We've had lots of discussions about what top schools are looking for in applicants--we know that they want excellent grades, a challenging high school curriculum, top scores, impressive extracurriculars, etc., and we know that there are hooks that can help.
I am convinced that it also helps, a lot, if you have what I call the "AND." In other words, when the admissions committee is sitting around discussing your file, the advocate says, "This kid is from Idaho, interested in history, top grades and scores AND she is a nationally-ranked rodeo competitor." These can be big (AND he started his own million-dollar business) or small (AND he plays the musical saw). But it is the fascinating (and/or impressive) detail that stands out.
I suspect that effective college admissions counselors help students identify what this AND might be. Some of them might manufacture it, too.
My advice is for students to think about this when writing your applications. Parents might think that the application should focus only on academic awards, music achievements, etc., and not on "silly" hobbies. I strongly suspect that the opposite is true. If you raise chinchillas, you really need to mention that.
↧