<p>So I’m Indian and i LOVE Indian culture. I choreograph Bhangra (a Punjabi Dance) and started two teams, I’m president of the Hindu Club and South Asian Society. I play tabla (Indian drums), and started an organization that raises money for uneducated children in India and most of my art work revolves around Indian subjects. I also write for a cultural magazine, with most of my topics being Indian and now I’m working on a research paper which explores the main source of poverty in India. Whatever I do, I incorporate my Indian culture. Would most colleges see this as my passion, or would they think I was too narrow minded to exclusively Indian things? Would it work in my favor or against me? I’ve tried to venture out into other activities such as writing, debates, mock Trial, and Model UN, but I always get flung back to my Indian roots.</p>
<p>I think your passion is fantastic…what a gift you might give to future classmates in college to understand and appreciate your culture. Keep it up!</p>
<p>Oh Bhangra! That brings me back. I lived on a premed floor at Boston U. during freshman year and half the floor was indian, many of them from Punjab so a lot of them were members of the Bhangra team and I would always watch their practices and shows. Such a cool style of dance. And it is very respectable to be involved in your culture and heritage. No college would ever look down on that</p>
<p>I don’t know if there is such a thing as a bad passion, unless it’s something like laziness, binge drinking, or murder.</p>
<p>Catfish: Did you see that earlier post from the guy whose main EC was a marijuana legalization club? And it wasn’t just a “conceptual” participation either. LOL</p>
<p>dbzgtfreek81: I think your EC sounds wonderful! I hope you can transfer that energy to the S Asian community of whatever school you attend!</p>
<p>You guys are making me feel so good! I really thought it would hurt my application, because my general guidance counselor said I should venture out and see what other things I might be interested in because I seem too “cultural.” He said it with a bit of a negative connotation. I hope you’re all right!</p>
<p>In any case, start smoking weed, to have a back up, so in case this one doesn’t work out, you’ll have another to fly you through. Get it? rofl</p>
<p>In any case, that counselor is probably just a novice, who has some idea about admissions and stuff, but didn’t really get to the middle of it. Colleges want to see you. You you. Not some other you that’s better looking. If you manage to show them a full and complete you, it’s win. Of course, as long as “you” actually is something…nothing spectacular… a human being will usually suffice. Not for the HYPMS however, tho…for that you need to be a robot. Kidding. Cyborg will do.</p>
<p>In my short experience, i’d rate things like this
- Successfully presenting yourself.
- Having something to actually present.</p>
<h1>2 is useless without #1, anyway, while #1, if wisely done, can be enough.</h1>
<p>So ya, having that passion is definitely a good thing, just be sure to show it.</p>
<p>that’s really awesome. do what you’re passionate about, and don’t feel ashamed of it, or stop doing it because someone else might not appreciate it.</p>
<p>one thing though: have you done any community service stuff to benefit your indian community? that might appeal to colleges more than pure cultural involvement, and you would be able to pursue your passion even more productively. the research paper sounds awesome by the way. you could turn that into a very cool and helpful community project.</p>
<p>p.s. your counselor is arguably kind of racist…forget him/her.</p>
<p>It’s a great passion to have. You may wish to “diversify” when you look for ECs, which may have been what your guidance counselor was getting at. But in terms of a possible essay, this seems like a very good topic to write on. The general consensus is that colleges are looking to construct a well-rounded class moreso than grabbing “well-rounded students.” Now I’ll need to clarify my meaning. This doesn’t mean they don’t want students who are involved in a number of areas, just that they don’t NECESSARILY look down on those who have one strong passion. Hope that doesn’t sound too contradictory.</p>
<p>I agree with previous posters that your passion sounds excellent! There are many colleges that not only don’t mind that you’re “cultural”, but will be thrilled with it. While your interests are tied together, you are clearly not participating in only one activity. I think your ECs will be just fine for basically any colleges, and I wish you luck with your college search.</p>
<p>I would think that you are in the perfect position to present yourself as very focused - you just need to come up with a career goal that ultilizes your passion (whether you intend to pursue that goal or not is up to you, but the college needs to think that you have that goal in mind. ). </p>
<p>Look at it this way: the school wants to find the next great American novelist, or AIDS researcher, or whatever. So they will look for people who are driven in a particular area AND have enough focus to already have a career goal that relates to those interests. In my opinion, it’s that relationship that makes the difference. </p>
<p>If a kid is passionate about music - has a zillion activities realted to music, created new ideas about music…but doesn’t want to major in music or follow any type of musical career, well - that would indicate that they have varied interests and can stick with a project, but it doesn’t really make them a candidate that stands out from all the rest.</p>
<p>Well I would really like to find a solution to real estate in India. As of now maintainence is a huge problem in cities and remote villages are not able to access resources and energy. I’ll probably apply to UPenn Wharton for early decision, since it matches my Indian interests with Penn Dhamaka, and Penn Masala, and it has a great business school-WHARTON!-which can give me a thorough background on international real estate and real estate enterpreneurship. Does that seem focused enough?</p>
<p>Focus on the fact that you’re adding something new, not just fitting in!</p>
<p>That seems like a very specific focus which is a good thing. But remember to express in your essays what it means to you, why you want to do it, and why that school especially is the right one for you.</p>
<p>yup. you guys are so helpful! Thank you so much.</p>
<p>i think its a good passion
you may want to look into anthropology or sociology–that is if you’re into humanities.</p>
<p>OP: check out the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts (NFAA); <a href=“http://www.artsawards.com/[/url]”>http://www.artsawards.com/</a> . They have an opportunity for you to become a presidential scholar in the arts as a result of your dancing!</p>
<p>My college counselor recommended I take a look at that website a few months ago as well. To become a presidential scholar I have to go through the entire process of winning awards and such too right? It doesn’t give too much info about the presidential scholar portion on the website.</p>
<p>Oh, no, I think that’s an absolutely beautiful passion. Not only does it give you more of an identity, but it shows that you’re proud of your identity. Plus, Indians are a minority - and you being so involved in your Indian culture gives colleges a reason to believe that you’ll add to the campus culturally.</p>
<p>Really, everything you’ve done is impressive and you should be proud of yourself.</p>
<p>^^ You do, but the process ends in January, so there’d be time to get the info into colleges before they make their decisions.</p>