<p>My GPA (currently 4.0) and SAT scores (aiming for 2250+) will be high enough for an elite school. With a couple years left in highschool however, what kind of extracurricular/community service look best when applying to an Ivy League school? I will have NHS, a very vigorous 4 year Pre Law program (including 1 semester internship), Model UN, 4 years of varsity soccer on a very competitive state championship team, and most likely more than 200 hours volunteering at a local yacht club. I know more volunteer work is needed in other fields. Any other suggestions for what an Ivy will look for? I'm also Hispanic if that helps.</p>
<p>Look for leadership positions in those clubs. Anybody can go to a couple meetings. Run for president or secretary or something in some of those clubs.</p>
<p>I think the Ivies are looking for self-initiative rather than merely being president of some club. Do something that truly interests you and follow through your interest as much as you can.</p>
<p>Cultivating great relationships with a few teachers who will give you outstanding recs is also worthwhile. It’s not an EC you will put on your resume, but I think students often pay too little attention to the importance of strong individualized recommendations in their college apps at selective schools.</p>
<p>Anything at the national or international level. Are you ODP for soccer or do you play for a regional (not club) team affiliated with the US Soccer National team</p>
<p>Everyone smart here on CC seems to participate in some kind of “olympiad” among other competitions with mysterious acronyms.</p>
<p>Do whatever interests you, not what you think will interest them. By the way, membership in NHS is pretty much meaningless. Without proof, I’d say that more than 50% of students applying to selective schools belong to NHS.</p>
<p>^ is being president of your school’s NHS chapter a notable achievement regardless?</p>
<p>NHS is so generic and at most every school. Being president may help some, but it probably doesn’t make too many people bat an eyelash. My son had similar memberships in honor societies, which I don’t think meant a thing. What set him apart was his position in a national scientific organization as young adult representative of their patient advocacy committee.</p>
<p>Good Ivy EC’s:
-Win The National latin Exam
-Win Siemens
-Win intel
-Win all the International Olympiad competitions
-Win an Olympic Gold Medal
-Win more things
-Win some more things</p>
<p>Volunteering is good, MUN is average unless you’ve gone to some big tournaments like the Hague, varsity soccer is definitely good.</p>
<p>At this point I feel like NHS is irrelevant unless you aren’t in it.</p>
<p>Is it bad if all you have going for yourself is volunteering and a few positions here and there?</p>
<p>I’d say internships help a lot. They prove your interest, and you can often get a great recommendation out of them.</p>
<p>An activity with consistency.</p>