School that like well-rounded people? Stanford?

well of course all elite colleges like well rounded ppl but are there ones in particular which kind of stresses well roundedness? my peers tell me stanford usually puts considerable emphasis on well roundedness…

are there any more?

<p>Columbia puts a huge amount of stress on accepting a class of truly well-rounded people. On these boards, what was known as the Columbia Massacre, occurred because of people having extremely high numbers stats getting deferred or rejected compared to those with lesser stats, but more EC’s and better essays. </p>

<p>Just goes to show that numbers aren’t everything.</p>

<p>actually, all my friends who went to berkely, MIT, GW, and Cornell all had a
well “lopsided-ness.”</p>

<p>you have misunderstood the college admission process. Colleges build a well-rounded class by accepting people who have excelled in individual areas. They want star athletes, artists, leaders, researchers, mathemeticians, etc. Being a well-rounded applicant is the proverbial “mile-wide and an inch deep”, a sure ticket to being rejected.</p>

<p>And anyone who told you that “stanford usually puts considerable emphasis on well roundedness” knows little about either Stanford or admissions at top colleges. </p>

<p>If you look at the Stanford admission site you will see “We do not favor one type of activity over another; nor is it necessary to participate in a large number of activities. An exceptional experience in one or two activities demonstrates your passion more than minimal participation in five or six clubs.” Doesn’t sound like a considerable emphasis on well roundedness, does it?</p>

<p>mikemac i would say that being well rounded is “a sure ticket to being rejected,” because it definately isn’t</p>

<p>the best candidate, of course, is still well rounded applicant who excels in all activies, such as a star athlete, gifted musician, USAMOer, and RSIer…etc.</p>

<p>

Show me someone who has done all of those, you’re not showing me a well-rounded person, you’re showing me Superman!! (or Superwoman). Schools as prestigious as Stanford are satisified if you just excel in one or two, you’re offering the world!</p>

<p>Truth is, most people don’t share your definition when they say “well-rounded”. They mean they joined some campus club, they’ve done a bit of volunteer work somewhere, they might be one of 50 or 100 representatives elected to their student government, they have learned a musical instrument, they won an award for something along the line. Nice accomplishments, to be sure, but exactly the minimal participation that schools like Stanford explicitly warn against.</p>

<p>mikemac, I don’t think you got the point of the posts.</p>

<p>I, persay, play 4 woodwinds (including 2 double reeds), have a nice GPA, and have worked in some other EC’s (robotics, outside orchestras, volunteering at hospital through helping to design and work in a teen music for healing program, working for some political campaigns and going to rallies). My biggest passion is music, but I consider myself to be a well-rounded person because I do other activites and am enthusiastic about all of them. I was accepted to Columbia ED.</p>

<p>Now, you said that they want a class thats well-rounded through individuals with given talents. From my experience with the members of Columbia 2009, a lot of us are musicians. I am confused then how they want specific people in all regards if they take a lot of musicians. That doesn’t seem, well, very well-rounded at all. </p>

<p>What Columbia realized was that each person did other things that can add to the diversity of the campus and student body. We all have unique experiences and talents and quirks which make up a diverse group of people.</p>

<p>Stats are obviously important, and for good reason. But being well-rounded doesn’t just mean joining 15 clubs because they look good on a resume. Being well-rounded is having a few particular passions and dedicating yourself to them. </p>

<p>I personally believe that these are the kinds of students top schools like Columbia, Stanford, Harvard, Yale, etc. are looking for.</p>

<p>What about UPENN/Wharton?</p>

<p>do they look HUGELY" on ECs and Activities/service/work/</p>

<p>Wharton; I’m not too sure about. Although many want to go there, I havent seen a lot applying to wharton. Penn certainly does look at those in fact all ivies do; perhaps not Cornell as heavily as others. From my experience, students with the numbers who lack in ECs mostly got accepted at Cornell. It is undoubtedly a superb school but from what I see, among the ivies it puts the least emphasis on EC’s. </p>

<p>I misunderstood the term well rounded. I thought it meant, you play sports, music, is a good mathmetician, a good leader, and a researcher. I didnt have any sports or musical talents and consequently, joining the team was near impossible as the pool was competitive (lame excuse). Will joining some teams in my junior year be too late?</p>

<p>Not really, but most colleges don’t really care about sports (or music for that matter) unless you stand out, show leadership, or play a sport/instrument which isn’t that common. You won’t get denied because you didn’t join the track team for a year as long as you have something else you are good at.</p>