The Myth of the Well-Rounded Student

Of the many persistent myths and misconceptions surrounding the college application process, there is perhaps none more pervasive than the myth of the "well-rounded" student. Conventional wisdom, as dispensed by most well-meaning guidance counselors and parents, holds that colleges seek to admit students who have their toes in a little bit of everything. Those who single-mindedly excel in only a few areas will be seen as too focused or unbalanced, the kindly adult advises: "it's better to be well-rounded". Thus the star thespian is advised to go out for track, the music prodigy feels compelled to run for student council, and the phenomenal athlete joins clubs with reckless abandon.

The stereotypical student who seems to have it all: good grades, a sport or two, some volunteer hours, and a long list of clubs, and doubtless earns accolades on the high school level as the ideal student is in fact not going to stand out at all, in a sea of similar college applicants. "Well-rounded with a lump or two" might be a more apt description of the truly ideal college applicant. The basic package does have to be there-academic excellence and some evidence of the ability to interact productively with other students are non-negotiable-but Ivy League and equivalent schools could fill their classes several times over with applicants bringing excellent grades and SAT scores and the standard list of cookie-cutter National Honor Society-type high school activities. The students whose true passions shine through on their applications are those who are likely to be admitted to their top choice schools. Conversely, the admissions committee will see right through and immediately discount a laundry list of clubs that demonstrate no authentic commitment or real initiative for the student. This effect is even more pronounced when the committee is presented with a long list of activities joined only in the junior and senior years.

To put it another way, universities want to build a well-rounded class-that is, a class full of students who avidly pursue a diverse range of interests rather than admit individually well-rounded students. The amateur pianist who ran cross-country and served on the student council might sound like a good applicant, but the musician who performed as a soloist with local orchestras, the athlete who won a state championship in her event, and the young leader who volunteered on half a dozen political campaigns will win out every time, even if their individual profiles are much more unbalanced. In fact, that's quite likely to be the case, as the time commitment required to pursue one or two activities to some degree of excellence probably precludes spending much time on the usual range of extracurriculars. Beware of overload, especially if it might hurt academic achievement: aside from a few recruited athletes, even the best extracurricular activities will never trump a poor academic record and/or low test scores.

None of this is meant to imply that students should quash genuine interests in favor of specializing or appearing more focused. Nothing could be further from the truth. Believe it or not, after reading thousands of applications, admissions officers become quite skilled in teasing apart activities truly pursued out of love from those done "just to look good". Especially early on in a high school student's educational career, it's great to explore a wide range of interests. As you mature, it's only natural that some activities will become better-loved than others, and you will naturally settle into those pursuits. Be aware of this process and seek to grow in responsibility and achievement in the things that you are passionate about. When the time comes to do the applications, try to convey your evolution through high school as a person with deepening interests, and knit together your activities where possible-your unique personality should be the common thread.

In a discussion with another admissions committee member at a top-ten college about his thoughts on extracurricular activities, he thought that it was best for students to follow their own path: "Let your best qualities shine through by doing the things that coincide most closely with what you enjoy. Ignore people who say colleges especially prefer that you express your good personal qualities through specific activities X and Y, for example 'sports and community service.' I promise, they speak nonsense". In the end, we agreed, a student with passionate interests, even if they are somewhat off the beaten path-in fact, especially if they are somewhat off the beaten path-is truly the hot commodity in college admissions.

Don't worry about rounding out your facets: they're what make you stand out. So polish and play up all your bulges and angles, because in the high-stakes game of competitive college admissions, outstanding is exactly what you want to be.

About the author: Joe Jewell served on the admissions committee at Caltech, his undergraduate alma mater. After notching a perfect SAT score, he co-authored a best-selling study guide. In 2001 he founded PrepMe, a premium online test preparation firm, with Karan Goel and Avichal Garg. A 2005 Rhodes Scholar, he is currently a graduate student in engineering at Oxford.