Anonymous wrote: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).

Become licensed in an activity with a high bar to entry, like private pilot.

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


Leader & Co-Founder, Old Norse & Tolkien Club

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


Aviation, Local Airplane Club

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


Captain, Expeditions Club

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

Be yourself, of course.

^I have a 10th grader and there was a 9th gr cousin: the college kids were "advising" that's why they were carrying on with details.

Anonymous wrote:What are some ways for a stem kid to separate themselves from the thousands of other high schoolers who do research, aime, “internships”, isef, etc?

Hard to know, but whatever it is needs to be a real interest not something contrived for admissions. "Birding" was apparently the new trend of '24, already overdone. See reddit. It was all over the place last year and mentioned in some AMAs as overdone.

Looking at it from the other end: Premed nephew at a non-ivy t12 and engineering child at a top ivy: There are many hooked students at both schools. What they both noted when the whole family got together this summer in OBX: Almost every (unhooked) stem student had at least one outside of school STEM endeavor in high school such as scientific research or a competitive summer program(not pay to play), or math/sci competitions, and almost all also had a long-term non-stem intense interest or activity: debate(national level), orchestra(multiple concertmasters), dance(top summer auditioned programs), multiple singers (regional/state), poetry(published), artist(competitive summer governors school in visual art is dual majoring in engineering and design). They had all done these non-stem activities for a very long time, not just high school, and they do some version of the activity at college. Everyone came in with piles of difficult APs or IB-HL classwork. Nephew and kid remarked about it being weird to adjust to so many smart accomplished students but also stimulating in a way they had not experienced. The average student despite premed and engineering courseloads is involved on campus and also spends a lot in the library. They are intense. They compared notes on culture of midterm stress yet spoke of collaboration. Listening from afar had me exhausted.

Anonymous wrote:How about writing?

Short stories, novels, etc...

Published? If so, where.
Attended Kenyon?

How about writing?

Short stories, novels, etc...

Anonymous wrote:Other unique activities I’ve seen recently - with awards, competitions, clubs & corresponding volunteer /paid work where possible:

Origami is very popular now.
Some others are:
Birding; pickleball; beekeeping; archery; skeet shooting; improv (that’s a big new one); songwriting; ukulele; photography; trapeze or circus arts.

add sitar

Other unique activities I’ve seen recently - with awards, competitions, clubs & corresponding volunteer /paid work where possible:

Origami is very popular now.
Some others are:
Birding; pickleball; beekeeping; archery; skeet shooting; improv (that’s a big new one); songwriting; ukulele; photography; trapeze or circus arts.

Anonymous wrote:My nephew got accepted by three different Ivies with mediocre grades, after three years of graduating from high school. One of his major accomplishments was contributing to writing several songs with John Mayer. He was also one of the backup singers on several of Mayer's songs.

That's definitely something unique.

He sounds pretty amazing. But parents stalking DCUM would be hard pressed to actually let their kids skip college to go on tour as a backup singer!

My nephew got accepted by three different Ivies with mediocre grades, after three years of graduating from high school. One of his major accomplishments was contributing to writing several songs with John Mayer. He was also one of the backup singers on several of Mayer's songs.

That's definitely something unique.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are some ways for a stem kid to separate themselves from the thousands of other high schoolers who do research, aime, “internships”, isef, etc?

Twenty years ago the answer was grades. Then it became that + research. Then it became that (the new that, that is) + internship. Then it became that + birding. Then it became that+ non profit. As the world champion of punning example in the thread demonstrates, this is a never ending saga.

In the hunt for the latest shiny credential to add on, parents forget that AOs also seek to build a collaborative community. So amongst two equally qualified kids, the one that has demonstrated skills like working with others on a shared goal, helping others, ability to listen, ability to handle conflict/diversity of views, is the one you would want on your campus.

Trying to differentiate on credentials amongst STEM kids is difficult. Differentiating on behavioral skills is less frequently done, but could provide this edge.

The key is to be like no one else in the application pool - especially from your own high school. You must stand out. What is different about you?

I saw the application of an Asian female TO STEM candidate who’s at Yale this fall:

In addition to national level accolades in violin, she was a recognized artist who had other unique hobbies, including:
collecting ancient coins (turned into an appraisal business with blog/youtube); crocheting (volunteer hours with an organization); and
taught origami classes to kids and participated in origami folding competitions (national awards).
There was also a sport.
An unusual candidate. All around.

Unusual? this sound completely contrived and extremely boring.

