<p>Hi, I'm an upcoming sophomore. I started a math club last year, mainly focused on preparing students for the AMC's, which were offered in my district for the first time ever through this club. Next year, I will be President (I was VP last year) and I have a lot of big plans for the club, expect to spend a significant amount of time involved in it, and expect to be President for the next three years. One of other EC's is also teaching middle school students math through the year, where I introduce them to problem solving, competitions, and more "interesting" math. I also have a lot of other EC's such as actively preparing for Olympiads, and self-studying math and science (is self-study even an EC?). My friend and I are also considering starting a chess club, which is a very recent passion I discovered for myself. However, I may not be as involved in that club as the other one. I may also be applying to a year round research program this year. That totals to five major EC's including the research program if I am accepted. Based on my long and somewhat in-depth explanation of my EC's, do you think they are good for top colleges (MIT, Harvard, etc.) and clearly illustrate my passion for math and science?</p>
<p>Your ECs do convey a strong interest in math and science, and engagement in the community. All good. A passion? The ECs themselves are pretty typical of most kids who want to attend selective schools - they don’t especially differentiate you, if that is what you are asking. The passion would only show up in your essays or letters of rec and unless you do something really unique in these areas - which could happen if you got really engaged - then these are also likely to be typical. </p>
<p>This isn’t meant to discourage you from doing these things - its just that the reason to do them is because you really want to and not because you think MIT or Harvard is going to be impressed. They won’t be. They’ve seen it already in tens of thousands of applicants. So just do what you care about, do it well and see what comes of it. Sometimes what starts out as an ordinary EC takes on a life of it’s own and ends up changing you and the shape of your dreams. And if it doesn’t, you might still get in - or into one of the dozens of top schools that will provide you with an outstanding education in math and science.</p>