Can you help me narrow down my EC list?

Applying to College
1

<p>Hi,
I am an Asian Canadian male student
and I am hoping to apply for some competitive US schools...
But many people said that my ECs needed a focus in order to show my passion, and suggested that I should narrow down my EC list...
But the thing is that I have so many interests and I have committed myself to so many different activities that I just can't narrow them down.. I am passionate about every one of those activities.
So I was wondering if some people could possibly help me narrow down these activities, or see which ones stand out so that I can perhaps eliminate few other ones...(I know that most of them are mundane... but still.. lol), or if I should include all of them in additional information section (since I have nothing standing out...)?</p>

<p>Thx in advance.</p>

<p>Volunteer
-Northshore International Group: Founder and Leader. City organization that helps new international/immigrant students adjust to new life. Received grants from the city and a facility from a Church, created executive committees. (5 hours/week)
-Peer councillor (gr.11): Helped grade 8 kids feel welcome, led school tours, learned about interactive skills and issues that teenagers face. (2 hours/week)
-Featured in a Korean Newspaper. Selected as one of the future prospective Korean leaders for my leadership in Northshore international group and peer helper.
-Internship at a Church: Involved various projects including interviewing people and posting their stories online, leading the Sunday program, occupying the office, (35 hours/week summer)
-Korean Church (different church): Led Sunday schools for children.
- Canadian Blood Services: over 150 hours voluteering</p>

<p>Sports:
-Metro/Select Soccer team (gr.8, 9): Most competitive league in the province, played right striker position (8 hours/week). Silver Soccer team (gr. 10 – present): Eventually had to drop to silver level due to frequent long-distance travel and increasing schoolwork (4 hours/week).
-Tennis: (gr. 10, 11): Involved in competitive challenger program, eventually offered a place in champion program (highest level) but could not accept it because of long-distance tournaments and schedule conflicts. (5 hours/week)
-Varsity Tennis (gr. 9 – 11): Team won the 2nd place in Northshore, 6th place in province.
-Varsity Basketball (gr.8, 9): Team won the Northshore title, Vancouver title, 3rd in provincials (6 hours/week). Won 4 tournaments
-All of the sports program I participated required tryouts and were very competitive.
-Received Scholar Athlete and multiple athlete awards in grade 8. </p>

<p>Music
-Alto Saxophone (grade 7 – 12): I was part of junior jazz band at school, in which an audition was a special requirement for grade 8 alto saxophone position. Took 1st alto saxophone position. The band made it to the finals at Envision Jazz Festival. I was also part of senior jazz band and maintained 1st saxophone position. I was part of combo band in grade 11, which consisted of only 7 members. (2 hours/week).<br>
-CCM Bands: Held concerts regularly, performed twice a week for youth service and adult service. Guitar & Bass guitar (gr. 8,9, 10, 11): Played 2nd guitar and main bass guitar. Piano and Synthesizer (grade 5 – present): Took lessons, currently in CCM band (3 hours/week).
-Still continue to play all of these instruments, have written jazz and new age compositions.</p>

<p>Academic Challenge (not exactly ECs, just some extra info).
-Transferred to a different school for more rigorous academic courses in grade 10. I had to sacrifice sports and music opportunities due to lack of programs in the school or lack of time (old secondary school had one of the best basketball as well as music programs in the province), but I wanted to see for myself what it is like to be surrounded by academically motivated peers and teachers.
-Skipped a year of biology and mathematics in grade 10. Skipped IB physics 11 and went directly to IB physics 12 (I took a condensed summer school in grade 10).
-Mathcount Competition (gr.8): Placed 13th in regional, 34th in provincial. Team made placed top 4 in regional and competed in provincial finals.</p>

2

<p>I'm almost postive Ecs and volunteers are two different sections on your application, so you may be fine. </p>

<p>Also remember that there is also a different section for awards also. </p>

<p>Hope this is suffice...</p>

3

<p>Anything before 9th grade should not be mentioned.</p>

<p>Remove:
-Varsity Basketball (gr.8, 9): Team won the Northshore title, Vancouver title, 3rd in provincials (6 hours/week). Won 4 tournaments
For this, remove any awards in 8th grade.
-Received Scholar Athlete and multiple athlete awards in grade 8.</p>

<p>What colleges are you planning on applying to?</p>

4

<p>Pfft. I could do that.
Just kidding.
Those are freaking amazing EC's.
Why would you ever want to narrow them down?</p>

5

<p>Jesus Moses...You suck. lol</p>

6

<p>Thx for the replies... I was hoping to apply to some top LACs like Amherset and Middlebury... and maybe colleges like Upenn, Cornell, Michigan, boston, and rochester...(FA to need-blind ones...)</p>

7

<p>I did a little condensing for you:</p>

<p>Volunteer Work
1. Founder and Leader. Northshore International Group: City organization that helps new international/immigrant students adjust to new life. Received grants from the city and a facility from a Church, created executive committees. (5 hours/week)
2. Peer councilor (gr.11): Helped grade 8 kids feel welcome, led school tours, learned about interactive skills and issues that teenagers face. (2 hours/week)
3. Internship at a Church: Projects included interviewing people and posting their stories online, leading the Sunday program, and occupying the office (35 hours/week summer)
4. Led Sunday schools for children at a Korean Church (different church):
5. Canadian Blood Services: over 150 hours volunteering</p>

<p>Sports:
1. Soccer: Metro/Select Soccer team (9): Most competitive league in the province, played right striker position (8 hours/week). Silver Soccer team (gr. 10 – present): (4 hours/week).
2. Tennis: (gr. 10, 11): Chosen for competitive challenger program (5 hours/week)
-Varsity Tennis (gr. 9 – 11): Team won the 2nd place in Northshore, 6th place in province.
3. Basketball (9): Played Varsity. Team won the Northshore title, Vancouver title, 3rd in provincials (6 hours/week). Won 4 tournaments.
(Note: Transferred to a different school for more rigorous academic courses in grade 10, sacrificing sports opportunities due to lack of competitive programs in the school and pursuing deeper commitments in music and volunteer work). </p>

<p>Music
1. Alto Saxophone (grade 7 – 12): Auditioned/selected for junior jazz band at school Took 1st alto saxophone position. The band made it to the finals at Envision Jazz Festival. I was also part of senior jazz band and maintained 1st saxophone position. I was part of combo band in grade 11, which consisted of only 7 members. (2 hours/week).
2. CCM Bands: Held concerts regularly, performed twice a week for youth service and adult service. Guitar & Bass guitar (gr. 8,9, 10, 11): Played 2nd guitar and main bass guitar. Piano and Synthesizer (grade 5 – present): Took lessons, currently in CCM band (3 hours/week).
3. Composed jazz and new age compositions, and continue to play all of these instruments.</p>

<p>Awards/Honors
1. Featured in a Korean Newspaper. Selected as one of the future prospective Korean leaders for my leadership in Northshore international group and peer helper
2. Skipped a year of biology and mathematics in grade 10. Skipped IB physics 11 and went directly to IB physics 12 (I took a condensed summer school in grade 10). (Maybe you could put this here since it is an achievement)</p>

<p>Other ideas…Name the churches, say what CCM is, and include a cd of your songs if the U will accept additional material (also consider submitting them somewhere for review or competition so you can add that to awards/honors)</p>

8

<p>Wow.. that's amazing... thank you very much spideygirl.. I greatly appreciate that...</p>