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The Myth of the Well-Rounded Student
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Most parents, and many guidance counselors, are still operating on an old belief system. It goes like this: the high school years should be chock-full of activities that demonstrate a student’s ability to do just about everything. Community service? Check. Sports? Check. Student Government and Lead in Senior Play? Check and check.
Here’s the reality. College admissions officers are seeking to put together a well-rounded freshman class, not to find hundreds of renaissance students who can do it all. In fact, long lists of varied activities can backfire by being interpreted as a warning sign: is the list of activities just a stab at impressing them, with busyness masking the fact that the student has no idea what he or she is really interested in? Admissions officers have seen it all before.
If you really want to help your student do something impressive, help her find ways to express just a couple of interests or passions. If she loves soccer, encourage her to play on the school team, volunteer with a Rec department kids' program, and train to be a referee. If he's a community activist, suggest he get involved with a local political campaign, start a program to get people aware of an issue important to him, and write articles for the school or town newspaper. You get the idea. By focusing on true interests, your student will build a high school resume that shows admissions department who she really is.
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