Is Being A Spiky Student An Advantage in College Admissions?

Spiky student? I've known plenty of spiky people in life and most aren't people with whom I want to spend a lot of time. However, in recent years the term "spiky student" has emerged as something that some have advocated as giving a student an edge in admissions.

When I first heard the term "spiky student" I assumed it was a negative thing. To me a spiky student was perhaps unfriendly or sharp, but it has emerged as a term, as it relates to college admissions, that refers to a student who focuses on a particular subject or area in academics or activities. Spiky students are those who choose a subject or passion and go all in—schedules are packed with one subject (while other requirements are only met), extracurriculars are focus on one area with multiple activities all pointing back toward one theme. Magnet schools offer a good environment for students who want to specialize in a specific subject during high school. For example, a high school where near my home offers high level math and science courses (some often offered only at the collegiate level), but the selection for foreign language is limited to only Spanish. These "spikes" in a student's experience demonstrate a depth of knowledge and an ability to focus and progress in a particular subject or area of interest. Those are absolutely attributes that colleges are looking for in potential candidates, but does it give an advantage?

In contrast, a "well-rounded student" demonstrates that they have interest and can thrive academically and socially in many different subjects and settings. Likewise, their activities might demonstrate that they are an athlete and an musician or a mathematician who loves foreign languages. Yes, I'm aging myself here, but this was what was promoted when I was applying to college. Being well-rounded was the goal, and making sure I had diverse activities on my extracurriculars list was important (shout out to being a candy striper at the local hospital and an All-State vocalist).

This brings us back to the initial question—is being a spiky student an advantage in college admission? The answer is...it depends (there's a frequent joke among college counselors that the answer to any admissions question is always "it depends"). It depends one what type of college a student is interested in attending. A liberal arts school will be more drawn to a student that demonstrates an ability to broaden their horizons and demonstrates BOTH breadth and depth in their curriculum and interests. Why? Because that is what a liberal arts education focuses on—a multidisciplinary education that cultivates critical thinking, adaptability, and creativity. Does that mean that same liberal arts school will automatically reject a spiky student, no. It does, however, mean that the student might need to show their interest or ability to thrive in a more interdisciplinary educational approach.

Conversely, if a student wants to attend a program that is narrowly focused and doesn't require a multidisciplinary curriculum (think MIT or Juilliard), a spiky student can be appealing. That student has demonstrated the ability and aptitude to advance in a particular subject at a high level. Does this mean that a well-rounded student isn't a good fit for these institutions? No, but they do need to demonstrate their ability to meet the rigor of the curriculum at the institution.

I guess the moral of the story is that both approaches have their advantages and their drawbacks. What is most important is finding a path that best fits the student, their goals, and what ignites their passion and fosters growth.