What's considered a spike?

seeadmit
Mon, 19 Dec 2016 06:35:11 +0000

The whole point is that you must be world class at just one or at max two things.
Now world class could mean being in the top few students in the nation as it is for olympiads. Basically you must have a huge achievement in whatever you love to do and want to pursue in college.
Also the spike can be developed not just through having huge achievements but also through streamlined extracurricular activities which should clearly point that you really love that subject. That is called strategic positioning in an app.
If you love CS then streamline your app for CS. taking undergrad math and cs courses will show love for learning. It will show that you took the initiative. You could also try MOOCs. And your computing olympiad medal will validate all that.

AP exams, national merit semifinalist etc. are simply too common so they wont add anything. they are technically useless. no weightage at top schools.

However remember that there should be atleast a few extracurriculars which should show leaderships skills etc. Atleast some variety is expected. It could mean founding a CS club at highschool. That way you present both, your love for CS as well as leadership skills.

I hope you get it.