<p>College applications frustrate me because I have absolutely no hobbies, talents or passions to speak of. I am not exaggerating- I do nothing with my free time other than watch television or aimlessly browse the internet. If I'm not hanging out with friends or doing something school-related, then I will just sit on my couch. I have tried to get into different activities throughout my life, like music and sports, but I never enjoy anything and usually end up quitting. I attend a few school clubs regularly, but I do not hold any leadership positions or do anything other than attend the meetings. </p>
<p>I get good grades and have good test scores, so it really bothers me how colleges expect us to be perfectly well-rounded and unique individuals. I'm really worried about what I'm going to write about for any personal essays, or if colleges will be really bothered by my lack of extracurricular activities.</p>
<p>Does anyone else have this problem?</p>
<p>MidwestGirl7 -</p>
<p>Colleges are really looking for someone who will add something to the campus. However you want to look at that information is up to you!</p>
<ul>
<li>What do you do with your friends? </li>
<li>Are you close to your family? </li>
<li>Do have any pets?</li>
<li>Do you really love food or maybe music?</li>
<li>Is there somewhere you love to go to on vacation?</li>
<li>Have you ever had a job?</li>
<li>Has someone (friend, family member, teacher, etc.) ever inspired or influenced you?</li>
<li>Have you ever read a book or watched a movie/show that really impacted the way you think about life?</li>
</ul>
<p>These are just some things to think about. If you really love food, talk about that. If you and your friends like to go out and do something really unique, talk about that!</p>
<p>You don’t need to love sports or excel at music to write a compelling personal statement. Just think of something you love!</p>
<p>Best regards,
<p>Midwest Girl:</p>
<p>It is my understanding that in England, Scotland, and Canada, they basically go just by test scores and grades, and don’t care much about ECs. So that may be a way to go.</p>
<p>Further, it would be my guess that at some of the gigantic state universities, they probably go more by the numbers, simply because they don’t have time to devote to engage in a close examination of your ECs.</p>
<p>I’ve read here on CC that the whole “well rounded” thing is sort of a misconception. According to the poster, colleges want overall well rounded incoming classes, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that every student needs to be well rounded.</p>
<p>Hope this helps, good luck!</p>
<p>By now, it’s a little too late to be developing passions and hobbies; it’s a little to late to start joining clubs :/…I can’t really give you much advice, to be brutally honest, you’ve had four years of high school to find yourself, find your passions, find your interests, etc…</p>
<p>Ambitious, that’s pretty ridiculous. I mean really, come on, “you’ve had four years of high school to find yourself”?
Hahaha!</p>
<p>During the 1-2 days per week of high school when I actually showed up I spent most of the time either asleep on my desk or getting into fist fights. </p>
<p>People know NOTHING about themselves at that age and college admissions departments probably know that more than anyone. </p>
<p>Straight-A students with a novel of extracurricular activities are still subject to the universal transition into adulthood. I know many who changed their majors from something like chemical engineering to art, or even the other way around. Others went from 4.0 to dropout in a semester because they just realized they’d rather be a cop or musician or something. It’s literally impossible to know yourself at that age.</p>
<p>She still has plenty of time to develop passions and hobbies. If she doesn’t feel like she’s ready to jump straight into university life then starting out at community college and joining various clubs, honors programs, etc. is always an option (I did that an I got into a beautiful & high ranked university immediately afterwards). Most universities are more lenient with age 20+/transfer students for the exact reasons stated above; most of them actually know what they want.</p>
<p>My serious advice: Stop watching TV and ignore “celebrity” crap. That will undoubtedly change your life and force you to find your own passions instead of lethargically watching other people pretend to have fun.</p>
<p>… And as far as practical advice goes: 90% of your peers in college will feel exactly like you and not really know why they’re there or what they’re interested in. Most of them get in by BSing/inflating.</p>
<p>Discoinferno is completely correct, and therefore Ambitious is not! Don’t worry, OP, you have more than enough time to find yourself, so to speak.</p>
<p>Best regards,
<p>If you have only good scores, apply to the UK, e.g. Cambridge Oxford.ntheyre obviously well respected and puts much more emphasis on merit</p>