What do colleges/admissions officers consider when looking at prospective students?

Question

I am a high school sophomore. I want to become a Doctor. I am heavily focusing on math and science (but still taking the required other classes including enriched english, history, band, etc..) I heard that colleges like "well rounded" people, but what does that mean? Does that mean taking random classes like art, cooking classes, theatre? I hate those kind of classes. Should I force myself to take a class I don't like for the sake of being "well rounded"?

Answer 1

I'm a junior in college and I got into my top school. I don't know how much help my answer will be to you, but what I found when applying to schools was that, it's good to have a focus, like medicine in your case, however colleges realize that you're young and there's a good possibility you may change your mind before the end of college.  

Being well-rounded certainly works to your advantage, they don't seem to look for too much of one thing, but you're in band and taking other classes so as long as you participate in extracurricular actives you should be fine.  Mostly they like to see dedication and passion from students in whatever activities they decide to do.  There's no particular formula.

The better the school, such as the top 40 universities, the harder it gets to predict what they want.  So many students apply with amazing and similar interests and sometimes it just comes down to what type of person they need to diversify their incoming student body.

I hoped that helped some, just be ambitious, keep your grades up and be honest when applying.  Admission boards can certainly see through the bullshit so don't go overboard with anything either.  Also, from what I've heard it seems to be more cut and dry when applying as a science or engineering major since it's not as board as say a liberal arts major might be.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Not necessarily those classes you hate but rather take classes that you are well knowledgeable of.. The officer would just want to find out how mature you are about anything.. just be open-minded and don't focus only on the extra curricular loads..