<p>Hello, I’m new to these forums as a member, but I have been looking at these for some time. I asked this question on another website, but without the proper specs it does sound rather ridiculous, so ask you take the time and assess my situation.</p>
<p>I am currently a junior at a public competitive high school. This is my first year here, and my old school was not very competitive. I took the hardest classes available (all honors plus AP Bio) and now I’ve jumped into the IB program, with 4 HL classes plus taking AP Government and Politics online. I am prospectively going to be a full time student during both summer terms at the local community college, and dual-enrollment as well as taking another AP class online next year. I plan on taking the AP tests for both Spanish and French, because I did not take four years of a consistent language, but feel if I become fluent in both it shall be to my advantage. My rank was top 5% and my unweighted GPA was 3.6 (planning on bringing up to a 3.8). I haven’t taken any SAT tests yet but plan on a score of >2100, and taking SAT II in (most likely) Biology, Math II, and American History.</p>
<p>Okay with my academic background covered, (to show you that I’m not throwing myself up here with absolutely no chance) I attended a Stanford Leadership Conference summer of 2010, but other than that I don’t have any national activities. I have been an average member of Key Club and Student Council, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. This year I applied for National Honors Society as well as leadership positions in Class Office and Key Club (results haven’t been decided yet). I’ve been a 3-season athlete all my years of high school, running cross country and winter/spring track. </p>
<p>But I know very well that my GPA is not the best, and even if it was I couldn’t get in to top schools, Columbia being my main goal, without extraordinary ECs. One of my true passions that I do not get to show through community and school activities is my love for fashion. I was wondering if a popular internet fashion blog would be a hook in addition to my leadership in my community and my rigorous course schedule. I know many college students that have blogs attend fashion shows and receive perks from designers solely from recognition of their blogs. Although I do not have an aspiration to travel around the world at 16, I do know that fashion blogs have been an asset for others in their line of work. I plan on majoring in business and would like to have a business-fashion industry type of career. My questions to this forum is: will an admissions officer find this to be an attractive EC/hook/perk? Would it put me above and beyond other students, or should I look for national recognition elsewhere? Thank you for reading this, guidance is very much appreciated. :)</p>
<p>How much recognition does your blog have now? Almost everyone has a blog these days, and I don’t know if it has ever been a strong hook unless it is one that is highly regarded and has a lot of press.</p>
<p>Right now, not much. However I am talking /if/ it would get popular, because although it’s something I love to do, I would feel much more inclined to take the time if I knew it would help my academics. I’m saying something as close to [Style</a> Scrapbook](<a href=“http://www.stylescrapbook.com/]Style”>http://www.stylescrapbook.com/) or one of the other similar ones, as I could be without the career aspect.</p>
<p>Hook is defined as something the school definitely wants. What you’re describing is something unique about you – but not an institutional need by Columbia. Good luck, however.</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback. Could you elaborate on what you mean by “not an institutional need”? Like I said, I am definitely hoping for Columbia and am interested to know what they look for as a point of interest in an applicant.</p>
<p>RE: institutional needs. Columbia has a football team, a women’s track team, an orchestra and undergraduate theatre offerings. So Columbia needs, respectively, big and strong young men, women who sprint, percussionists and lighting designers.</p>
<p>In addition, Columbia has decided it wants an undergraduate population that is racially, geographically and socioeconomically diverse, so Columbia wants Native Americans, North Dakotans and children of working-class parents.</p>
<p>These things could be considered hooks.</p>
<p>But Columbia doesn’t have an online fashion forum that’s in need of bloggers, and I’d be surprised if the Dean of the College were sitting around his office pining for one. This does not necessarily mean Columbia won’t be interested in you if you make something of your blog. I can’t speak for Columbia, but it’s possible they could be quite interested. But your blog wouldn’t fill a hole that Columbia wants filled.</p>
<p>I think it would be difficult for you to gain enough notoriety with the blog to make it worth mentioning. The people who run extremely successful fashion blogs (such as the one you’ve linked to here) often have made a career of it, have a career related to what they write about, or are independently wealthy. As a high school student it would probably not be feasible to put the time and money into an endeavor that does end up being very demanding.</p>
<p>I think perhaps I was confused on the difference between a need of a university and something unique about an applicant.</p>
<p>And I understand I could not reach the level that I posted, however [style</a> rookie](<a href=“http://www.thestylerookie.com/]style”>http://www.thestylerookie.com/) is a 15 year old girl who has received international fame for her blog, just as proof that yes, it CAN happen.</p>
<p>Is there a better/more reasonable way to use my skills to have an edge to me? I know that just community activities are not going to cut it. I thought that an art perspective would make me seem well rounded, however I would very much appreciate any insight that I can get on this matter. :)</p>
<p>Of course, we don’t know you, but the answer could quite well be “Not really.” It’s an interesting angle. (Well, I’m not interested in fashion, so I wouldn’t actually read your blog, but if it gains a following, having a widely read blog is an interesting angle.) It’s just not something that Columbia needs year in and year out.</p>
<p>I see now, Sikorsky, that it is not a “need” so much as an angle. I think I’ll give it some more thought but I definitely believed it to be something that was different from other applicants. I would love to hear more opinions though, and thank you.</p>
<p>I think you’ve gotten good, honest feedback so far. What tippy-top colleges are looking for in new admits are 1) students who can fill an immediate “institutional need” (as Sikorsky explained), AND / OR 2) students who they “believe” have the potential to bring “fame and glory AND / OR lots of $$ donations” to the college in the future.</p>
<p>If you’re a smart, involved, creative student who can fill Need #2 for them, that fact must shine from your application, and your blog would be just one small part of that equation.</p>
<p>Good luck! (from a parent of a happy CC student)</p>