What activities are considered "impressive" to potential schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A normal summer job. And I'm not kidding.

Found this to be true, also. With all the passion projects and extracurriculars, many kids don't have time for a part-time summer job, so it stands out.

How did you find it to be true? Meaning: how did you learn that an EC of a summer job helps make a kid stand out in college admissions?

lol People like to make up bs on this anonymous forum. With a straight face ("Found this to be true..." "And I'm not kidding...").

It really doesn't. Part time jobs or summer jobs are a dime a dozen. Just take a look at any college admitted students profile page, you will see jobs are very common activities. It's more common than varsity captain or club founder.

Arts acheivement, research publication, music performance at a high level, much much rarer.

"Research" has jumped the shark, just as "founding a nonprofit" before it.

Again, activities nees not be all about the awars mentality. Save being best, highest, etc for your grades and scores.

I'd agree on the research part, though admitted students pages still discuss it as of class 2029. My guess is that it's fading out.

Just study those public highlights in the admitted student profile, get a sense of what is "impressive" or what is not.

But describing jobs as "a breath of fresh air" is just far from the truth. If you are bored, go read a book.

As much as science is currently under attack, top colleges all are competing to get top science students into their schools and into science majors. Powerful forces may be hating on science lately top colleges are definitely not hating on science.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of posters in this forum overfocus on impressiveness. Every time I chime in about my two kids at a T10 with ordinary activities (one speech and debate, one robotics, both with hobbies), no positions but leadership by action/anecdotes, I get quizzed, "well are they hooked? Must be!" etc.

Some people just can't believe it's true that not every part of the app is a competition for external achievement or why their kid's activity descriptions and hours might sound sus to an AO.

Sound like a genuine kid that people want to be around. There is no need to stretch the truth or turn an introvert into an extrovert. Be involved, but most of all, be kind.

Yup. Listen to this poster, people. “Normal” kids get into these schools. Don’t buy into the arms race ginned up by college counselors whose livelihoods depend on selling a secret formula for admissions.

+1000

I never thought my child is competitive at all for T20 because kid eschewed many of the thinks that I thought were pre-requisite for getting into these colleges. Did have top grades with high rigor and high scores.

I actively discouraged child from spending time on T20 applications, instead wanted to focus on more realistic schools getting those essays in good shape. Only after everything was done and in the winter break child started on the T20 applications. Got into multiple schools and is at a HYPSM.

The only thing that stood out besides very strong academics is kindness. While I was proud of child's kindness, I was nearly 100% sure the choices kid made out of kindness hurt chances of T20. There is no kindness grade or award. It had been noted by teachers in the recommendation letters.
The handwritten note on the admission letter from one of the HYPSM's pointedly noted this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of posters in this forum overfocus on impressiveness. Every time I chime in about my two kids at a T10 with ordinary activities (one speech and debate, one robotics, both with hobbies), no positions but leadership by action/anecdotes, I get quizzed, "well are they hooked? Must be!" etc.

Some people just can't believe it's true that not every part of the app is a competition for external achievement or why their kid's activity descriptions and hours might sound sus to an AO.

Sound like a genuine kid that people want to be around. There is no need to stretch the truth or turn an introvert into an extrovert. Be involved, but most of all, be kind.

Yup. Listen to this poster, people. “Normal” kids get into these schools. Don’t buy into the arms race ginned up by college counselors whose livelihoods depend on selling a secret formula for admissions.

+1000

I never thought my child is competitive at all for T20 because kid eschewed many of the thinks that I thought were pre-requisite for getting into these colleges. Did have top grades with high rigor and high scores.

I actively discouraged child from spending time on T20 applications, instead wanted to focus on more realistic schools getting those essays in good shape. Only after everything was done and in the winter break child started on the T20 applications. Got into multiple schools and is at a HYPSM.

The only thing that stood out besides very strong academics is kindness. While I was proud of child's kindness, I was nearly 100% sure the choices kid made out of kindness hurt chances of T20. There is no kindness grade or award. It had been noted by teachers in the recommendation letters.
The handwritten note on the admission letter from one of the HYPSM's pointedly noted this.

How many of the top 20 did they apply to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A normal summer job. And I'm not kidding.

Oh please. Maybe your community is so rich that's unusual, but if you get out of 1%-ville, tons of kids have summer jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of posters in this forum overfocus on impressiveness. Every time I chime in about my two kids at a T10 with ordinary activities (one speech and debate, one robotics, both with hobbies), no positions but leadership by action/anecdotes, I get quizzed, "well are they hooked? Must be!" etc.

Some people just can't believe it's true that not every part of the app is a competition for external achievement or why their kid's activity descriptions and hours might sound sus to an AO.

Sound like a genuine kid that people want to be around. There is no need to stretch the truth or turn an introvert into an extrovert. Be involved, but most of all, be kind.

Yup. Listen to this poster, people. “Normal” kids get into these schools. Don’t buy into the arms race ginned up by college counselors whose livelihoods depend on selling a secret formula for admissions.

+1000

I never thought my child is competitive at all for T20 because kid eschewed many of the thinks that I thought were pre-requisite for getting into these colleges. Did have top grades with high rigor and high scores.

