Are any colleges interested in good students who are NOT joiners?

[Anonymous]

Do good grades and long-term commitment to only one activity count for anything these days? My son is not a joiner. He's not interested in student council or leadership positions. He's a good student and has friends, but he's fairly cerebral and likes his alone time. In short, he's kind of an introvert like me.

I don't want him to have to change who he is just to rack up points for his college resume, so we haven't pressured him to do any activities he's not truly interested in. We feel that the main point of school is to learn and do well academically, and anything else is fine but not necessary. I'm wondering if there are colleges who would be happy to find kids like my son, who don't jump through all the requisite hoops just to look good on paper. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

[Anonymous]

Colleges look at grades first then leadership. Just joining a bunch of clubs is meaningless.

[Anonymous]

Yes there would be colleges. But if he's hoping to get into a school that reflects his level of academics, he's going to be going against kids who all have similar grades as him, even if he's at the top of his class. So if you have 3 kids

1.. your son. Very intelligent but not involved in anything
2. Very intelligent. Captain of sports team and involved in student council all 4 years
3. Very intelligent and has dabbled in about 15 activities but hadn't committed to one

Which kid do you think the spot is most likely to go to?

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately this country places enormous importance on being extraverted and highly energetic. As if these somehow correlated with intelligence and critical thinking.

I agree that selection committees see right through the "joining a bunch of clubs" thing, but do appreciate a long-term commitment to a specific activity. It's even better if that specific activity has led to some kind of national or state-level renown.

[Anonymous]

True comments above. However remember that the admissions process is flawed and subjected.

[Anonymous]

So TRUE! Hopefully the complaint by the Asian American Asso. Will make a change.
This is why UMD made such a mistake 15 years ago
Alumni here.

[Anonymous]

It is complicated. Minorities need to be less so. European and Asian Americans much more so and to much higher standards.

[Anonymous]

You won't change who he is, op. And who he is is fine. Make sure he writes good essays, as we all should.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes there would be colleges. But if he's hoping to get into a school that reflects his level of academics, he's going to be going against kids who all have similar grades as him, even if he's at the top of his class. So if you have 3 kids

1.. your son. Very intelligent but not involved in anything
2. Very intelligent. Captain of sports team and involved in student council all 4 years
3. Very intelligent and has dabbled in about 15 activities but hadn't committed to one

Which kid do you think the spot is most likely to go to?

ShE didn't say nothing. She said 1 activity. Most schools would take #2 first, then #1. Joining everything is OUT these days.

[Anonymous]

So true PP this is why I will not go to a minority whom I think may be a product of minority standards _ much lower

[Anonymous]

The entire admissions process is broken and until a rational system is set up it will continue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is complicated. Minorities need to be less so. European and Asian Americans much more so and to much higher standards.

You have a habit of changing the dynamic of any thread you go on. Please try and stick to the subject.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes there would be colleges. But if he's hoping to get into a school that reflects his level of academics, he's going to be going against kids who all have similar grades as him, even if he's at the top of his class. So if you have 3 kids

1.. your son. Very intelligent but not involved in anything
2. Very intelligent. Captain of sports team and involved in student council all 4 years
3. Very intelligent and has dabbled in about 15 activities but hadn't committed to one

Which kid do you think the spot is most likely to go to?

ShE didn't say nothing. She said 1 activity. Most schools would take #2 first, then #1. Joining everything is OUT these days.

I think that was PP's point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is complicated. Minorities need to be less so. European and Asian Americans much more so and to much higher standards.

You have a habit of changing the dynamic of any thread you go on. Please try and stick to the subject.

+1

[Anonymous]

I'd hate to think my daughter's admission to a good school would turn on whether or not she was in Key Club in HS.

Thirty years ago, I was accepted to Syracuse Engineering with zero ECs (no sports, no clubs; I worked an after school job). I was only in the top 15% of my class (40th in a class of 250) and took no SAT prep. I seriously doubt that would be the case these days. Grade inflation had made everyone chase meaningless ECs to help distinguish themselves and it's gotten ridiculous.