<p>I already explained that I care about each club mentioned.</p>
<p>Okay, I understand that, but you are still talking about the post that I posted before I knew that. I was merely defending my position.</p>
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Oh, the irony.</p>
<p>David I must say, you cannot blame someone for joining clubs for the sake of their college app. Its the colleges that have created this convoluted system, not the kids. If he leads the club effectively and participates thoroughly, what does it matter what his intentions are? Should someone be screwed out of thousands in money or acceptance to a high tier college because they refused to pursue clubs they had no actual interest in? If anything, doing something despite enjoyment from it is as worthy a sign of dedication to academics as doing it with passion is.</p>
<p>Of course it looks better to have 4 years instead of 3, but make the most out of your 3 years - be really involved and get a leadership position. Someone who actively participated and held a leadership position during his or her 3 years in a club is going to outshine someone who was simply a club member for 4 years.</p>
<p>Billy’s a ■■■■■ guys. Get over it. He’ll pester you until the day you decompose into little tiny of pieces of bacteria.</p>
<p>You’ll be fine–not all of my ECs were four years (most weren’t) and I got into Penn, which I know isn’t HYPSM or anything, but it’s not a bad school. I think my point still stands. </p>
<p>And I agree with Moosepig. Although I never joined clubs or anything just for college, I certainly don’t see it as a bad thing at all. It’s kind of like complaining about how you hate people volunteer because it makes them feel good about themselves, instead of volunteering because you feel bad for everyone else. In the end, it’s the same job.</p>
<p>Colleges will not care at all about 3 years over 4 years for clubs. On the contrary, I think doing some clubs is helpful. Being in Gay/Straight Alliance and Civil Rights Club at least looks like you have a legitimate interest rather than picking random clubs.</p>
<p>But don’t limit your ECs there. If I could redo anything in high school, it would be getting more involved in non-club ECs. They are there to show that you do stuff and have interests, but when college apps come around, you are going to have to prove that you’re different from everyone else in Gay/Straight Alliance and debate. There are some topics elsewhere on the forum regarding how to make your ECs interesting. Do this during sophomore year and continue through junior/senior year, and you’ll be set. Go beyond sports/clubs/generic volunteering. Do things that you could write a defining essay on.</p>
<p>Yeah, anyway… freshman year is highly unimportant for college admission. Sophomore year, you want to be showing some passion. Junior year is a little late to start.</p>