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In the U.S. public schools offer students all kinds of extracurricular activities that cost the families either very little or nothing at all. I attended a low-
by Zanneth 5y ago
In the U.S. public schools offer students all kinds of extracurricular activities that cost the families either very little or nothing at all. I attended a low- to middle-income public elementary and middle school where I was able to practice violin for several years, and it didn't cost my family anything.
- scgtrp 5y agoCosts aren't always direct "pay this much to participate in this thing" costs. Having to arrange separate transportation home because you stayed after school past when the buses leave is also a cost.
- rayiner 5y agoNone of those will stand out on a college application.
- mitchdoogle 5y agoOne thing that might stand out is a complete lack of interest in doing anything besides studying. It seems like it may be a sign of low social intelligence
- sg47 5y agoWhy is that necessary to get educated?
- anchochilis 5y agoIt's not. But elite schools select for (1) students who will enrich the experience for their classmates and (2) who are likely to have an outsized impact on the world as adults and bring prestige to the institution. There are some people who are so quantitatively intelligent that a lack of social skills/intelligence doesn't matter (geniuses), but these people are so exceptional they can't be really measured by a test like the SAT. It's too easy to get a perfect score. Instead they'll distinguish themselves by excelling at STEM competitions (eg. Math Olympiad, programming contests, the Putnam).
- lupire 5y agoPutnam is a collegiate event, on which most students in the math department of elite colleges (except MIT) score approximately 0.