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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]The kids in performing arts, theatre, dance, music get into the same colleges as everyone else.  The ones with high grades and scores go to top schools.  They don’t have activities for the sole purpose of applying for college.

Let your kid live his life without the burden of trying to calculate what further activities to add to an already busy schedule.   [/quote]

This is the answer.

I’d add that the idea that ECs and major have to be aligned seems to me to be a product of the explosive growth of pre-professional majors, especially business/finance. As those programs get more and more competitive, the way for students to differentiate themselves is through demonstration of interest in/commitment to a specific career path, which these degrees are designed to pretty narrowly prepare them for.

I don’t think the same expectations exist for students who want to pursue a liberal arts major (which includes all STEM majors, except engineering). Academic rigor and strength are critical, and passion for the topic certainly helps, but liberal arts education is premised on exploration and learning, not preprofessional preparation. The idea that a 15-year-old would spend all of their non-school time on activities that prepare them for a career in physics or math doesn’t just doesn’t track. It’s much more important and relevant to max out academic rigor across the board and to go as deep as possible in the relevant area, then complement that with ECs that demonstrate commitment, leadership, and creativity.[/quote]

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