How to create a “spike”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is a spike? Did you just invent this term?

No, OP didnt invent this term. It's been around for several years now.

[Anonymous]

I am NOT recommending this book - I have not read it and I think the very concept is a nightmare.

But this book answers OP question:

What High Schools Don't Tell You (And Other Parents Don't Want You to Know): Create a Long-Term Plan for Your 7th to 10th Grader for Getting into the Top Colleges

https://www.amazon.com/What-Schools-Other-Parents-toKnow/dp/0452289521

In order to succeed in the fiercely competitive college admissions game, you need a game plan—and you have to start young. In this empowering guide, Elizabeth Wissner- Gross, a nationally sought-after college “packager,” helps parents of seventh to tenth graders create a long-term plan that, come senior year, will allow their kids to virtually write their own ticket into their choice of schools.

Parents should start by helping their kids identify their academic passions, then design a four-year strategy based on those interests. The book details hundreds of opportunities available to make kids stand out that most high school guidance counselors and teachers simply don’t know about or don’t think to share. This indispensable guide should be required reading for any parent whose child dreams of attending one of the country’s top colleges.

Again, I disapprove of the idea of this book and offer it up at your own risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't invent their passion

Pretty sure most of the Ivy admits invented their passions, or their parents, or their expensive college counselor from NY whom they hired in upper elementary did

Nope. We are squarely middle class and couldn't afford a counselor. Both at Ivies with multiple T10 admits. I shared my love/knowledge of arts, helped brainstorm on activities, and acted as chaffeur. There were things my kids couldn't pursue because we just couldn't afford it. There were times when I said that if they wanted to stick with something, they needed to make more of an effort practicing if we were paying for pricey lessons (and getting a discount from the teacher), but that they didn't need to stick with it if they didn't want to. I gave them ideas on how to take their talents out of the box a little, but they chose what they wanted to pursue.

Oh ok, well besides your perfect kids that are the exception, there are plenty more that had actives and hobbies highly curated by parents and paid help

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here’s a hopefully helpful post for you, OP. I have twins finishing their first year in college. When they were applying, one was very spiky and the other was a generalist. Sounds like you may have one of the latter, and that’s great! I’d have your kid lean into doing a breadth of activities at a contributor level (eg the school play, a rec sport, volunteering at the library), one activity at a leadership level (eg treasurer of a club) and then get a real job every summer. Then maintain rigor and high GPA, study for and do well on SAT/ACT. Finally, cultivate good relationships with a few teachers, coaches or other adults who can write personal and specific recommendations. That’s it! Forget the spike, it’s too late if it hasn’t revealed itself by now. My generalist is at a T5 school. Good luck to your child and enjoy the next few years; they go quickly!

Thank you for this. I have a spiky, intense DC who is graduating this year, and heading to a school that appears to be a very good fit for them. I also have a younger DC who a generalist, and I truly appreciate the calm, thoughtful, and balanced advice here.

[Anonymous]

You hire a $20,000 college coach to market your kid. Sad but true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A parent generally cannot manufacture a spike. It is something innate with the student, a passion that they are obsessed about - debate, coding, football, whatever, something they truly excel at.

Does playing fifa on the Xbox count? My kid is very spiky at that.

OP - I have a kid who gets great grades, will have a ton of APs, plays his sport at the travel and high school level but not going to be recruited, plays his instrument well but not at any type of competitive level and is generally a lovely kid. He has no “passion” and we can’t fake one. He also doesn’t have a ton of personal drive - that may develop as he is only a sophomore but probably not in time for the college application process. So, he will apply to a wide variety of schools and see where he ends up. I think he would be able to handle a T5 school (like his sibling) just fine. But probably can’t convince a T5 school that they should take him. Which is their loss. Let your kid be. She will find her way. I know mine will.

Your kid is my kid's cosmic twin. And your philosophy and mine have a LOT in common! You can't manage a kid into having a different personality or a different set of interests. You can demand the delivery of a certain quantity of time or work, or require membership in a certain set of activities, but to what end? To produce a miserable postadolescent who doesn't feel that they know themselves or that who they are isn't good enough? I've known college students who were only doing what their parents wanted. They ranged from conflicted to miserable to resigned. Not the kind of adult I want to raise no matter how much money they make.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have a problem with "We".

But you cannot create a spike where there isn't one, OP, not at the end of 9th grade. If she chooses to focus intensively on one aspect of her life, and ends up in the fall of 12th grade with several pieces of evidence that she has progressed to at least a regional, if not national or international level, then great! But how likely is it?

Most kids with a splinter skill were preparing for it, whether they knew it or not, years before high school. They had the conditioning to go far in their sports, or the music background to win major competitions, or the STEM knowledge to do well in Robotics or Math or Science events.

Also, schools ranked 30-50 are as selective now as higher-ranked schools used to be a few years ago.

So don't even think about T20. Think about building the best possible profile to open as many doors as possible. Maybe it will be a lower-ranked school, with merit aid and a nice Honors dorm. If that happens, you should be happy.

What is a “splinter skill”?

Ninja

[Anonymous]

Why is everyone being so rude. It's a simple question. Either you can give some advice, or you can sit back and learn, or go somewhere else. How do you pick a winning lottery ticket? What strategies have worked recently?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is she most excited about?

Finally, someone nice. Thank you. She is passionate about music, STEM (particularly math), and writing. Like I said, not very concentrated. She excels most at math but plays her instrument at a high level. Is there a way to connect or narrow down these disciplines?

Thats already narrow.
She should do something interesting with her science or math, writing, and music.
She can write about the math of music. Or write about music. Or write about science. She doesn't need to narrow down or connect. She needs to use her skills to do something. Anything that's not spoon fed by school or parents.
Anything someone can tell her to do is not worth doing. Being a world changing leader isn't about doing what you're told! It's about going out into the world, observing it, and doing something to it.

[Anonymous]

What is your kid doing when you say "stop, it's time for bed/school/church/lunch"? That's that they need to find time to do more of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is a spike? Did you just invent this term?

No, OP didnt invent this term. It's been around for several years now.

Not really - the term is pointy.

NP

[Anonymous]

If your kid is good enough to excel at a T20, they can excel anywhere, and your goal is to give them exposure to people who want her talents.

If you're just trying to cram her in to a T20 because you think something magical where happen forget there, she doesn't belong.

[Anonymous]

OP-- this tends to happen sort of naturally. At the beginning of ninth grade, my kid wanted to sign up for and do everything. But by sophomore year, they kind of found their home. Dropped one of the sports, asked to do a summer program focused on a different activity. Once you see the passion emerge, you can nurture it. (I actually did kind of the opposite of what you are suggesting-- the interests skewed toward non academic and I insisted they do a specific academic club/team that I thought would serve them well in life. Universities might like spiky, but use your own judgment to make sure the kid will have good life and academic skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is a spike? Did you just invent this term?

No, OP didnt invent this term. It's been around for several years now.

Not really - the term is pointy.

NP

People who go to T20 schools understand synonyms

[Anonymous]

Throw money at a sport or music or some activity, get family to help build a non profit persona related to main activity, use contacts to get internships, research, newspaper coverage, fund raising, speaking opportunities etc. There, you have a spike.

That being said, let kid build his own spike or not if he has varied interests. Its better to be authentic and self made. You can offer support but don't build their life for college admissions.