Do my ECs seem sincere? (Does sincerity even matter to adcoms?)

Applying to College
1

<p>Does it honestly seem like I just did this for college apps? Please be brutal..I know the first one definitely sounds like it but there is a legitimate reason for that one which I will expand upon in my essay...</p>

<p>If yes, how can I improve? Or does it even matter?</p>

<p>ECs(some of this I haven't actually started yet but will this fall):
-Safe injection site: Volunteering to help administer drugs in a safe way to addicts (essay topic!)
-Bassoon playing: Four groups (2 orchestras, one regional marching band, and one jazz combo), will potentially get to play at Carnegie Hall in an ensemble--this will be my arts supplement and a potential essay topic
-Blood clinic: Basic volunteering
-Field hockey: Regionally acclaimed team, goalie
-Lab work: Most notably a cystic fibrosis lab and a potential trip to Capetown to work in a hospital
-Hospital job: This one's a definite maybe
-Internship: program at a local university
-Poetry: Won several national contests
-Roundsquare (charity) club, 7 years
-Debate: Provincial awards
-Science fair: Regional awards
The rest aren't really worth mentioning. I have won several school-wide awards but they're not likely to be impressive when kids are winning Intel, etc.</p>

2

<p>You tell us. Are you sincerely interested in the things you have been doing over the past few years, or have you only done them for “how they look”?</p>

3

<p>@sally305
I am sincerely interested in what I’m doing this summer, but it’s very different from what I’ve done in the past, so I get why one can worry about whether something seems legitimate, because sometimes it really is! And yes, adcoms can tell to a degree sometimes if something’s totally fake, but they’re not psychic and aren’t spending an hour+ per app.</p>

4

<p>Ah, I see. Well, upon first reading your list of accomplishments I did think they sounded like genuine interests…it was your question that threw me. :)</p>

<p>I have seen numerous kids fake it just to look “well-rounded.” You don’t seem to be one of them. What might also help is if you connected some of your interests to a proposed major when you submit your applications–from what you have listed I would guess something pre-med or science-related? </p>

<p>Good luck to you!</p>

5

<p>Blankk and I are definitely in the same position! Yes I would like to go into premed if all goes well :slight_smile: Thank you for your input!</p>

6

<p>And yes, I began most of these things before high school or even starting to think about college.</p>

7

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<p>Remember, premed is just a set of courses, you can major in anything and still complete premed classwork.</p>

8

<p>Unfortunately there’s not really a major for me to write down. .</p>

9

<p>Then put undecided, it really doesn’t matter.</p>

<p>Now I’m curious, what is it that you want to study that there isn’t a major for?</p>

10

<p>Entomom, I just put pre med since what I want to do, neuroscience, isn’t offered specifically at all the colleges I’m thinking about applying to (There are many in the US, but it’s really hard to find one in the UK for undergrad). UK is definitely my first choice for undergrad if by some stroke of luck I manage to get a scholarship :)</p>

11

<p>@entomom
Oh, I’m undecided, it’s just that my interests are all over the place that I’m worried about.</p>