When reviewing an application, college admissions officers evaluate the entire student profile—everything from academic scores to extracurriculars, passions, and future goals. This process is called “holistic review,” in which everything about an individual is considered when deciding whether to accept or defer them.[1] Given that everything about a student is essential, how should one build their profile? Is it better to be a well-rounded student with many achievements or a focused student with a clear direction?
What are “Well-Rounded” and “Pointed” Student Profiles?
Well-rounded students explore a range of subjects, fields, and activities. Generally, they focus on learning as much as possible across various areas to become strong scholars. On the contrary, pointed student profiles typically display a singular focus—one drive that captures the student’s full attention. Pointed students are often interested in becoming the best at their subject and don’t want to divert time from that focus.
What Do College Admissions Officers Look For?
What colleges look for in their applicants has not always been the same. Standards and interests change, especially in the most selective Ivy League schools. This past week, Yale announced a change in their standardized test policy—reverting a prior switch to a test-optional application. What was fashionable decades ago may not be so in the future. This is true of all industries, but it’s vital for those with a specific vision for their academic path to understand what top schools are seeking.[2]
Zak Harris, one of our Former Admissions Officers at InGenius Prep, states how standards have changed in the college admissions process. “For so long, academics were the ‘thing’ that led to a student being admitted to college. If they met a certain standard, they were admitted. These days, academics aren’t enough and don’t help a student stand out within the admissions process. Certainly, a student has to have excellent academics, but now, the ‘fit’ within that campus, along with every other piece of the application, matters so much more. This is why students that only have strong academics are often waitlisted or denied from schools that are very competitive.”
While academics remain essential at the most competitive schools, many of those schools want more from their students than just high scores. A student’s personality and character are increasingly becoming essential to college admissions officers.[3]
Well-Rounded Student Profiles: Pros and Cons
Well-rounded students perform across multiple areas, often at high levels, but may also lack focus in any one area. For example, a well-rounded biochemistry student will focus on biochemistry as their primary field of study while also engaging in other activities. They may volunteer at an animal shelter, lead a debate club, organize a charitable event to support hungry villages worldwide, and compete in international piano competitions.
These achievements are impressive in their own right and can all be performed at a high level, but on an application, they may also seem unrelated to an admissions officer.
Nick Strohl, Former Director of Admissions at Yale and now at InGenius Prep, stated that being well-rounded can be both beneficial and detrimental depending on the circumstance. “Academically, successful applicants to top colleges are expected to be excellent students in just about every subject area, so ‘well-roundedness’ academically is helpful. That said, there should be a clear academic focus on a future major or cluster of majors.”
“Extracurricularly, top schools are looking for students who make an impact on their community and serve in leadership roles. It’s hard to make a big impact in more than 1-2 areas… In this regard, striving to be ‘well-rounded’ by participating in too many extracurriculars can be detrimental, as it spreads the student too thin. Quality is more important than quantity when it comes to extracurricular involvement.”
Pointed Student Profiles: Pros and Cons
Pointed student profiles also focus on a field of study—such as biochemistry in our previous example—but those students will devote most, if not all, of their focus to that field. They have a clear pathway to their academic careers and take advantage of opportunities as they arise. They will conduct their own biochemical projects, participate in biochemical competitions, secure lab internships, or volunteer on studies.
However, a student’s application persona and achievements in extracurricular activities can significantly impact their college admissions. For students with a single focus, it’s recommended to broaden it to showcase their student profile in new and exciting ways. Nick Strohl says this about pointed students, “If a student is ‘pointed,’ they can look to build upon that area of focus to extend it in new ways… For example, a student with a ‘pointed’ profile in biology/medicine could write an essay on the history of science and medicine to demonstrate their skill in the humanities and as a writer.”
What is an “Egg-Shaped” Student?
An egg-shaped student is somewhere between well-rounded and pointed—a student with a clear direction and theme to their achievements that reflects the nature of their study, rather than someone who tries a little bit of everything with no connecting motif.
This means that egg-shaped students pursue many interests, fields, and activities, all of which serve a greater purpose. They come together to make a student with a clear theme—a direction or purpose that speaks to something greater. In the example of an egg-shaped student, we combine the best aspects of both well-rounded and focused students to create a profile with direction and purpose, while also highlighting rounded achievements beyond the student’s field of study.
For the biochemistry major, egg-shaped students will focus on their studies and aim for high marks, while also taking on other tasks to pursue their interests. They may play sports such as basketball and independently study, experimenting with biochemical properties to determine which exercises and supplements improve athletic performance. They may take sculpting classes to create écorché models and examine the human body’s intramuscular structures. They may take psychology courses to better understand the mind-body connection, engage in charitable activities to support individuals with physical or mental health needs, and study music to examine its effects on mood and performance. In this case, the student is more than a biochemistry candidate—their profile now reflects a dedicated scholar passionate about health and wellness, focusing on biochemistry to study the human body and support those around them.
How to Become an Egg-Shaped Student
Becoming an egg-shaped student is a long process that involves years of profile-building.[4] Students should start the process as early as possible for the best results—as early as 9th grade and continue to build their profile through junior year. Students often benefit from guidance on this subject, working with an industry expert to identify their interests, set goals, and develop a winning application that stands out to admissions officers.
To get started on this process, InGenius Prep offers our Candidacy Building and Academic Mentorship programs. Our expert team of Former Admissions Officers and Industry Experts is here to guide your students and set them up for success at their dream school.
Call today to schedule a free consultation with one of our advisors and learn how to build a strong student profile for top colleges.