People get annoyed when we say the kids at top 20s are all weird and nerdy on the tours, but this is a perfect example of this. The girl collects and appraises ancient coins, competes in origami folding competitions and crochets. Why do they want kids like this? Screams introvert.

This doesn’t scream introvert to me. It screams “what can I do to set myself apart for AOs”

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are some ways for a stem kid to separate themselves from the thousands of other high schoolers who do research, aime, “internships”, isef, etc?

Documentary making.
And make it STEM-related.
Attend film festivals and showcase your work. Create a record.

If from a wealthy family, start a documentary festival for kids in the area.

You're going to have trouble with rights and usage there.

You don't use their documentaries.

The strength lies in demonstrating your leadership aspects and the power of convening kids with similar interests.

A perfect example of total BS

How so?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are some ways for a stem kid to separate themselves from the thousands of other high schoolers who do research, aime, “internships”, isef, etc?

Twenty years ago the answer was grades. Then it became that + research. Then it became that (the new that, that is) + internship. Then it became that + birding. Then it became that+ non profit. As the world champion of punning example in the thread demonstrates, this is a never ending saga.

In the hunt for the latest shiny credential to add on, parents forget that AOs also seek to build a collaborative community. So amongst two equally qualified kids, the one that has demonstrated skills like working with others on a shared goal, helping others, ability to listen, ability to handle conflict/diversity of views, is the one you would want on your campus.

Trying to differentiate on credentials amongst STEM kids is difficult. Differentiating on behavioral skills is less frequently done, but could provide this edge.

The key is to be like no one else in the application pool - especially from your own high school. You must stand out. What is different about you?

I saw the application of an Asian female TO STEM candidate who’s at Yale this fall:

In addition to national level accolades in violin, she was a recognized artist who had other unique hobbies, including:
collecting ancient coins (turned into an appraisal business with blog/youtube); crocheting (volunteer hours with an organization); and
taught origami classes to kids and participated in origami folding competitions (national awards).
There was also a sport.
An unusual candidate. All around.

Unusual? this sound completely contrived and extremely boring.

People get annoyed when we say the kids at top 20s are all weird and nerdy on the tours, but this is a perfect example of this. The girl collects and appraises ancient coins, competes in origami folding competitions and crochets. Why do they want kids like this? Screams introvert.

. What’s wrong with being an introvert? a lot of really smart kids are quirky and not the “student body president” popular types.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are some ways for a stem kid to separate themselves from the thousands of other high schoolers who do research, aime, “internships”, isef, etc?

Twenty years ago the answer was grades. Then it became that + research. Then it became that (the new that, that is) + internship. Then it became that + birding. Then it became that+ non profit. As the world champion of punning example in the thread demonstrates, this is a never ending saga.

In the hunt for the latest shiny credential to add on, parents forget that AOs also seek to build a collaborative community. So amongst two equally qualified kids, the one that has demonstrated skills like working with others on a shared goal, helping others, ability to listen, ability to handle conflict/diversity of views, is the one you would want on your campus.

Trying to differentiate on credentials amongst STEM kids is difficult. Differentiating on behavioral skills is less frequently done, but could provide this edge.

The key is to be like no one else in the application pool - especially from your own high school. You must stand out. What is different about you?

I saw the application of an Asian female TO STEM candidate who’s at Yale this fall:

In addition to national level accolades in violin, she was a recognized artist who had other unique hobbies, including:
collecting ancient coins (turned into an appraisal business with blog/youtube); crocheting (volunteer hours with an organization); and
taught origami classes to kids and participated in origami folding competitions (national awards).
There was also a sport.
An unusual candidate. All around.

Unusual? this sound completely contrived and extremely boring.

People get annoyed when we say the kids at top 20s are all weird and nerdy on the tours, but this is a perfect example of this. The girl collects and appraises ancient coins, competes in origami folding competitions and crochets. Why do they want kids like this? Screams introvert.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First they need to love STEM and have intense Intellectual curiosity and passion. Get a jobs as a research assistant at a local university. Discover and patent a new idea. Join a competitive STEM club at your high school and win or place high in national competitions. Enjoy high school and be a well rounded and kind person. I know this is almost impossilbe for most students, but we had one at our high school a few years back who did just this and won a full ride to a T-10 college.

For those in the back: the student did not win a full ride into a T10 school. The student was admitted into a T10 school and received a full ride based on their family’s financial circumstances. Which, given the size of the award, might have had something to do with the admission.

No sorry, this student won a full ride to a T10. It was a merit based scholarship covering full tuition + room and board, not based on financial need. They do exist at T10 schools.

Which top10 school gives merit scholarships? I thought they were all based on financial need only