An Extracurricular Debacle

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>Hi fellow CC'ers,</p>

<p>So I'm a sophomore with the normal stats of a sophomore on CC; 4.0 GPA, taking 2 APs (for a total of 4 thus far during my high school career), 6 APs next year, etc etc. I feel pretty solid with my academics in general, but I'm just really worried about my ECs, and I feel like my time is getting shorter and shorter before college app time rolls around in a year and a half. So, I was looking for some suggestions on my ECs, and any ideas in regards to them.</p>

<p>Here's what I do as of right now:</p>

<p>-Debate team: Been on this for two years and I L O V E it. Makes me think about double majoring in pre-med and political science or international affairs. I've done well at local tournaments (as in first place), national tournaments, and I did go to the state tournament this year, and in Texas where the debate program is so big, I thought it was cool to qualify during my sophomore year, although I didn't advance.</p>

<p>-Blog; I do blog in my free time, although this is more for myself. Although, if I put some more effort into this, I think it can go on college apps.</p>

<p>-NHS + a few random clubs: the typical.</p>

<p>-Job: I got a job at a tutoring place that is pretty nice in my town, and I start working this summer. </p>

<p>Basically what I can think of off the top of my mind.</p>

<p>I'm probably going to double major in pre-med (parents) and international affairs or political science, and I'm shooting for schools like Columbia, UChicago, Rice, etc. But I feel like my ECs are really lacking, but I just don't know how I can fix them. I'm passionate about a lot of different things, and so I don't think it's going to be hard for me to fall in love with other activities. It's just FINDING these other opportunities that I find difficult. </p>

<p>Suggestions?</p>

2

<p>I would advise you to get rid of the free random clubs replace them with something else or just have time for work cause 6 AP classes is A LOT.</p>

3

<p>@swag87: So do you have any suggestions about what to replace the more random clubs with? That’s the kinda stuff I’m looking for.</p>

<p>And yeah, 6 APs will be rough, but I’ve learned calculus before through Kumon, so my two AP math classes will be a breeze, and APES will be a blow-off. </p>

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<p>Well I’m not sure what your into to so I can’t really advise you their but what does your school offer?</p>

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<p>Since you want to go into med, you could try for an internship at a local hospital, or do research at a university. UChicago has a FANTASTIC biology-based internship program that you could apply for next year (It’s insanely competitive, though). </p>

<p>For international affairs, you could try to intern under a politician. If you guys have MUN, join it. If you’re a writer type, there are several different major essay contests about this sort of thing that you could enter.</p>

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<p>Your junior year schedule sounds a little challenging, but hopefully you can manage your time. The classes are going to take up an enormous amount of your time next year, so I would suggest that you keep your service club (NHS) and you drop the “random clubs” that do not play to your interests, which seem to be pre-med and political science. </p>

<p>For the political science major, you have set yourself on a good track. If you enjoy debate, move towards joining Model UN and JSA (sometimes campuses only have Young Republicans or Young Democrats). If they have none of these clubs, do you best to find alternatives or to start one up. I would also suggest looking into summer programs that deal with international relations or political science as to further explore these subject areas. These can be really great! I have a friend (a junior right now) off in Turkey right now working with a UN Delegate and a NGO. However, debate alone should not be the sole factor in choosing a political science or international relations major. So investigate these areas and see if you would enjoy them.</p>

<p>For the pre-med major, you have put forth no information that even suggests that you want to go into medicine. This summer would have been a great opportunity to go find a hospital or medical ward to volunteer or intern at. The teaching is not bad and you will probably enjoy it. However, if you are seriously considering a pre-med major at these schools, you need to step it up. I have a friend (yes another junior) who has been a paid intern for a graduate professor at a UC, studying vitamin a deficiency, winning state awards, and starting a HOSA club with a huge following all throughout her sophomore and junior year / summer. This is a person who is still unsure of whether she can attend the schools you have listed. So please look further into what it means to go into pre-med, because it is a lot of work and competition.</p>

<p>The blogging might be interesting, but I would not put it down unless you have a substantial following or if it is something that further demonstrates your interest–creative writing, volunteering, photography, etc. I have a few friends with over 100,000 followers on their blogs, but that have decided not to mention it to colleges. If you do it for fun, great. If you are trying to exploit it, it better be great.</p>

<p>Do not let your parents dictate what you do or do not study in college. People who do this will be unhappy or will drop out of the major because it is too difficult. Best of luck to you in your summer and coming junior year.</p>

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<p>@Swag87: The problem with my school is that it offers very few academic clubs of any sort. Debate is sort of the only notorious one, with the more international style topics that I enjoy starting. I was considering starting a MUN at my school, but is it too late for me to do that?</p>

<p>@IsometricKiwi: I’ve looked into some internships under a local politician, but age seems to be a problem. I think I’ll be able to land one as a senior, but none of the local politicians I’ve been able to find accept application from a sophomore, or incoming junior. </p>

<p>@Shenandoah: I understand that I shouldn’t let my parents dictate what I do in college, but unfortunately, I don’t have any other choice. It’s a very tricky situation that I’m in, and even the fact that I’m considering double majoring is kind of “rebellious” in their eyes. Asian parents are Asian parents. </p>

<p>In regards to your friend who’s off working in Turkey (which is majorly cool), how was she/he able to get this opportunity? Was it through connections or simply reaching out and asking a politician?</p>

<p>For the pre-med: I’m actually in a special program at my school that is specifically about the medical field, ie, the program requires me to take extra science courses, medical-related courses, and has some internship opportunities, etc. Moreover, I did volunteer for 40 hours last summer at a hospital. </p>

