<p>Do admission officers prefer a student who concentrates his/her extracurriculars, high school courses, etc. on a single or a couple areas, or do they prefer someone who dabbles in a bit of everything?</p>
<p>I am of the opinion that depth is more important and that a distinct passion is more beneficial than a scattershot approach. Such is often indicative of resume-padding rather than prolonged, dedicated commitment.</p>
<p>That is often best for admissions purposes, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with not yet knowing where one’s passions lie as a high school student.</p>
<p>Well, I don’t profess to be an admissions officer or have any particular insight into their thought processes but i don’t think any H adcom people post here so I’ll give it a whirl. H admissions knows they are able to bestow a great opportunity to a very limited number of applicants. They want (pure speculation on my part, mind you) to offer this opportunity to people who have a drive and passion (overused, I know) to make the most of the opportunities they have been given - or better yet, create opportunities that others may not have seen. So the short answer to your question would be depth over breadth…but a resume that indicates true passion would be preferable. Paradoxically, the very act of trying to structure an application that you feel will please admissions will likely lack sincerity. So, just be yourself, but be the best possible version of yourself and let the chips fall where they may. </p>
<p>Bear in mind, I may be completely off base.</p>
<p>1) varska, it’s a college admissions forum; there are probably Harvard adcoms that at least read here, but maybe they’re not avid posters. </p>
<p>2) To RainbowSprinkles - you need both to have a chance for Harvard.</p>
<p>Have you heard of Allen Yuan?
[Allen</a> Yuan, Piano](<a href=“http://dearbornsymphony.org/allenYuan.html]Allen”>http://dearbornsymphony.org/allenYuan.html)</p>
<p>One of the few high schoolers that has legitimate posts about him if you google him. He also made it to physics olympiad camp, qualified for us chem national camp, and was on the US linguistics and math teams this year. He also has a 4.0 at his high school.</p>
<p>I think that if Harvard was to rank its applicant pool this year he would be #1 (except for maybe that guy from illinois with a 4.0, 36, and a 2400).</p>
<p>I’d definitely say breadth. But that doesn’t mean concentrate on one EC lol :p</p>
<p>^I don’t get it.</p>
<p>Both. 10char</p>
<p>^Yeah, depth and breadth are both very important when it comes to ECs. But if you’re a rising senior, I don’t see what difference that point makes - you don’t have much time to change that now, eh?</p>
<p>Whoops, fatum you don’t get it because I meant to write “depth”. Sorrrrrry :/</p>