Disinterested kids

Parents Forum
1

<p>Hey parents. I go to a charter school where the high school has about 500 kids in total, and we sent one kid to duke last year but everything else is pretty much community college/local universities, or not going to college at all. I volunteer at a summer program that teaches kids engineering and other things like chess, and I tried to start a chess club this year at my school but only 2-3 kids were interested. Throughout the year, however, we had fun tournaments near winter break and stuff, and I think there are enough kids to start for next year, although that's not certain. </p>

<p>I'm a casual player but I enjoy chess and a lot of other kids I know enjoy it, but I was wondering about the application implications of this. People say it's good to show initiative and start a club, but how good would it look starting two clubs [chess and math club next year] during my senior year? I don't want to make it look like application padding, but I found out about math contests just this february, and I want to start MAO next year too. </p>

<p>I want to start them regardless of whether or not it affects college because I like those things, but do you guys feel it is worth mentioning that I started them, and if so, should I explain that I tried in previous years unsuccessfully? If any of your kids go to small schools, could you guys share your experiences? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!</p>

2

<p>My S started several clubs (including Chinese chess, and several others) in his senior year–didn’t do it earlier because he was too ill. He mentioned them in his apps, including his NMF app. Don’t think starting & joining several clubs in his senior year hurt him at all.</p>

3

<p>I think you mean uninterested. Disinterested means you are impartial and have no stake in the outcome of some question. Uninterested means you are bored and don’t care.</p>

4

<p>^^^ That is correct!</p>

5

<p>Whoops, my bad for that typo. It was a long day @__@</p>

<p>Thanks for the feedback HImom. Anyone else?</p>

6

<p>I think you should mention them, I don’t think it will hurt. If an application offers space for extra info, it might make for an interesting extra essay.</p>

7

<p>So let’s see, you go to a charter school, you have specific interests, and the school doesn’t have activities for those interests. Consequently, you’re taking the bull by the horns and doing something that will make you happy and make other people happy too.</p>

<p>Why in the world wouldn’t you mention that??</p>