours of SAT/ACT coaching and, after several attempts at taking the test, managed to raise her ACT to 35. A lot of money and a miserable childhood got her into a top school, and she actually did reasonably well there (she graduated cum laude).

Your friend's family is doing the right thing. They're letting their daughter enjoy her youth and develop her own interests. She can get a wonderful education at a relatively unacclaimed school, especially if she joins an honors program. Perhaps she should look at "good but not great" LACs, where she will get lots of individual attention. I don't know her stats, but UVA may be within reach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Frankly, this kid seems refreshing for not getting caught up in the BS activities around them. Except for a few, most kids are doing activities for college so kids who like writing and art who are not caught up in the rat race may end up being happier. So many useless non- profits are shut down as soon as the kid gets into college.

Except there are plenty of kids who have developed portfolios, submitted for competititons, have had their work displayed or read somewhere, for poets, had a reading, etc.

So sure, she can make the claim, but there are thousands of other applicants who will have some way of accounting for it.

There is no way these kids who are in multiple activities as captains, presidents, etc. are actually doing much of anything along with a rigorous course load and lots of AP. They show up, do the minimum and that's it. (said as a mom of an overloaded kid)

My kid does 3 sports and is in the most rigorous academic level. Does he occasionally get a B? Yes. Does he have something after school every day and on the weekends? Yes. I don't tell him to do this.

[Anonymous]

My DC had zero impressive activities (national awards, team captain, non profit etc.) but very high stats, high class rank and great essays - admitted to two top 30ish schools including UVA.

[Anonymous]

Mine got into a top SLAC applying ED.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC had zero impressive activities (national awards, team captain, non profit etc.) but very high stats, high class rank and great essays - admitted to two top 30ish schools including UVA.

UVA seems to care less about ECs than some schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are uber competitive and that mean person. Not everyone strives for what you consider a top school.

We have a smart kid, lots of activities but we hope for our state school as that is what we can afford to pay college and graduate school without any debt. See how that works.

Not everyone has a state school. See how that works?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Frankly, this kid seems refreshing for not getting caught up in the BS activities around them. Except for a few, most kids are doing activities for college so kids who like writing and art who are not caught up in the rat race may end up being happier. So many useless non- profits are shut down as soon as the kid gets into college.

Except there are plenty of kids who have developed portfolios, submitted for competititons, have had their work displayed or read somewhere, for poets, had a reading, etc.

So sure, she can make the claim, but there are thousands of other applicants who will have some way of accounting for it.

There is no way these kids who are in multiple activities as captains, presidents, etc. are actually doing much of anything along with a rigorous course load and lots of AP. They show up, do the minimum and that's it. (said as a mom of an overloaded kid)

Not true.

[Anonymous]

My kid does 3 sports and is in the most rigorous academic level. Does he occasionally get a B? Yes. Does he have something after school every day and on the weekends? Yes. I don't tell him to do this.

+1, though swap out one sport for a PT job. Based on the admissions we know about, it seems schools are looking for active kids, taking rigorous classes who earn a few B's. Not one of my DC's private school friends lied about their ECs. That's a pathetic, try hard move. However, they laugh about the clubs they want to start or efforts to be elected club leaders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Frankly, this kid seems refreshing for not getting caught up in the BS activities around them. Except for a few, most kids are doing activities for college so kids who like writing and art who are not caught up in the rat race may end up being happier. So many useless non- profits are shut down as soon as the kid gets into college.

Except there are plenty of kids who have developed portfolios, submitted for competititons, have had their work displayed or read somewhere, for poets, had a reading, etc.

So sure, she can make the claim, but there are thousands of other applicants who will have some way of accounting for it.

There is no way these kids who are in multiple activities as captains, presidents, etc. are actually doing much of anything along with a rigorous course load and lots of AP. They show up, do the minimum and that's it. (said as a mom of an overloaded kid)

Speak for yourself. Lots of kids (mine included) do far more than the minimum in their activities. Of course, not everything is top priority all the time, but mine definitely don't phone in tge minimum-- how can you even do that as captain?

My impression of the "captains" on my kid's team last year was that they didn't really do anything beyond "be on the team" and "be a popular upperclassman". Didn't hear about them doing anything outside of regular practice and games. What do your kids do as captains that's beyond the minimum?

I'm not being snarky, I'm genuinely curious.

[Anonymous]

Universities outside of the US don't pay much attention to extracurriculars-- Cambridge, Oxford some Canadian schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My friend has a daughter who has always been smart and gifted. Family never pushes her to do anything she doesn’t want to do. She has no extracurricular activities besides enjoying writing and drawing. I don’t think she has any competitions or awards. Both parents attended public state schools.

Can a girl like this get into any top schools? UVA?

No.

ECs are very important.

However, you can get into the Canadian schools. They're very upfront. Every major and program of study will have different requirements. But they straight up say these are the minimum grades and test scores. If you don't have them, don't bother. But you can look up what it takes to get into McGill or U of T or Queens or whatever. It's very major specific. Every major will be different. And they really don't care if you did a piano recital.

Not as familiar with UK schools, but think it's probably similar.

[Anonymous]

Almost daily:
Get on the group text and hype teammates up for game/practice. Relay messages from the coach to the team.

Game days: talk to the school about morning announcements to get someone to announce the game and get fellow students to attend. Organize pregame warmups. Put something on the team instagram (a Game Day post.)

Post game: Also post to Instagram (results, individual goals, photos.

End of season: organize a card and gift for the coaches.

It's not a lot, but it's not nothing.

[Anonymous]

^^^ sorry, that was in response to this:

"My impression of the "captains" on my kid's team last year was that they didn't really do anything beyond "be on the team" and "be a popular upperclassman". Didn't hear about them doing anything outside of regular practice and games. What do your kids do as captains that's beyond the minimum?

I'm not being snarky, I'm genuinely curious."