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Indeed, indulging Mike's passion for cars may have helped him develop the habit of pursuing all his interests with imagination and depth. The progressive school Mike attends doesn't use conventional grades or report cards, but his performance stands out just the same. "Some students run through their work as if they're on a racetrack. But Mike has the introspection and reflectiveness of a scholar," observes his Latin teacher, Elisa Denja. "His interest in a topic doesn't end in the classroom or with what's in the book."
The word passion comes up a lot when college admissions directors are asked what they look for in a student. "There are lots of students out there who can do the work and get the A's," says Robert Kinnally, dean of admissions at Stanford University. "But who are the students who care deeply about the subject matter and will stay after to ask their teacher for another book?" Both Kinnally and Williams College's Parker bemoan the fact that so many college applicants are "packaged" and pushed by their parents. "Parents are trying to mold their children in ways that would please us," says Parker, "rather than recognizing passions or strong commitments in their children and then encouraging the heck out of those."
One place competitive colleges search for signs of genuine commitment is in extracurricular activities. For many students and their parents, extracurricular activities are a kind of flavor enhancer to sprinkle on a resume: a dash of music, a pinch of poetry club, a soupcon of athletics. But what folks like Kinnally know is that a meaty involvement with any of these activities builds valuable traits like persistence, leadership and the ability to work in teams.
THAT SPECIAL TEACHER
Huan Song arrived in a Chicago suburb two years ago unable to speak much English, but possessed of as much grit as a 14-year-old can muster. The child of divorced middle-class parents in China, she had been sent by her father to live with an aunt and uncle. "I could have had a comfortable life in China, but my father thought I'd have a better future and a more exciting life in the U.S. He made a great sacrifice to let me come here to have a good future."
After just one semester at Glenbard East High School, Huan wanted out of English as a second language classes. She knew they became a way of life for many foreign-born students. Her guidance counselor and teachers warned that she might fail, but the tenacious Huan proved them wrong. Now a senior, she maintains perfect grades in honors classes, competes in debates, is on the math team and serves as vice president of the school choir. "I don't want to sound pompous," she says in her accented but perfect English, "but I just had to fight my way up."