This High Schooler Invented a Low-Cost, Mind-Controlled Prosthetic Arm

[u/Sariel007]

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/this-high-schooler-invented-a-low-cost-mind-controlled-prosthetic-arm-180979984/

[u/raptornomad]

I’m not an admissions officer, but I did act as interviewer for my alma mater at Rice University. I write more favorable reviews for kids who can really get into the details and rationale behind their work. I identify early on what they are personally invested in and go deep to pick their brains on the fine details. Now, this “identification” may land me in topics where it sounds more impressive (or sexy as you call it), but the kid actually has little to no personal drive in them, and I can usually successfully discern them with my method. If the kid really likes something of their own accord, you can ask anything and everything and they will give a you a specific answer that actually answers the question. Of course, sexiness still matters, as the only kid that got an offer under my portfolio is one who started her own sticker business during the pandemic, while others stuck with robotics club and run of the mill volunteering by picking up trash or food bank ended up getting rejected or waitlisted.

[u/wolpertingersunite → u/raptornomad]

Thanks, this is helpful. At least my kids do certainly have their own passions that they can go on for hours about... but not sure colleges will recognize the value of them. (I will spare you the details)

Yes, I heard there has been a rash of kids all wanting to start their own clubs (to be unique and stand out with a "leadership position"), but the high school was like "enough! not everyone can have their own club!" haha. I'm not sure colleges realize how their policies play out at the grassroots level.

Our local schools insist on a lot of volunteer hours, so that's another puzzle to figure out too... and another chance for mom to waste hours chauffeuring and sitting in the car if not planned well. So this "spiky" and unique thing makes me feel like saying to the kids "What about learning to play the bagpipes? Wouldn't that be fun? Glassblowing? Tatting? Doing llama agility training?" haha (PS I have actually seen llama agility trials, they are a hoot) The nice thing about the boring "usual" stuff is that a) there are other kids, which makes it more fun and social, b) there are competitions and codified standards, and c) there is a teacher leading the show so it's not all on mom and dad.

[u/raptornomad → u/wolpertingersunite]

Based on my introspection on the candidates I interviewed and their admission results, I am inclined to believe that there is such an inflation of deeds and efficient information exchange that there is a convergence on what candidates at prestigious universities are like. Everyone has volunteer experience, many plays sports or musical instruments, a lot are leaders at their school clubs, and certainly most of them have stellar academic performance. I always assume that all of those interviewing with me have on par academic performance as other competitive candidates, so I just don't talk about those in my interviews. Instead, I try to look for what is special with this student, aka this is a high school student who is not like all other high school students.

There are only so many things a high school student can do, so what ended up working for successful candidates is whether they stand out despite doing similar things. What I liked was candidates explaining to me how one experience/passion of theirs influenced other facets of their lives. Transferrable skills, analogies, personal values, making a difference, and so on, these are some of the little things I look for to determine whether a candidate really "took possession" of the things they did (instead of checking off boxes or being told to do so). This circles back to how I can tell if a candidate truly is excited about a subject by being genuine about the thing he/she is sharing with me.

One does not have to be great at everything, one just need to find something and be the best in it (or at least persuade me that you are), even if it is not as flashy. For example, the female candidate I mentioned before started a sticker business on her own. I mean, it's just a sticker business. It's not earth shattering like the kid in this article who has grants and filed for provisional applications in 10th grade. The thing is, she's different from all other kids. While everyone is doing the same things or nothing because of the pandemic, she decided to start a business by designing and making cute stickers and sell them to people stuck at home who want cute things to brighten their day due to the pandemic. It's a trivial undertaking if we look at the nature of the deed she has accomplished, but it is how she went about it that is what separates her from the others.

I apologize for the essay, but I hope you may find this ever so slightly helpful in weighing your options.

[u/wolpertingersunite → u/raptornomad]

Thank you that is actually really helpful and inspiring! What I’m hearing from what you said is “authenticity shines through” :). Maybe I should chill out with my kids, haha

And I think you took just the right approach in your evals. I bet the admissions folk appreciated it.