I actively discouraged child from spending time on T20 applications, instead wanted to focus on more realistic schools getting those essays in good shape. Only after everything was done and in the winter break child started on the T20 applications. Got into multiple schools and is at a HYPSM.

The only thing that stood out besides very strong academics is kindness. While I was proud of child's kindness, I was nearly 100% sure the choices kid made out of kindness hurt chances of T20. There is no kindness grade or award. It had been noted by teachers in the recommendation letters.
The handwritten note on the admission letter from one of the HYPSM's pointedly noted this.

But there must be something to show AO their kindness. What that ‘something’ is? Volunteer? Club? Non-profit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of posters in this forum overfocus on impressiveness. Every time I chime in about my two kids at a T10 with ordinary activities (one speech and debate, one robotics, both with hobbies), no positions but leadership by action/anecdotes, I get quizzed, "well are they hooked? Must be!" etc.

Some people just can't believe it's true that not every part of the app is a competition for external achievement or why their kid's activity descriptions and hours might sound sus to an AO.

Sound like a genuine kid that people want to be around. There is no need to stretch the truth or turn an introvert into an extrovert. Be involved, but most of all, be kind.

Yup. Listen to this poster, people. “Normal” kids get into these schools. Don’t buy into the arms race ginned up by college counselors whose livelihoods depend on selling a secret formula for admissions.

+1000

I never thought my child is competitive at all for T20 because kid eschewed many of the thinks that I thought were pre-requisite for getting into these colleges. Did have top grades with high rigor and high scores.

I actively discouraged child from spending time on T20 applications, instead wanted to focus on more realistic schools getting those essays in good shape. Only after everything was done and in the winter break child started on the T20 applications. Got into multiple schools and is at a HYPSM.

The only thing that stood out besides very strong academics is kindness. While I was proud of child's kindness, I was nearly 100% sure the choices kid made out of kindness hurt chances of T20. There is no kindness grade or award. It had been noted by teachers in the recommendation letters.
The handwritten note on the admission letter from one of the HYPSM's pointedly noted this.

But there must be something to show AO their kindness. What that ‘something’ is? Volunteer? Club? Non-profit?

Kindness comes through in teacher recommendations and potentially in essays. And if the applicant also happened to prioritize certain types of activities, sure, that provides more support. But you can’t EC your way to kindness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of posters in this forum overfocus on impressiveness. Every time I chime in about my two kids at a T10 with ordinary activities (one speech and debate, one robotics, both with hobbies), no positions but leadership by action/anecdotes, I get quizzed, "well are they hooked? Must be!" etc.

Some people just can't believe it's true that not every part of the app is a competition for external achievement or why their kid's activity descriptions and hours might sound sus to an AO.

Sound like a genuine kid that people want to be around. There is no need to stretch the truth or turn an introvert into an extrovert. Be involved, but most of all, be kind.

Yup. Listen to this poster, people. “Normal” kids get into these schools. Don’t buy into the arms race ginned up by college counselors whose livelihoods depend on selling a secret formula for admissions.

+1000

I never thought my child is competitive at all for T20 because kid eschewed many of the thinks that I thought were pre-requisite for getting into these colleges. Did have top grades with high rigor and high scores.

I actively discouraged child from spending time on T20 applications, instead wanted to focus on more realistic schools getting those essays in good shape. Only after everything was done and in the winter break child started on the T20 applications. Got into multiple schools and is at a HYPSM.

The only thing that stood out besides very strong academics is kindness. While I was proud of child's kindness, I was nearly 100% sure the choices kid made out of kindness hurt chances of T20. There is no kindness grade or award. It had been noted by teachers in the recommendation letters.
The handwritten note on the admission letter from one of the HYPSM's pointedly noted this.

But there must be something to show AO their kindness. What that ‘something’ is? Volunteer? Club? Non-profit?

Kindness comes through in teacher recommendations and potentially in essays. And if the applicant also happened to prioritize certain types of activities, sure, that provides more support. But you can’t EC your way to kindness.

+1

Child is like that always. So it is pervasive in classroom, with friends, in activities, on the bus, etc. Somehow it came through in the recommendation letters. I did not think teachers would notice, but they did.

Going off to college on the drive child says "can you help my friend (a rising senior) with essays, his parents would not be able to help much and they cannot afford a counselor?" I am now helping that student, not that I know all that much and once again I am on this forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of posters in this forum overfocus on impressiveness. Every time I chime in about my two kids at a T10 with ordinary activities (one speech and debate, one robotics, both with hobbies), no positions but leadership by action/anecdotes, I get quizzed, "well are they hooked? Must be!" etc.

Some people just can't believe it's true that not every part of the app is a competition for external achievement or why their kid's activity descriptions and hours might sound sus to an AO.

Sound like a genuine kid that people want to be around. There is no need to stretch the truth or turn an introvert into an extrovert. Be involved, but most of all, be kind.

Yup. Listen to this poster, people. “Normal” kids get into these schools. Don’t buy into the arms race ginned up by college counselors whose livelihoods depend on selling a secret formula for admissions.

