Do smart kids without extracurriculars get into top schools?

[Anonymous]

If she has outstanding GPA, SAT, essays, etc and can say ANYTHING about her activities, she will do fine. And almost anyone can say something about their activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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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.

Pretty much. My kid's HS team had 10 captains. Was a sport with like 40 kids.

Exactly. No big deal anymore.

[Anonymous]

She’s less likely to. Schools want people with extracurriculars because it means they will get students who get involved with campus life. Students who only focus on academics or solo activities aren’t engaged on campus and make the school less dynamic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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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 for top schools in general -- except with extreme luck. Or URM status.

URM is a hook, it isn't a free pass that is less exceptional and active than other applicants. Please just stop.

Please stop pretending an URM with no ECs isn’t going to get into a better school than a white girl with no ECs or even with mundane ECs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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 for top schools in general -- except with extreme luck. Or URM status.

URM is a hook, it isn't a free pass that is less exceptional and active than other applicants. Please just stop.

Please stop pretending an URM with no ECs isn’t going to get into a better school than a white girl with no ECs or even with mundane ECs.

And after four years that white girl will likely have a higher starting salary and earn more money over her lifetime solely because she’s white. You should take that deal every day of the week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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 for top schools in general -- except with extreme luck. Or URM status.

URM is a hook, it isn't a free pass that is less exceptional and active than other applicants. Please just stop.

Please stop pretending an URM with no ECs isn’t going to get into a better school than a white girl with no ECs or even with mundane ECs.

And after four years that white girl will likely have a higher starting salary and earn more money over her lifetime solely because she’s white. You should take that deal every day of the week.

Pffffft no this is the opposite of truth. Companies are on a diversity hire binge just like colleges are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Writing and drawing are extracurriculars. There are ways to explain those. She may also be involved in things you are not aware of.

My understanding is that essays are much more important than the activity list.

OMG, no! Who told you this?

Most essays are never read. YOu have to have the stats, background, ECs, GPA, rank to make the first cut. Readers (by the hour hires) often make the first cut. The average application gets a five min. read IF it makes it to the regional representative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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 for top schools in general -- except with extreme luck. Or URM status.

URM is a hook, it isn't a free pass that is less exceptional and active than other applicants. Please just stop.

Please stop pretending an URM with no ECs isn’t going to get into a better school than a white girl with no ECs or even with mundane ECs.

Neither are getting into a "top" school with literally no EC's. Beyond that, anyone's definition of "better" is subjective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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 for top schools in general -- except with extreme luck. Or URM status.

URM is a hook, it isn't a free pass that is less exceptional and active than other applicants. Please just stop.

It is a hook, but it is not less exceptional? Wut? That is almost the definition of a hook: If you have the hook you can be less exceptional and get in..

DP. The hook isn't about being less exceptional (except maybe for the uber rich), there are so many exceptional students that they could fill their class 5x over. It's about breadth for student body which is a big part of the learning environment, not lesser or greater achievement at that point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Writing and drawing are extracurriculars. There are ways to explain those. She may also be involved in things you are not aware of.

My understanding is that essays are much more important than the activity list.

OMG, no! Who told you this?

Most essays are never read. YOu have to have the stats, background, ECs, GPA, rank to make the first cut. Readers (by the hour hires) often make the first cut. The average application gets a five min. read IF it makes it to the regional representative.

It is very school-to-school dependent. And if at a private school, for certain top 25 schools, private school apps will go straight to regional representative, which is very important to get away from the pay by the hour readers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Writing and drawing are extracurriculars. There are ways to explain those. She may also be involved in things you are not aware of.

My understanding is that essays are much more important than the activity list.

OMG, no! Who told you this?

Most essays are never read. YOu have to have the stats, background, ECs, GPA, rank to make the first cut. Readers (by the hour hires) often make the first cut. The average application gets a five min. read IF it makes it to the regional representative.

You have to have the stats to make the first cut (GPA/scores). The first cut will be academic.

At any rate, it sounds like the OP's kid has the stats to make the first cut.