You “must” demonstrate passion for your area of academic interest, you “must” have diverse activities to stand out, you “must” show sustained commitment, you “must” have balanced coursework… Advice on what you “have to do” to get into college can feel contradictory and impossible to follow. Is it better to have a broad profile and show you can balance your rigorous science and math classes with creative pursuits through orchestra and art? Or to show the depth of your commitment to studying computer science by spending your free time in robotics club and coding competitions? In short, should your profile be well-rounded or specialized? 

The short answer is both. But let’s talk about what that looks like and how to do it. 

A specialization can help you stand out from the crowd, but it won’t do you any favors if it comes at the cost of the rest of your profile. Think about the well-rounded aspect of your profile as the foundation of your application. You need to build a solid foundation of good grades in a range of rigorous coursework. If you go all-in on your AP Chem and Bio classes and then get Bs in your required English and History classes, you have some cracks in your foundation and an unstable start to your application. When you try to start building your specialization tower of scientific research, it won’t be able to reach the same height as another applicant who started with solid building blocks of straight A’s in AP Chem, Bio, Literature, Calc, and U.S. History. If you manage to balance good grades in a range of AP or IB courses, you’re going to have solid ground to start building your specialization tower high enough to stand out against the skyline of other applicants. 

As you work on laying your strong foundation of well-rounded coursework, how do you choose a specialization? Like so much in the college admissions process, the way to build your strongest possible profile depends on a few factors: your interests, your goals, and the colleges on your list. If you pick a career path early, you might choose a related specialization, taking additional classes and finding related internships, clubs, and research opportunities. You can also build a unique specialization before determining your career. You might not plan to study music, but find that excelling in this creative pursuit helps you approach your other interests with a unique perspective, which can help you stand out among applicants with a more traditional specialization for their field. 

Still unsure what specialization will work best for your profile? “Be yourself” is frustrating advice when you really just want to be the person who goes to your dream university. But unfortunately there’s some wisdom to it here. Don’t spend your time on activities you aren’t interested in just for the sake of your college application (within reason of course–you still have to study for your least favorite classes). Make sure that you have a solid platform of well-rounded academics, and then pursue specialization where your interests lead you. Genuine enthusiasm will yield better results because you’ll invest more time, energy, and engagement into the things you care about. Be strategic by planning ahead to build a solid foundation and a tall tower, but don’t choose your tower out of strategy alone. Build an application you are proud of, and find the joy in laying the bricks.

Future Forward’s strategic advisors and MAP tool help you craft a profile that will attract colleges. Learn how.