This post: Do’s and don’ts for getting accepting into your dream Ivy League college
Written by: Julie Kim / Contributing Writer
We often look to our parents for advice. As an immigrant family, however, there was one life experience my parents couldn’t advise me on – the college admissions process.
When I started looking for ways to stand out on my college applications, I was completely clueless about where to start.
So, I took the standard advice everyone gives: “Get involved!”
Boy, was I involved. Determined to have my resume reflect my ambition and dedication, I became an active member of several extracurricular clubs and activities all while trying to stay on top of my AP coursework and studying for my upcoming SAT exams.
I was completely burnt out.
What’s worse, I convinced myself that I was proud of being burnt out, almost as if it was what I should be doing as a high school student – like getting minimal sleep and filling every ounce of my free time was an accomplishment of some sort.
And, thinking I was doing the right thing, I kept up the grueling pace. That is, until I got sick. So sick that I couldn’t show up for any of my finals the first semester of my junior year of high school, which really took a toll on my GPA. And, for what? Sure, I had a brimming resume, but so did every other student applying to my dream schools. The only thing my over-the-top participation made me was busy and exhausted. It didn’t make me stand out.
I finally began to realize that I needed to take control of my own path. I needed to cut out all extracurricular activities and efforts that didn’t align with my passion, and find the one thing that did.
I started to volunteer at a local elementary school. There, I created my first passion project — a program that focused on helping low-income students master math and literacy. From then on, I dove even deeper into what I was truly passionate about. I wrote compelling essays about my passion project and I reached out to professors to share what I was doing.
In the midst of it, something remarkable started happening – I began going to bed at a reasonable hour, I wasn’t as exhausted, I was far more motivated (because I truly loved what I was doing) and, most importantly, I was following my true passion.
I took the road less traveled…
I didn’t take part in a bunch of extracurriculars.
I didn’t attend any summer programs.
I didn’t do what everyone else was doing.
Instead, I demonstrated that I was an action-taker. I got accepted into USC and Harvard without the best GPA because I showed that I could take initiative and was determined to grow. My passion project said more about me than 100 extracurriculars or a 4.0 ever could.
It’s tempting to follow the crowd and try to stand out by “getting involved” in everything, as I did. But, trust me, you have the ability to stand out without burning yourself out.
All it takes is one Passion Project to show your dream Ivy League & top-tier colleges who you really are.
If you’re new to the college admissions process like I was, it’s easy to make mistakes when trying to get into your dream school. But, it’s important to remember that you only have three years of high school to demonstrate to college admissions officers who you really are, so there’s no time to waste!
To maximize your time and stand out on college applications, here are a few major do’s & don’ts for getting accepted into your dream Ivy League college:
DON’T: Try to become a “well-rounded” student
This might sound crazy, but colleges aren’t necessarily looking for the traditional well-rounded student anymore — they’re looking for a well-rounded class. What they want from their student body is diversity. They are looking for students who are unique in their own way, which is why you need to focus on highlighting your specific passion, interests and values.
Although participating in a wide variety of clubs and activities is impressive, it doesn’t offer college admissions officers a sense of who you are. It’s hard to demonstrate your personality and individuality when you’re doing what everyone else is doing.
DON’T: Try to show that you’re hardworking by doing as much as possible
Don’t kill yourself trying to get a lot of awards and certificates, joining a lot of clubs, being involved in a lot of extracurriculars and doing far too much to fill your resume. This was my biggest mistake.
College admissions officers are never going to say, “Let’s accept this student because they’re so good at multitasking.” They’re going to accept a student based on how they demonstrate their passions, not based on how many they have.
DON’T: Attend university summer camps & programs in hopes that you will stand out
Many colleges offer summer camps and programs. If your dream school offers a program, you might be thinking, “Great! If they see that I attended a program at their school, that should help my chances of getting in! Right?”
The short answer is no. Odds are, the majority of students aiming for that dream school are attending these programs, too. Not only are you losing the opportunity to stand out by joining a summer-long program that so many other students are also attending, you’re also losing precious time that could be spent on what’s actually going to set you apart.
DO: Find the one thing you’re passionate about, and create a project or participate in activities that align with it
Cutting down on your commitments and embarking on a passion project might seem daunting at first. But working toward the one thing that you are truly passionate about will showcase more of who you are, and give college admissions officers concrete evidence of your devotion, character and accomplishments. Plus, developing a passion project will showcase your personality, interests, and initiative without spreading you too thin.
To develop your own passion project, follow these steps:
1. Strategize
First, choose a passion that aligns with your academic career interests. What are you passionate about? What are your interests? What academic area can best fit those interests? Having a clear theme (and strategy) will give you a better sense of direction when creating a project or finding activities to participate in.
2. Brainstorm
Begin brainstorming passion projects. You could create an informational platform/website, start a research assistant position or even start a service-based organization/program, as I did. Having a passion project that aligns with your academic goals and interests can give colleges clear evidence of all the things they look for in applicants: your talents and abilities, personal qualities, dedication and passion, and your fit for the school.
3. Execute
A passion project that stops in the ideation phase is just that — an idea. You need to take action steps to make the project a reality. An important part of this phase is consistency. For instance, if you want to start a podcast about political science-related topics, you need to regularly publish episodes. If you’re starting an after-school educational program for middle schoolers, meet with them regularly. Consistency makes it evident that you are passionate and hardworking and offers more credibility when you write about it in your application.
4. Scale
Finally, it’s time to take your project to the next level. Scaling your project is all about getting it out into the public sphere. You can do this in a number of ways: get published in a newspaper or magazine, collaborate with like-minded organizations or perhaps organize an event. The fact that you, your messaging and your passion project are in the public eye gives you immense credibility in the eyes of college admissions officers.
Colleges are looking for quality over quantity. As soon as you stop over-committing yourself and hone in on what activities clearly demonstrate your passions and abilities, you’ll gain one of the most valuable things a student can have — more time.
More time to study for the SAT or ACT exams. More time to work on your passion project. More time to network with counselors, college admissions officers, and professors and more time to secure awesome recommendation letters.
With more time on your hands (and more time get adequate rest), you’ll feel more energized and motivated because you’re focusing on quality versus quantity. That’s what’s going to make a difference in your application.
Are you ready to brainstorm and execute your Passion Project? If your answer is YES, follow my top do’s and don’ts for getting into your dream Ivy League college AND click here to watch a FREE MASTERCLASS on how to stand out doing what you love.
Julie Kim is a Harvard graduate, college consultant, and founder of Julie Kim Consulting.
Using her unique Passion Project process, Julie shows students how to create passion projects based on their authentic interests and personality, which is how she has helped more than 600 students receive acceptance letters from their dream colleges. Learn more at her website, juliekimconsulting.com, by subscribing to her YouTube channel, Conquer College Admissions, or following the Demystifying College Admissions Podcast.