<p>I'm a 10th grader and as much as I hoped to get really involved in extracurriculars this year, that just never happened. I was too busy focusing on getting my grades up after a rough start to the year and got too lazy to do other things. I just realized I had 3 things to write down next to "Extracurricular Activities:" (clubs which meetings I hardly go to) on an application for some program. </p>
<p>I have been thinking I should make the best of junior year because it's too late to do some of the extracurriculars I wanted to do this year. </p>
<p>I'm thinking of aiming pretty big though, compared to what I've done this year. I want to start a certain club and run for officer of certain clubs, as well as join the Debate team and Model UN. I want to work for a national nonprofit organization and also attend some leadership seminars. They're all things I wanted to do this year. </p>
<p>Will this look bad to colleges?<br>
Will they be suspicious that I started doing all these activities in 11th grade and think they were just 'application-builders'? </p>
<p>just do the activities you want to do and then when you're applying, talk with your GC about how to maximize what you have managed to do over your high school career. It may be too late to have an UBER application, but since the most uber applications get denied and some other ones that no one would suspect get in, you just gotta do what you can from here on out. And you might be able to have an incredible accomplishment in between now and then. Focus on doing one or two great things in between now and then, not just acquiring **** titles.</p>
<p>I have two daughters. Both went to great schools. One is in a very good law school. The other will probably get into an even better law school than her older sister.</p>
<p>We went through many of the same feelings you describe. While you're going through it, it seems like evry last detail is important. In hindsight though, GPAs, SAT scores and the ability to write are probably the biggest factors. Do what you want to do because you're interested not for what an admissions person will think or not think. You'll do fine.</p>
<p>Just a note, I am doing these activities because I am interested in them, definitely not just to look good to colleges. The problem is I didn't get around to doing them this year.</p>
<p>Why is it too late for the not-for-profit organization?</p>
<p>Also, I don't know how it works in your school, but this year, you might want to talk to your principal about the club you want to start. For my school, it takes a while to set new clubs up because they have to rework the budget and redistribute funds for extracurriculars.</p>
<p>College's don't care how many ECs you have. They care about the fact that you participated in activities that you enjoyed and worked hard in. If you're doing something strictly for college, then the admissions office is going to see right through the facade. There's nothing wrong with participating in clubs your junior year. I participated in ECs my sophomore year, but wasn't extremely involved. Junior year I became really involved in my ECs, and now that I'm a senior, I'm an officer in two clubs. I didn't start my freshman year, but I like the clubs that I'm in now and I work hard at what I do. That's what colleges want to see.</p>
<p>Colleges are going to know you are BSing it, anyway. Whether you join in 9th or 11th grade really just differentiates what year you realized college is important. </p>
<p>Join 'em. It's better to do them now than to not do them at all.</p>
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I just don't have the motivation to join these seemingly pointless clubs and organizations, especially when I have absolutely no interest them.
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<p>Amen to that. I have someone sign my name in for "Interact". There is no way I am going to read to deaf kids and paint pumpkins with old *****es. Screw that!</p>
<p>I wouldn't get involved in activities just for college apps. It strikes me as wrong. Find something you have an interest in, something for which you have passion, and become active in that. I do a lot of community service, especially teaching and tutoring and my other big extracurricular is ballet. I do other stuff (build houses, hose yard sales, play viola and piano, etc.) but those are my big things. You just have to discover your niche.</p>
<p>And if you just do your ECs without any emotion, what will you write for college essays?</p>
<p>Sorry but I don't know where you guys are getting the idea that I'm doing these activities just for college apps. I just said I didn't get involved in the activities I wanted to do this year, but I never said that I wanted to do them for college apps..</p>
<p>For example, I have a passion for politics and I hope to get a job in government some day, so I want to do Debate Club, Model UN, as well as a few student government things. </p>
<p>I also want to be a leader within my school, so leadership seminars.</p>
<p>Oh, then I see where you're coming from, sorry about that.</p>
<p>But in all honesty, I want to do these ECs because I am interested in them. And it's hard not to have college in the back of your mind when you are doing them because colleges do judge you on them.</p>
<p>Just keep doing what you're doing, and don't worry.</p>
<p>All your previous threads are all about you worrying over superficial stuff, like "oh will this look bad" kinda stuff, that doesn't even matter that much.</p>
<p>Is your GPA 0.1? Did you murder 5 people, and commit sexual assault at the same time? Are you in prison?</p>