What will colleges think about the prioritization of passions and life goals over rigorous coursework?Answered
I'm currently participating in multiple IB classes - IB English HL, IB MAA SL, IB World Religions SL, and IB biology HL along with two electives. I'm also president of two clubs (one community service, the other a mix of interest and community service), as well as apart of NHS, and do two light volunteering activities in my free time (spend an hour or two a week on teaching a Ukrainian English and on a woman support letter writing campaign). On top of this, I'm going to start learning two languages outside of school- Arabic, and a continuation of French so I don't waste the two years I spent in school on it.
I'm very passionate about making my clubs larger than they already are. Furthering them so that they can continue when I'm gone, as well as increase the possibility of doing simply... more good within communities. I'm planning all sorts of fundraisers and events, and am also incredibly excited to start learning these languages.
However, I'm biting off more than I can chew, and know that I'm heading towards burnout. Especially with the difficult core classes that I'm taking on top of all of this. I'm planning on dropping down to SL Biology, as well as taking early release next year (senior year) and not really signing up for electives (as I already have all my elective credits). This would give me much more time to study (as I'd be taking Writing 101 with IB bio, math, and social studies, along with my outside language classes) as well as give me the opportunity to learn and have more experiences outside of school.
However, would colleges deem this as laziness? I wouldn't have a completely full schedule, and wouldn't be taking the most rigorous courses - although I have a decent 3.9 GPA. Is taking the time to pursue my life outside of school worth less than being academically studious and living in the books? I do enjoy school, and receive pretty much all A's. I simply find that there's much more to learn from life itself, and that school doesn't teach you how to live, and understand the real world, and human nature. But would this subsequently make me less competitive as a college applicant?
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2 answers
I will affirm what @AlexanderOddo said, and add on to it a little bit.
They're totally right. Good grades and rigorous coursework is SO extremely common. For many schools, there is a point where additional rigor and coursework is not what they're looking for anymore because you are qualified. So, prioritizing ECs over coursework certainly won't hurt you much, and may not matter at some schools with less rigorous programs.
I want to add on that this process, this moral dilemma, of "what do I prioritize, and why?" is something you should write about. You can detail how you had to make a tough decision about academic excellence or what really drives you and motivates you: your community and serving it, building it up. Your ultimate decision speaks volumes about your character. I think it is something that most colleges would love to see, so embrace that; follow your passions, not what we believe the college admissions process demands.
I wish you luck
Prioritizing your ECs and passions will only help you in the admissions process. It's common for applicants to have high grades in rigorous classes - what stands out more is having stellar ECs, writing great essays, and sharing unique perspectives and identities.
You are on track to stand out in this way, all while maintaining a high GPA and a decent level of course rigor. Though colleges will probably understand your mentality just from seeing your deep commitment to extracurriculars, it wouldn't hurt to explain it in the Additional Information section as well. You could rewrite this post for the explanation.
Hope this helps!
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Colleges would certainly not view this as laziness. Your current coursework is rigorous enough to be up to par with the standards of many elite schools. However, what truly makes a candidate stand out is how involved and passionate they are about their extracurriculars. Colleges want to find people who are passionate.