this style of evaluating people (what <i>interesting</i> things have you done) is quite problematic at that age, and forces students to do things for show from early one. I know there are a lot of people who do really exciting things even at a young age (e.g. Running a flight school or competing in the olympics), but if that becomes the sole way of grading&#x2F;comparing students&#x2F;getting scholarships, we create pressure to do impressive-sounding things, which leads to the weird US college application system (days filled with extracurriculars, taking classes early, the essay-writing industry, etc.). IMHO, it is much preferable if the &#x27;front door&#x27; into elite schools and scholarships exists based on grades and the like( of course, there should be flexibility for admitting extraordinarily accomplished people -- there just shouldn&#x27;t be any shame in getting in <i>just</i> by hard work&#x2F;studying&#x2F;general smarts, so you can be honest about your successes).