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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Ivies no longer want all these stupid math competitions. They don’t want quizbowl. They don’t want Olympiad. Be different.

My kid got into an ivy with something similar to the blacksmith extracurricular. Obviously had the grades and the scores to meet the baseline.

You guys are all missing the point. 
See the forest through the trees.[/quote]

Can you share how your kid got into their extracurricular? How did they stumble on it? Did you encourage it? Did you know early on that it would help with college applications?[/quote]

Started in middle school on own. DC was self-driven in somewhat weird niche interests (that most ppl thought were a bit bizarre back then tbh). We let DC do it - went out of our way to find summer opportunities, especially once it was clear this was a real enduring interest. But did not ever imagine it would help with college apps. More of a hobby then?

By high school, DC was an expert in this sub-field (and related genres). Just let your kid be who they are. If they have an interest (even if bizarre) nurture it. DC attended a private HS.

My 2 cents:
Don't make them do math competitions or be on the robotics team if they don't love it. My DC did do a few in-school clubs (including MUN) which helped them become a great speaker and thinker on their feet - however never won ANY MUN awards. Founded one (very small and niche) club at their school. And was a TA for a class in a science field. And then all of the rest of the ECs (other than being a member of sports teams - member not captain) were OUTSIDE of school. Things DC developed independently. As parents, we weren't involved at all. It was only the summer before the senior year that we tried to figure out how to write these things down for the EC list and you start to which ones are interrelated and a natural theme emerging.

And my kid had NO honors or awards other than employee of the month for a PT job..... (not an honor at all but DC put it there because it involved him creating something at the employer to improve efficiency).

I really don't think you can manufacture it - but you do have to give kids the space and grace to just be themselves.
[/quote]

This is the epitome of an manufactured kid.[/quote]

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