Post 19 is basically what I was thinking – the title made me think that student B was a 4.0, 2400 student who spent all their time inside playing video games or something. But robotics, NHS, and playing the violin all suggest some level of socialization. I wouldn’t call them “reclusive” by any means.
…that being said, I don’t think either is particularly rare. Certainly not to the degree that one would be clearly preferred over the other, based on their resume alone.
I think both students demonstrate academic performance and mettle, and they would attract attention from some of the colleges they are applying to.
But that’s only on paper.
I would be more interested in learning a little bit more about the applicant.
For me, their background, circumstance and challenges they faced would assist in the evaluation process, as it would further breathe life to their resume, allowing me to gauge the depth of the individual. They wouldn’t be so one-dimensional anymore.
I’ve met students during my stay at UCLA (ok, not a Harvard, Yale or Stanford) who wrote about some of the challenging circumstances they faced while going through high school. Nothing too dramatic, but a topic one may think to be very ordinary and easy to dismiss.
Some of these students genuinely thought they didn’t have a chance (though they backed up their application with a solid GPA and SAT scores, but nothing perfect or ultra competitive like their peers). To them, their essay was the only lifeline and voice amid the thousands of applicants flooding the university review committee.
No fancy writing, nothing clever with the style, tone and diction, just authentic, organic writing about their background and challenge. That’s it. It was like they were having a back-and-forth conversation with the admissions reader.
Many of these applicants thought that the essays really helped to connect to the reader, and to assist them in gaining admission to UCLA. To them, it wasn’t about the numbers and extracurricular activities, but showing the reader that they were an individual with real concerns, worries and hopes.
I was just asking to see what more people would prefer. It’s like a yes or no question.
@SpringAwake15 Trust me. When I described the ARG, it’s not because I met someone exactly like them. I’ve met many people similar to them all being shy, which is why I choose to describe them as “reclusive”. I tried to paint a picture of the ARG using attributes of the “ARG’s” that I’ve met throughout my life. You feel me?
It depends upon what am I picking them for. Both have their limitations.
I’ve seen both WRSA’s and ARG’s. I narrowed it down to this “list” because in my opinion it’s the most common people I see. There really is no in between.
@pault289, I do know students with interests similar to those you’re describing. However, I think it’s erroneous to call them reclusive when they just… aren’t. Even clubs like robotics, which are seen as being a haven for nerdy, quiet kids, can be extremely close-knit and provide a lot of opportunities to make friends and socialize and all that jazz. “Awkward” is a bit more subjective, though, so I won’t argue that. 
I totally disagree that there’s no in-between, though. What about the high-performing kids in theatre, or the drum majors, or the Art Honor Society? What about student activists, who work to build more inclusive school environments? What about the kids with very good grades who aren’t able to study as often as their peers because they have to work and help pay for household expenses? I think it’s human nature to categorize people as simply and efficiently as possible. But if you look around, it’s much harder to actually capture the full range of human experience. I’m not saying that these types don’t exist, but I think there are a lot more people either in-between or outside the dichotomy entirely.
Personally, my high school has a lot of these introvert kinds. Not like perfect ACT/SAT scores, but good grades and whatnot. In my 3 years, I haven’t come across one other WRSA (I’m not technically one yet because I’ve waited till this next year to join the golf team). But type A fits me pretty well, except for the fact that I have a good shot at valedictorian. All that I know is that elite universities don’t seek out the introverts. They want the people who will add culture, life, etc. to the community.
@SpringAwake15, I guess I was being vague, when I meant in-between I meant that there isn’t anyone that is both the WRSA and ARG, like they’re not sociable yet awkward. I didn’t include the drum majors and band and whatnot because I feel like they’re their own category. They’ll apply to music schools or fine arts schools, but I’m talking about schools well known for the academics like HYPS.
For example, you mentioned the National Art Society. If they want to major in art or and graphic design, it’s best to apply to a school like Cal Arts.
@pault289, I saw that you mentioned that you go to a very small school, which kind of contextualizes your opinions a bit. If there are only ~fifty kids in your grade, I can kind of see how there might be pressure to be one or the other, but at large? I disagree.
“They’ll apply to music schools or fine arts schools, but I’m talking about schools well known for the academics like HYPS.”
…this isn’t true. I’m sorry, but it isn’t. The Ivies are filled with accomplished artists and musicians – Brown even has a dual-degree program with RISD. Actually, I’d argue that an artist with high scores, good essays, and an incredible portfolio would be just as, if not more, appealing than either the WRSA or the ARG! HYPS have majors in fine arts/performance studies/etc, and they want to fill them. And even beyond that, just because a student is heavily involved in those extracurriculars, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re going to major in them. There have even been studies showing how music and the arts can improve your math skills, making them ideal passions for those with an interest in things like engineering.
Just think about how boring those top schools would be if everyone was either a WRSA or an ARG. If you look through threads of past accepted students, you’ll be able to see how diverse the student populations really are.
As does Harvard and NEC, Columbia and Juilliard, etc. Generalizations that someone interested in art or music as a major or non-major would not choose to go to HYPS is not valid; some musicians do not want to study at a conservatory for a variety of reasons.
Neither, I would pick the well rounded high achiever.
@SpringAwake15 I see what you mean, but like I said before, the WRSA and ARG are what I see most common in my high school. Which is a small private school located in Texas. This thread was more of a thought for me. If you thought that I meant every school is like this, I didn’t. I use this website to speak my mind and to find advice.
but more than half of these responses weren’t giving me the answers I was looking for haha. It’s more of a poll to me. Seeing that my school is competitive in sports, and it’s divided into WRSA’s and ARG’s. I just wanted to know which would end up having a higher chance at a college like HYPS. My school doesn’t have a strong fine arts department which is why I did not factor in those type of people.
If you haven’t noticed I’m more biased towards the WRSA, because I relate to that more than the ARG. I’m more sociable than quiet. I made this thread to get people’s approval if I should go down this path. I like to play sports but I don’t see myself being in the pro leagues or playing college. I just like to play for my HS team. I also like to volunteer and go out and help people. Finally, I get straight A’s and such. I left out a lot of details (awards, groups, etc.) but I see that these two types are seen in the HYPS application pools. So I kind of used this to see if even a kid that makes above average grades, that plays sports and such, has just an equal amount of chance as the kid who is considered a genius among his peers.
Still I am very confused.
You won’t know unless you apply. There are no guarantees for anyone at the Ivies.
In post #33 you answered your own question. You should do the things that interest you, NOT try to fit some “ideal applicant”. Far too many people do that, and somehow it seems admissions offices can sense that. If you do what you enjoy, you will be able to write authentic essays about your interests, and dare I say it, “passions”. My kids were more the ARG type, but that was authentically them.
thanks @donnaleighg I somewhat needed that slap in the face.