<p>If you used that technique of course. I now have 13 seperate EC's, but based on what the common application asks you to put for it (how many weeks per year, how many years) they don't seem very impressive as I only did some things 1-2 weeks per year. </p>
<p>If I put in a few more EC's only during my senior year would it do anything to affect my chances? And if you tried it, do you think it had any positive effect on your chances of getting into the college you wanted?</p>
<p>I would not do that. What you might do is figure out how to “deepen” some ECs you already have. Extend them by doing more, holding office, taking your involvement further somehow. Colleges really like consistency and commitment in ECs, so that is a better idea than picking up something new. They will see right through that… but a natural extension of something you have already been doing can be beneficial. Seniors are older, can show more leadership, contribute more, etc to things they have already been involved with. Colleges like to see THAT.</p>
<p>The key is depth, not breadth. Adding more Ecs will not help you, and if you’re only starting to worry about it now, its too late. First semester senior year is when you cut down on everything else and sit on college apps, not when you add more ecs. Whatever you do from now on won’t help at all, unless you win some kind of accolade.</p>
<p>prs: you’re living under a myth that’s held by most HS students.</p>
<p>Most US colleges don’t evaluate a single EC in deciding whether to admit or not. The ones that do want substantial involvement – not a laundry list of titles and fluff leadership roles or X volunteer hours.</p>
<p>The answer to your question is NO. And could actually harm you if you pursue worthless ECs and your grades slip, you take a less rigorous courseload or miss out on extra points for SAT or ACT if you had prepped more.</p>
<p>HMMMM i dont think it will help much because colleges will see through that. i added on 3 activities for senior year but i had 15 EC before that which i all held commitment too.</p>
<p>Don’t spread yourself too thin o.O Have some type of significant accomplishment in a few rather than superficial titles in many. Cut down on some extracurriculars.</p>
<p>As a reference, I have ~10 ECs, but have something quality to say for each of them.</p>
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They aren’t that impressive, but that’s what you’ll have to live with. I doubt there is anything you can do right now that’s going to turn you into someone with a bit of this and that into someone where the adcom sits up and takes notice. Especially considering you need it done by Nov/Dec when apps are due. The good news is most colleges don’t take ECs into account for admission; they go by scores and grades. </p>
<p>The question about impressive ECs comes up regularly on the forum. There is a thread with several posts by Northstarmom, a Ivy alum interviewer, about what constitutes impressive ECs from the point of view of the most selective colleges. The post is at <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/210497-those-ecs-weak-so-what-s-good.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/210497-those-ecs-weak-so-what-s-good.html</a></p>
<p>As you will see from that link, at the most selective colleges they are looking for depth more than just participation. Stanford, for example, says
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<p>The OP has another seven months before the first applications are likely true. It is not true that whatever is done in that period won’t help. It is important to add DEPTH to something already done, though, not pick up something totally new. Volunteering in a given area or with a skill you already have from an EC would be a really good idea.</p>
<p>Be careful about overcommitting during that first semester. My son found it difficult to juggle his existing ECs, his all AP courseload AND college applications. Show true passion for a slim list of ECs (my son didn’t actually list all of his). Work, internship and activities showing leadership or extreme passion seem to be valued highly by colleges. Choose the one you love the most to write an essay on (of the 50 you will be writing).</p>
<p>Never, never, never do an EC because you think some AdCom will like it,. You should only do ECs that YOU like, or want to do. And that includes volunteering.</p>
<p>I actually disagree with that to some extent. One of my kids had to do a bunch of volunteer hours for a school requirement. Not that she wouldn’t have wanted to do it… but she is so darned busy that it was hard to squeeze out the time. She ended up finding it very gratifying, and wants to do more this summer (after hs graduation) with the same organization just because she likes it. It wasn’t exactly for the ad coms (atlhough I suspect that is one reason her school has the requirement), but similar. The OP may have a similar experience.</p>
<p>Would you consider this to be depth? I have played 3 years of varsity tennis so far, I was the manager for girls tennis, I clean up the tennis courts fervently for the upcoming season , and I will might be getting a job at a tennis pro shop this summer (which is only something that I could have done this summer). None of these things are truly inspiring, which is what some of you might view as depth, but I have multiple activities in one thing. Would that catch anyone’s attention?</p>
<p>Admissions officers are smart enough to know when someone is just doing activities for their resume, and it’s even more obvious if you cram them all right before applying. Also, it looks much better if you have participated in an activity for a long period of time, so cramming really does not help at all. My suggestion? Never join activities, clubs, or anything if you don’t like because then you are just wasting your time! Your life will be miserable if you are stressed out from extracurricular activities that you don’t even enjoy doing.</p>
<p>Thanks so far everyone, but would anyone say my previous post describes depth regarding EC’s?</p>
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Elsewhere you have posted about your desire to attend an elite college. Fortunately for you an interviewer for such a school has written a few posts about what they consider good levels of ECs. I referenced her thread in post #7. Read thru the whole thread and you can come to your own conclusions regarding how your ECs stack up.</p>
<p>How insincere.</p>