I will also be putting a copy of this on the admissions forum, since I believe it is relevant there. I am aware that there is a thread about what is considered a good EC, but I believe what I wrote below is a sub-topic of that thread that deserves expansion.
Foreword: This post will be mainly in reference to observations I have made on CC.
How do we determine the strength of one’s extracurriculars? Browsing through the admissions and chances forums on CC, I seem to notice a tendency for quantity to be valued over quality when it comes to extracurriculars. Those who are officers in a few clubs at their school are held in higher esteem than those who earn the rank of Eagle Scout or their Girl Scout Gold Award. I also often see that a number of simpler or minor leadership positions to be regarded more than a student who started their own business for example. From what I understand, top schools prefer a student with a “spike” versus to one who is a “jack of all trades, master of none”, yet I don’t see this attitude reflected on CC. I’m not suggesting that students focus on one interest, being well-rounded is good. I am merely stating that those who have a particularly developed extracurricular in one area are considered inferior to those that are undeveloped in a plethora.
For example, I have only two fairly strong extracurriculars: I am an Eagle Scout and I am captain and MVP of our school’s Academic League team (we are consistently among the top 5 teams in our large city area) and have set a couple of school records. I have done my share of varsity sports and am extensively involved in theatre, but these are no comparison to my main two extracurriculars. However, it seems that when compared to (for example) another student who is an officer in three different clubs, volunteers on the weekends, and is a captain for their school’s badminton team, my achievements are considered inferior.
To make myself clear, I am not saying that extracurriculars like mine are far superior, just that they seem to be often undervalued. I think this stems from a lack of comprehension of the achievements. I find it ludicrous that those who spend a few hours on the weekend at their local animal shelter and run a few meetings at lunch for their clubs should be placed above a student who successfully runs a profitable business (I know a friend of a friend who has done this and it is mind boggling to me, especially the fact that he is in high school). By the time I earned my Eagle Scout, I had completed well over 100 service hours and had handled numerous leadership projects, not including my Eagle Scout project, which totaled to about 130 hours itself.
Finally, I understand that there are those who do invest a significant amount of time in running their clubs or volunteering at local charities, animal shelters, etc. But I believe what matters most is level of commitment, which seems to be overlooked. Commitment by far is one of the most aspects of a good extracurricular.
I suggest that the CC community re-evaluate their view on extracurriculars. I am open to all thoughts and opinions, provided they are polite.