<p>The medical field does interest me, but once again, I’m unsure in regards to how to go about finding research opportunities and such. I have family members in the medical field, so I understand the rigor of pre-med in general. I definitely want to get into research, but it’s hard to take the first step when there are so many different hows and ifs and buts. </p>

<p>My blog following is pretty small as of right now, but I’ll work on expanding it in the future. It’s more about literature, so I’m not sure if it even fits in with what I’m interested in, but it’s something I enjoy doing so I think I’ll keep up with it.</p>

<p>Thank you so much for your extraordinarily valuable advice. <3</p>

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<p>I did a computer science research internship last summer. You should just go for it and start emailing professors about whatever project you’re interested it. I believe there’s a comprehensive guide floating around on the first three pages of this forum somewhere (TeamRocketGrunt).
It will be very tricky finding a politician willing to take on a rising junior. You could start small. It’s definitely not too late to start up MUN. Good luck!</p>

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<p>I do a lot of debate in CT and it’s great! </p>

<p>What debate styles do you do?</p>

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<p>What school is that Apollo?
On a side note, its never to late to start up a MUN, I should actually try to get one going at my school tbh.</p>

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<p>Congressional debate all the way @apollo11</p>

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<p>@tigerman333‌
Ironic, since OP actually does Congressional debate</p>

<p>@Swag87‌
IDK if I want to say my school on the internet, but it is nice enough for me compete in various debates so as to barely miss a TOC berth.</p>

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<p>@IsometricKiwi: Did you develop a project proposal before or after you contacted professors? And thank you for the advice about MUN. I will definitely start looking into creating that during the summer.</p>

<p>@Apollo11: Yes, I do Congressinal Debate and extemp as well. </p>

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<p>@Almondjoy7‌ I am glad to hear that your school offers such an interesting program for the sciences. If only most schools offered programs for the liberal arts! I am sorry I cannot assist you with your parent situation. I have always been allowed to choose and explore my interests on my own, without my parents influencing them. So on that front, best of luck.</p>

<p>Here is the difficulty with the political / international relations field, in terms of internships and research: almost all positions, even a lot of local ones–mayor or city council, go to undergraduates, graduates, or professionals. However sometimes high school students are able to be selected for some of these positions. Typically, it is through connections. The boy who is currently in Turkey had a personal connection with someone within the program, which was an undergraduate program. That is not to say he was not qualified. He was extremely qualified! I met a kid at a summer program a year ago who worked with Cory Booker during his Senate race. I believe he had connections prior to going in, but nonetheless he was very qualified. If I had not gotten my internship in D.C., also involved connections, I would have interned for a state or federal senator, funded by father’s business, interned for my town’s mayor, family friend, or would have worked at my father’s firm and taken political science / history classes at the local college. Having connections in the political field is a major benefit if you are looking to intern. If you have no connections in this field, do not fret! I would suggest that you ask teachers or counselors if they have any connections and could recommend you for an unpaid internship or volunteer position for a local politician. If they do not, keep contacting local politicians until you are able to get a response. Do not be afraid to go very small or very big. For you, I would probably limit your search to the state level. Remember, you would most likely receive the best experience by working for a local politician who would have less staffers and more jobs for you to do. You would be able to truly experience working with a politician each day and would have a good foundation for the next summer. If you are in California, I could point you in the right direction, Otherwise I cannot be of much assistance for contacting local politicians.</p>

<p>Although I am not interested in pre-med, most of the kids in the top percentile at my school are currently working towards it. Luckily for this field there are so many opportunities to look into that are meant just for high school students. Keep up your internships and medical related classes and make connections with those teachers and doctors / nurses that you are working with. As for research, you would need to try and contact a local university. In California, the UC’s and CSU’s typically take a lot of high school students and undergraduates who are interested in basic level research. The girl I discussed earlier got her research internship simply by asking. She had no connections prior to this, but was just the most qualified candidate for the position. If you are looking to do this, make sure you are able to present yourself in an appropriate manor to the university professors you email to inquire about possible opportunities. If this is the path for you, you need to get moving as soon as possible, summer is almost hear and you should try to get a good foundation for you next summer. There are some great programs at COSMOS for California residents, HSHSP at Michigan, Clarks Scholars Program, Carnegie Melon, RSI, RISE at Stanford, UCI has some that look interesting as well.</p>

<p>Your blog is about literature! How wonderful. I hope you continue it, despite your course load next year. Again, you seem like someone who would just enjoy the liberal arts. I encourage you to keep up your interest in these areas. It is a lot of work, but hopefully you will find it interesting.</p>

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<p>@Almondjoy7‌ actually, in my case the professor already had a project set up and he was just looking for a high school student to intern under him. However, if you have your own project in mind, you definitely have to design a proposal before contacting anyone. </p>

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<p>Hey @Almondjoy7‌ I’m in the same situation. I’m interested in both the healthcare industry and international affairs, and just like you, my age keeps me from doing a lot of stuff I want to do. I’m an incoming junior, thinking of starting either a model UN club or a amnesty international club. My dream school is UC Berkeley. We should keep in touch and maybe help each other out with this model UN stuff? </p>

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<p>I think that you should start your own club or something! If you are interested in debate then look into JSA and even consider their summer schools. Show some leadership and initiative; that will look a lot more impressive than a few inconsequential roles in minor groups</p>

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<p>Mine are worse than yours, lol. What would you considered ideal?</p>