This alliterative term has become a hot topic in college admissions. Students who are especially stoked about a very specific idea like a STEM research endeavor, computer development project, community initiative, or entrepreneurship idea, have had major success bringing their vision to life.
It gets tricky, however, when students are drawn to craft and launch a project only for the sake of looking fancy for college admissions. Here I will break down the basics of when to consider one, and when to spare yourself time better reserved for homework (Calculus!). If it is in your stars, I then outline the dos and don’ts of manifesting your vision, followed by examples of successful projects, followed by a few voices from admissions professionals themselves.
GOOD IDEA
You would definitely still do this project if you knew it wouldn’t make a difference for college admissions.
You have been thinking about a specific project that you think would be so cool, for so long! It’s been on your mind for at least a year, and you also think you just might have the skills to make it happen.
You would absolutely, totally love to do this thing. Like, you might often wake up and want to work on it before school, or maybe you delay going to bed since you’re vibing on it.
You’re certain you can balance your homework load and keep up the great work in school as you pursue this project, as well as SAT/ACT prep (dropping a minor activity like a club in exchange is likely just fine)
You have an adult other than your parents, an outside organization, or professional who will formally mentor you or be directly involved throughout the project.
NOT THE BEST IDEA RIGHT NOW
You are primarily interested in your project because you think it will make you more competitive for college admissions.
You first decided you need a passion project, and then worked to come up with an idea.
You are already very busy and find it challenging to balance SAT/ACT prep, co-curricular activities, sleep, and your homework load.
You would just be doing this project on your own, and no adult or org other than your parents would be formally involved.
Note that if you, in spite of the above, want to pursue some side project that you’re into, go for it! I am only speaking for what “counts” for college.
DOs
If you pass the above test, secure an adult or org to collab with other than your parents.
Keep a log of your project management from genesis to manifestation.
If you believe it’s relevant, reach out to local media like your school paper, community paper, or local news or radio to see if they might cover your project.
When you discuss it in interviews and applications, always express gratitude and cognizance that you are fortunate to have the resources to pursue a project outside of school.
Seriously consider if you can simultaneously excel in your major classes and test prep, which will be far more impactful for colleges.
Constantly check in to ensure you are still loving the project and can manage the above.
DON’Ts
Never use the term “passion project” to describe your accomplishments in your applications, interviews, or anywhere else.
Don’t worry if what you want to do doesn’t align with what you might study in college!
Don’t embark upon anything for which you will use AI for more than 10% of the project (unless you are actually studying AI or using it to accelerate coding).
It bears repeating: don’t do anything that you’re not totally passionate about for the sake of college admissions. They’ll sniff it out.
EXAMPLES
A computer programmer and gamer has a new idea about an app that could optimize and streamline his high school student government elections. He works with his Computer Science and Leadership teachers to design and implement the new program.
An artist feels that her series of canvases is starting to look good as a collective. She reaches out to local galleries and is invited to create and install her own show.
Beyond the typical community service most students do, one volunteer identifies a specific need at his local houseless shelter. He fundraises and formally starts a school club to provide ongoing support to the organization.
A choir singer who is in all the ensembles researches venues abroad that invite international youth choirs to perform. She applies to several, selects one that was accepted, and fundraises for her choir to travel to perform in Europe.
A STEM student who has exhausted his school’s math curriculum finds a program to study advanced college courses during the summer (because he really, actually wants to!).
A young thespian approaches her theater director to see if they can write, produce, and direct their own one act play. The production takes a year with all the writing, orchestration, and marketing.
One crafty young woman who has made countless felted miniatures for her friends does the math and discovers it would be feasible to open her own Etsy shop. The pursuit entails significant economic and marketing lessons along the way.
An environmentalist with a penchant for research works with his biology teacher to test the water quality of the lakes in the area, ultimately presenting to the local conservation group and appealing to the local government to take action.
WHAT ADMISSIONS PROS SAY
Leading Liberal Arts Associate Director of Admission, “Passion projects are a new development for us in the past few years. We’ve always had applicants doing impressive stuff outside the classroom, but recently there is a wave of students posturing with disingenuous “passion” projects without structure that pale in comparison to good grades in a tough courseload, and SAT scores.”
University of California system Assistant Director of Admission, “These extra projects are great for giving depth to our applicants, but grades and scores are so much more central to our standards that they rarely make a difference, especially if applicants are just doing something on their own.”
R1 research university Assistant Dean of Admission, “It’s more obvious that you think - when a student isn’t really genuine about a project or is just doing it to be competitive. We don’t reward these projects unless they are structured, and above all, authentic.”
In conclusion, if you’ve had an idea for a project outside of school for over a year, or you have a very special talent you are burning to show the world, talk to the adults in your life about how you could make it happen. Be sure you’re doing it for the right reasons, constantly check in with how you feel about it, and read through the above again. In the meantime, do your homework, keep it up with SAT prep, and take the most challenging classes you can, because those factors are what really count in college admissions.