I have been doing archery for 6 years now and I podiumed multiple times in state/regional tournaments. Currently, I am ranked 54th in the nation for my age group (not very impressive, out of 160-ish kids). I am a certified Level 1 archery coach, so I can instruct people on the basics of archery. I have also been a member of a local Junior Olympic Archery Development club for 5 years. I plan on gaining a leadership position very soon.
However, archery is my only “strong” EC… I’m the founder of a club at school and I’m pretty sure I’ll be inducted into NHS, but those don’t seem as significant and I feel like it’s too late to win some academic award or start up another EC (I’m a sophomore).
I’m really interested in science, especially biology and physics, and I applied to a summer program that I’m pretty sure I won’t get in to for some research experience. But what else could I do to make myself seem more well-rounded to colleges?
You should apply to more extracurricular that are related to your major. Also, you should also do more volunteering to show your passion for your community. Make sure that you study for the ACT/SAT beforehand so you can show colleges that you can do well.
@LockheedMartin Thanks for the tips! However, since I’m a sophomore, there aren’t many programs/internships I can apply to at the moment. Would entering the science fair help any?
One solid EC is enough. If you feel like it, pick up something else that is interesting to you. Your ECs do not need to be related to your potential major or career.
@happymomof1 Does this remain true if I want to get into some higher tiered schools like JHU or Rice? Or maybe even an Ivy?
There aren’t a lot of serious archers out there, and there aren’t a lot of archery coaches. Your dedication to your sport is not uncommon, but your sport is. It is OK to keep this as your main focus.
You needn’t twist your life all around in an effort to be “well rounded”. If you have one or two strong interests, that is OK. As you get a better sense of what you might like to do for a career, ECs related to that will come to your attention, and you can spend some time (or a lot of time if you really want to) on those as well.
But do remember that the most important factor for college admission is your high school record. The classes that you take, and the grades that you earn in them are what matter most. After that, your ACT/SAT scores. So be sure to do well there.
And of course, all of this discussion is moot until you have had a money talk with your parents. Find out how they expect you to pay for college. Will they help a lot, a little, not at all? Ultimately, you may need to think about parlaying your archery into an athletic scholarship. So keep that in mind too.
Science fair is a good opportunity to show that you are interested in a field. Try to win some awards(e.g. best in show) so you can list it under reward sections in your college app.