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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I agree with those who suggest that meaningful engagement in differentiating activities is likely going to be helpful, whether or not that also signals social or economic class.  Schools like "diverse" student bodies, and there will be plenty of ethnic, racial, and socio-economic diversity deliberately selected for an entering class.  Further diversity through less commonly encountered interests and skills is likely to be a positive in an application.

Instructor-level competence and engagement in a martial art, skiing, scuba, another sport or a musical instrument would be a differentiator from those who are participants only and who do not have the skills or ability to teach as well as participate.

Rising to officer levels in the volunteer fire/EMS service is a differentiator from those who were not so promoted and who consequently can't use such activity to demonstrate leadership skills, initiative, and other desirable traits.

Eagle Scout is always impressive, at least among the cognoscenti (which include most admissions officers).

[b]Become licensed in an activity with a high bar to entry, like private pilot.[/b]  [/quote]

My kid earned his PPL at 17 and still got rejected (not even deferred!) from Villanova ED1 last year. Tons of other ECs, 450+ service hours, and surrounded by green checkmarks on Naviance.

So don't all rush out there to start taking flying lessons.

Saw this in a a CC website, and found this thread. Hope its helpful.

https://www.koppelmangroup.com/blog/2023/6/28/how-to-write-a-unique-activities-section-for-the-common-app

[i][b]Leader & Co-Founder, Old Norse & Tolkien Club[/b][/i]

Created Old Norse lessons centered around Tolkien’s use of the language. Organized lectures with Old Norse professors from nearby colleges.

[i][b]Aviation, Local Airplane Club[/b][/i]

Learning to fly; logged 60 hours on flight simulators and 15 hours in a Cessna-172. Take theory classes on navigation, terminology, and instruments.

[i][b]Captain, Expeditions Club[/b][/i]

Weekend hiking/mountaineering. Overnight trips climbing 3,000m peaks in the swiss alps. Planning future hikes for students[/quote][/quote]

your kid could have been rejected for a lot of reasons though.
examples might be:
1. stronger applicants from your own high school (whether hooked or not) - always competing against your peers
[b]2. something in LOR or kid didn't max out rigor (compared to what other successful candidates did from your high school in the past)[/b]
3. tone of essays implied outside help
4. not enough alignment with mission or values of school
5. maybe your kid applied TO, and from your high school kids that are TO with that GPA tend not be strong performers (yes, they use the historical data like that)

Given V only has 3 things that are very important in CDS (rigor of secondary school record, GPA, and class rank), maybe it was one of those things?

Just my 2 cents.[/quote]

#2 is the most common reason a kid "surrounded by green checks" is rejected.[/quote]

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