When talking about the level of colleges he’s now targeting, yes, some sort of community engagement is expected from all applicants. I don’t think other posters mean necessarily DACA involvement, but something that benefits others in need. Or local advocacy. That awareness and choice.
That sounds like a higher SES prerogative, but so many lower income kids, at this level of academics, are involved with church or other sorts of community opportunities that do some good and show perspective.
The OP has participated in medical research. I consider that an endeavor to benefit the community! Seriously, this is too much pressure. It’s all water under the bridge anyway since apps are happening now. Being undocumented in the country you grew up in and went to school in is horrible. The OP is a fine kid who has achieved a lot under an immense amount of pressure. I am sure they will find their way but they need a little breathing space.
Adcoms see research as research. (And there are different levels of autonomy in research, different ways kids come to it.) It’s not engaged with those in need.
The point (my point,) is to enhance what he does have, not assume DACA or backstory is enough.
I do tutor kids at my church (only intro math like algebra and geometry and chem/bio) but I’m not sure if actually having an organization that can back that is needed which is why I cant really it like I can with say my research or hospital volunteering.
They aren’t checking up, it should be on your apps.
@intparent What do you mean by they aren’t checking up? I am incorporating it into one of my supplement essays but I haven’t really talked about it elsewhere as much as I did with my aquatic interests and my research experience.
Trust and believe I am very,very much aware of the differences between DACA and undocumented students who do not have DACA and I have extensive experience working with both groups of students.
As far as their citizen ship status DACA student are still undocumented and currently have no path to citizenship . They just have deferred action from deportation, a protection which is not granted to people who do not have DACA. Most DACA recipients were brought to the U. S. as minors.
For clarification purposes, the same schools that are need blind and provide financial aid to DACA students are also need blind and provide financial aid to undocumented students living and attending school in the U S. This includes programs line Posse and Questbridge Op stated that he wants to use DACA as one of the 5 words that describes him, and IMHO comid off as grasping. That is all I meant by my comment.
I mean that college generally aren’t “auditing” to get someone to report on your hours that you claim for ECs. (I think maybe it happens sometimes for UCs (?someone more familiar could comment), but in general schools aren’t trying to track down someone to tell them that you really did what you said you did. So if you are spending time on something like tutoring STEM subjects, you can put it in the EC section without worrying about having to prove it.
Ah okay. I’ve really been listing things that can get tracked or verified. Thanks
^^If a call was placed to your church and someone such as the church secretary, youth minister or pastor took the call, identified themselves and their position, and verified your claims, who would doubt the word of someone from such an organization? Some, yes, but not many, I would guess.
Ah okay, that makes sense. But I think common app should really put a thing where for each activity, you put the contact details of someone who can further explain or validate it as I’m pretty sure there are a lot of people who would falsely report things on their common app which isn’t fair for those who do report honestly - but it’ll catch up to them in the end somewhere.
@HKimPOSSIBLE: At times, in the face of so many outlandish and truly time consuming activities claimed by some students, I have to believe that the colleges look at some claims made as simply ridiculous. I think, or like to think, the adcoms can see through some of the false reports.
Glad to see you put Emory on your list, as I discussed your thread with my husband and that was the one school which he told me emphatically told me you should apply to.
You’ve gotten some amazing feedback here. People are rooting for you.
Good luck.
Thank you everyone! I know things have been rough especially with me coming to realize a great deal of the things you guys have offered me…it seems like you guys got me through much more than my college counselor did.
Right now, I’m currently drafting essays on the remaining colleges I need to submit and would like any help I could get: hard and cold criticism. Criticism’s really the only thing that I need right now and would appreciate if there’s anyone else on here that would not mind reading some of my supplements!
Again, much thanks and will update this come around March/April. Wish me luck =)
Colleges often call the GC if they have suspicions or think there are inconsistencies in the application. No way do they have an interest in trying to track down the details directly, though.
Be sure to do a grammar check before submitting essays. You are drafting essays for the remaining colleges.
Lol people please don’t think I’m not proficient in english. Im not really as careful on words here as I am for the essays 
“As careful on words”? This is a good place to practice writing and show how you come across to adults reading your writing. We don’t have any other way way to evaluate other than by the written word here (separate from the content of the activities and grades you shared).
God I feel completely screwed… I don’t know why I submitted the common app parts to basically all my colleges rather than submit both at the same time. Ugh
You need to delete that essay if you still have time.
Ugh I knew it. Was it that bad @leastcomplicated?
(Or did you mean delete it from this thread?)