<p>Well, I'm a rising junior, and obviously college is still a bit in the distance.</p>
<p>I'm hoping that someone here can tell me if I'm doing the right extracurricular things. I've read tons of chances threads, but I don't really do alot of the stuff those people do. Am I on track?</p>
<p>I played football freshman year
I play basketball (will have 2 varsity years by the time i graduate)
I play tennis (will have 3 varsity years)
I am doing Academic Decathlon this year (varsity level, which is just determined by grades)
I have a computer repair business that I started</p>
<p>Also, this year I'm attempting to start a committee at school that discusses our schools curriculum from the student prospective, which really isn't considered at all.</p>
<p>Obviously I haven't gotten any of the "awards" yet (like NHS)</p>
<p>I know my athletic career will end after high school, but i don't want to give up sports just to join clubs that, at my school, don't accomplish anything.</p>
<p>Is there something else i should do? I pretty much know what grades and scores I'll need to get into a top school, but what about ecs?</p>
<p>If you're applying to top schools...</p>
<p>I played football freshman year
^ And then you stopped? I wouldn't put it on; colleges don't like quitters.</p>
<p>I play basketball (will have 2 varsity years by the time i graduate)
^ All four years? Good. Leadership? Awards? Records?</p>
<p>I play tennis (will have 3 varsity years)
^ Same as above.</p>
<p>I am doing Academic Decathlon this year (varsity level, which is just determined by grades)
^ Keep doing it? If you just do it one year, that's no use.</p>
<p>I have a computer repair business that I started.
^ I would concentrate on this if it's doing well, this is a good hook.</p>
<p>Also, this year I'm attempting to start a committee at school that discusses our schools curriculum from the student prospective, which really isn't considered at all.
^ Good good good. That with the business makes your ECs look a lot better.</p>
<p>Obviously I haven't gotten any of the "awards" yet (like NHS)
^ Go get awards.</p>
<p>I know my athletic career will end after high school, but i don't want to give up sports just to join clubs that, at my school, don't accomplish anything.
^ Don't tell colleges you're going to end your athletic career. They don't need to know this.</p>
<p>Is there something else i should do?
^ Since you're a junior already, it's a bit late because most top school applicants will have done stuff for all four years. Although, if you find something you're passionate in, stick to it, dominate it, and succeed.</p>
<p>thanks! thats what i was hoping to hear! I was scared that since i haven't built homes in africa or spent 500+ hours in community service, or scientific research that well... I might be "lame".</p>
<p>as far as quitting sports go, i mean I'm not going to be a D1 athlete or anything. I definitely plan on playing club sports etc. I will probably be a captain in my senior year in my sports teams.</p>
<p>unless ACDEC is absolutely a drag, I'm definitly going to continue it (also, its only a jr sr activity, its not for fresh and sophs).</p>
<p>I'll probably do jazz band these next two years too (though i'm not an amazing musician, but i love music). </p>
<p>My business is growing slowly, right now I make around 150$ a week, but its steadily increasing. It just takes time for your name to web out among the community.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice!</p>
<p>It is true that evidence of leadership is important (starting the business, forming the committee are nice, and becoming Captain in one or both sports or president of NHS would help, too). </p>
<p>Achievements count a great deal as well (achieving at the regional, state or national level at sports or Academic Decathalon). Another possibility would be to make something significant and measurable happen with your committee or with NHS (if you become a member and then take a leadership position in that club). </p>
<p>Keep careful track of your business achievements. If you can quantify your successes and they are impressive, that could be a big help. Even $150 a week is huge at your age. You are doing it on your own - that is impressive.</p>
<p>You don't have to move ahead in all of these things of course. These are just some ideas.</p>
<p>Maybe go deeper with the things you already have going on and really like would be the best way to boost your EC's. They are fine, BTW, for most schools. The whole HYPS thing - that is a different story all together! :)</p>
<p>
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I was scared that since i haven't built homes in africa or spent 500+ hours in community service, or scientific research that well... I might be "lame".
[/quote]
That's one of the biggest misconceptions that people have when applying to colleges. Adcoms know that most kids don't have these opportunities. As long as you show passion, commitment, and leadership in SOMETHING, you're good.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I will probably be a captain in my senior year in my sports teams.
[/quote]
That's good! Leadership = great.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I'll probably do jazz band these next two years too (though i'm not an amazing musician, but i love music).
[/quote]
You don't have to be some nationally ranked player, just show passion and dedication. I know several people who play instruments at a near-professional level who have no love for it--and it shows. You can't fake passion 24/7. Better to love/enjoy but be average than to loathe but be brilliant.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>thanks spidey and yanarchy, if anyone else has any input, feel free to offer!</p>
<p>Colleges want initiative and passion. Remember that. Take charge of your own life. If you want to change something, you have to be that change, to paraphrase Mahatma Gandhi. </p>
<p>And do stuff because you love it. When one mother asked Dean Fred Hargadon of Princeton what her son should do for the summer: go to Harvard summer school or teach English to kids in China or save animals in South America, he said that her son should pump some gas.</p>
<p>The point: Develop character. And don't try to impress colleges with your EC's. Too many people do that now, and it's no longer very impressive. However, I think deans would be VERY impressed if you said that you pumped gas. But the point is not to impress schools. The point is to follow your passion and do what you love.</p>