Reply to Kids who don’t have a spike or narrative

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I think it's important to understand that there is a difference between a narrative and spike. Spikes should occur naturally and some kids just have them - an extreme interest in or passion for something that shows through their ECs, etc. and perhaps academic choices.

But everyone has a narrative, it's how YOU weave what you've done together. You don't have to plan it. It's more of a reflective exercise. My DS's narrative - if you want to call it that (I think it's somewhat comical that things are termed this way  now) - is "jack of all trades," meaning their interest in trying new things, whether they end up being good at them or not.

When people talk about the narrative, they're really talking about the essay, which helps sew the ECs up, or illustrate one or more of them through a narrow lens. In my DC's case, the narrative was one of curiosity, making the most of every day, and the joy of learning for learning's sake. You might say it's not compelling, but it IS a narrative, and it does completely characterize my DC.  [/quote]

Every kid comes with their own narrative. However this thread is more about the kids who have someone help them construct or craft a narrative from middle school on- one that ties courses, choice of major, extracurriculars, essays and summer activities into one cohesive narrative. [/quote]

NP and I’ll add that what I’ve seen (in real life and here) are the kids whose crafted “self” isn’t even genuine - it is all a game to be admitted to X elite school in whatever way the parents can make that happen (undersubscribed major, etc).  There’s a post on one of these threads saying that kids leave activities and interests OFF the application just so they don’t look well rounded.  That one nearly broke me, as the parent of an active, smart, genuine, well rounded kid for whom the “genuinely interest in learning” approach failed miserably in the application process.  
I think colleges are running the risk of having a bunch of students who are only looking out for themselves and can’t or won’t form any kind of community because they’ve done everything for all the wrong reasons (and only care about going to the “best” school they got into, without regard for the culture or community of the school.  
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The top schools are pretty good at sussing out authentic kindness and community orientation (both attributes that the top schools actively look for). They often use the LOR for that. So you can't just start vomiting make-believe in your application without someone substantiating it.[/quote]

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