Sorry about that. In my effort to be vague, I used that term. I would have definitely used the name of the country, if not the school, if we were private messaging.
For the record, I have no familial or heritage connection to the country in question at all. The trip was also not sponsored. You’re right that it’s one-off. I did kickstart a (ongoing) local fundraiser for the school and am currently privately sponsoring a student’s tuition, but I worry that it still might be seen as one-off and superficial, as you expressed. Any tips?
Yes, I’m not too worried about STEM achievement, but as others have pointed out, service is a weak point. Trying to work on it but I fear it’s a bit too late.
It’s with a combination of my own earnings (from internships) and my parents. My fundraiser is for STEM equipment/supplies, unrelated to student sponsorship. I’ve kept in touch a lot with the school admin and they were even able to send me pictures of how the funds they received were put to use.
The one bit of helpful info I may have left out is that this isn’t just any rural school — it was founded as a charity magnet boarding school and student tuition is free for them.
This is a tough one because a lot of AOs are a bit wary of things that sound like “voluntourism” especially when it is essentially the function of privilege (and it is often the assumption that it is). You need to really place the focus on the substance of the work you did, in my opinion, and tread lightly around anything that sounds like “I travelled to a poor country to help underprivileged children” - that sort of attitude can raise flags for some AOs. Focus, for example, on how you gained teaching experience through this with the fact of its location as just the back drop to the experience, rather than the focus of it. Teaching experience is good, no matter where it happens, and cross cultural experience and being able to communicate across cultures is good, too. Just try to avoid anything that sounds like “white saviorism” (yes, I realize you are not white, but it is more about the attitude sometimes behind such things), or things that sound like you simply bought this experience. The ability to teach a complex topic is good, though - that should be what you highlight. Being able to explain complicated topics in a clear, simple way so that the information is accessible to diverse audiences (such as the children at the school you lectured at). Something like that.
@Loco_RS - adding to the above, you might also want to leave out the “sponsoring a student’s tuition” bit. Reeks of privilege, and unlike the teaching part, doesn’t add anything to your app.
Thank you, this is really helpful — especially the part about teaching concepts in simple ways to be accessible to diverse audiences. Looking back, that was a major source of fulfillment.
Because your service aspect seems weak, and you are a junior, I would try to build on your existing service to make them more substantial. So you lectured in a 3rd World country? And continue to financially support that school through your contributions? Why not put together a continuing service project/drive to fund a scholarship there - beyond family and friends contributions? Why not use that teaching experience and translate it to something in your community – after school program/camp/etc. You don’t need to re-create the wheel, but just think about how what you’ve already done can translate to something local to you, in your community, that does not sound like it’s coming from a place of privilege or it is a one time thing.
I wouldn’t. If you want to show you care about helping people, it’s better to do something on-going for your local community like @VirginiaBelle suggested. A one-off engagement in a country that you say you have no real connection to, doesn’t convey that same sense of service. Rather, it just says your family has the money to facilitate ECs like this.
Anyway, moving on - have you looked at the additional feedback above regarding the schools on your list?
A problem is that everything is so saturated in my hyper-competitive environment regarding service initiatives, so there aren’t many gaps to fill in terms of leading your own program. Aside from the conference thing that I’m doing, I’ll try to search for more. I’ll continue to volunteer with organized adult-run programs (piano, astronomy club) as well.
For the schools, I’ve read the feedback, and I think I’ll heed the advice of those who know/advise me IRL. But I will keep all of what you all said in mind.
The important part to you is that you (and your parents) are financing a student? All of the messaging from AOs is that they value long and deep engagement in your ECs. This seems to be a ‘gold medal’ approach- that you win by doing something impressive- once.
Anyway, my sceptic meter is still tilting red.
We have a HS student- almost certainly a minor!- “fundraise” to cover the cost of equipment (as well as the necessary flights and all in-country costs) for a rural underfunded school in another country, to which they have no connections or relationship, and they do it as a completely independent, solo, effort (except for parental financial support in sponsoring a student’s tuition). Nevermind the single lecture that is now morphing into “teaching”.
Not everything has to be you being the inventor/implementor of the program. Showing that you can be a part of an ongoing team (not just another hypercompetitive teenager trying madly to impress AOs) carries weight as well.
Skeptical of what? Everything I’ve said so far is true. And it’s not like what I’m doing funds everything — it makes a small dent and the fundraiser is specifically geared towards supplies. Does it seem too outlandish? Exotic? Privileged? How do I remedy that, for this activity specifically? You’re right about the morph into teaching, though. I recognize how that feels wrong — not much more I could have done at the time, though.
Sure, it’s your call. But do keep in mind that the senior members here have seen multiple admissions cycles with students that have a similar profile to yours. So they’re speaking from experience.
Regardless, you may want to research and identify more target schools.
It might be worth considering as a backup, since outcomes are more predictable. If you had to choose between Arizona or Oxford would you still pick Arizona?
As @collegemom3717 pointed out, your profile is a good match for the UK. So it may be worth an application to Oxford (although it won’t be anything like as cheap as Arizona given the merit there).