+1000

I never thought my child is competitive at all for T20 because kid eschewed many of the thinks that I thought were pre-requisite for getting into these colleges. Did have top grades with high rigor and high scores.

I actively discouraged child from spending time on T20 applications, instead wanted to focus on more realistic schools getting those essays in good shape. Only after everything was done and in the winter break child started on the T20 applications. Got into multiple schools and is at a HYPSM.

The only thing that stood out besides very strong academics is kindness. While I was proud of child's kindness, I was nearly 100% sure the choices kid made out of kindness hurt chances of T20. There is no kindness grade or award. It had been noted by teachers in the recommendation letters.
The handwritten note on the admission letter from one of the HYPSM's pointedly noted this.

On the one hand, I had a similar experience. On the other hand, it might be common because it's easy to fool a teacher with manipulative behavior.

Like the old saying goes:
The key to success is sincerity. If you can fake that you've got it made.

George Burns

[Anonymous]

People don't understand that admissions is basically random outside of the hooked superstars, and they invent a mythology to let them deny that it was a lottery ticket.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A normal summer job. And I'm not kidding.

Oh please. Maybe your community is so rich that's unusual, but if you get out of 1%-ville, tons of kids have summer jobs.

Outside of 1% ville you get admitted by doing the things that are table stakes in 1% ville + yur experience factors.

1% needs more,as they should.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of posters in this forum overfocus on impressiveness. Every time I chime in about my two kids at a T10 with ordinary activities (one speech and debate, one robotics, both with hobbies), no positions but leadership by action/anecdotes, I get quizzed, "well are they hooked? Must be!" etc.

Some people just can't believe it's true that not every part of the app is a competition for external achievement or why their kid's activity descriptions and hours might sound sus to an AO.

Sound like a genuine kid that people want to be around. There is no need to stretch the truth or turn an introvert into an extrovert. Be involved, but most of all, be kind.

Yup. Listen to this poster, people. “Normal” kids get into these schools. Don’t buy into the arms race ginned up by college counselors whose livelihoods depend on selling a secret formula for admissions.

+1000

I never thought my child is competitive at all for T20 because kid eschewed many of the thinks that I thought were pre-requisite for getting into these colleges. Did have top grades with high rigor and high scores.

I actively discouraged child from spending time on T20 applications, instead wanted to focus on more realistic schools getting those essays in good shape. Only after everything was done and in the winter break child started on the T20 applications. Got into multiple schools and is at a HYPSM.

The only thing that stood out besides very strong academics is kindness. While I was proud of child's kindness, I was nearly 100% sure the choices kid made out of kindness hurt chances of T20. There is no kindness grade or award. It had been noted by teachers in the recommendation letters.
The handwritten note on the admission letter from one of the HYPSM's pointedly noted this.

How many of the top 20 did they apply to?

Applied to 5 T20 schools, got into 3 (all T10), waitlisted at 1 and rejected at 1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of posters in this forum overfocus on impressiveness. Every time I chime in about my two kids at a T10 with ordinary activities (one speech and debate, one robotics, both with hobbies), no positions but leadership by action/anecdotes, I get quizzed, "well are they hooked? Must be!" etc.

Some people just can't believe it's true that not every part of the app is a competition for external achievement or why their kid's activity descriptions and hours might sound sus to an AO.

Sound like a genuine kid that people want to be around. There is no need to stretch the truth or turn an introvert into an extrovert. Be involved, but most of all, be kind.

Yup. Listen to this poster, people. “Normal” kids get into these schools. Don’t buy into the arms race ginned up by college counselors whose livelihoods depend on selling a secret formula for admissions.

+1000

I never thought my child is competitive at all for T20 because kid eschewed many of the thinks that I thought were pre-requisite for getting into these colleges. Did have top grades with high rigor and high scores.

I actively discouraged child from spending time on T20 applications, instead wanted to focus on more realistic schools getting those essays in good shape. Only after everything was done and in the winter break child started on the T20 applications. Got into multiple schools and is at a HYPSM.

The only thing that stood out besides very strong academics is kindness. While I was proud of child's kindness, I was nearly 100% sure the choices kid made out of kindness hurt chances of T20. There is no kindness grade or award. It had been noted by teachers in the recommendation letters.
The handwritten note on the admission letter from one of the HYPSM's pointedly noted this.

But there must be something to show AO their kindness. What that ‘something’ is? Volunteer? Club? Non-profit?

Do you know a kind person your life?

How do you know they are kind? What would you say if someone asked you about a person?

It's not a thing to do. It's a way of doing everything, in a class, a sport, a club, a job, anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People don't understand that admissions is basically random outside of the hooked superstars, and they invent a mythology to let them deny that it was a lottery ticket.

I think it’s the college counselors inventing the mythology. The schools are very clear about the fact that they have more qualified students than slots and are making selections based on institutional priorities. Saying it’s a lottery is extreme cope.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gymnastics captain
AND Lead Cheerleader
AND Math team captain
AND Debate co-captain
AND Faculty award for top student in HS

In at two of HYP

AND full pay at a small private school that screams privilege.

[Anonymous]

Which public schools give out faculty awards for "top student"? That's nuts.