Do you really need huge ECs to be competitive for HYPS?

Applying to College
1

<p>Do you really need to research at a big university?
Do you need to focus on one area and build up your ECs in and out of school?</p>

<p>I have a 4.0, plan to do well on my SATs, and have decent ECs (by decent I mean things like Eagle Scout, some volunteering, and a couple clubs).</p>

<p>Assuming I write good essays, do I have a chance if I apply?</p>

<p>Sometimes CC just discourages me when I see people with tons of super impressive ECs crying about how they are worried about not getting into Harvard. </p>

<p>Are these huge ECs really necessary?</p>

2

<p>Sure you have a chance. It’s just that HYPS could fill their classes 10 times over with 4.0s, kids with strong ECs (class president, editor of the school paper, Eagle Scout) and rave reviews from their teachers. So the question is how to differentiate yourself from that crowd. </p>

<p>An EC that really stands out is one way to do it. An usual background or ‘distance traveled’ are two others - but you can’t generally create that for yourself. Finally, an essay that really touches someone could make the difference. At some point, there is also an element of dumb luck - Does your personal story touch that adcom because of some shared experience? Did he or she just read an application from someone similar to you whom they decided to admit? Did you happen to have the right ‘interest’ at a time when they are trying to beef up some particular area?</p>

<p>Know that with 50 superb schools (universities, LACs, state schools) out there, you will get into at least one of them and have an excellent educational experience - possibly a better one than at HYPS. Ultimatately, it’s more about you than about the school.</p>

3

<p>moose-
Take what you read on cc as a wake up call to focus on doing what you are passionate about not just trying to complete a checklist of accomplishments you think will get you into tippy top schools.</p>

<p>Elite schools want students who encompass excellence in all aspects of their life.
How they achieve excellence is unique to them.</p>

4

<p>M’s Mom, you should save that in a Word file and plaster it all over College Confidential.</p>

5

<p>Look at the results threads on the HYPS forums. It’s overwhelmingly the case that acceptees have incredible ECs. That’s just the name of the game with so many applicants and so few spots.</p>

6

<p>The question about impressive ECs comes up regularly on the forum. There is a thread with comments by NSM, a Ivy alum interviewer, about what constitutes impressive ECs. 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&lt;/a&gt; Read thru it and you can decide for yourself where you stand based on reliable examples of ECs seen at those schools.</p>

<p>2 very interesting articles about ECs that stand out and how to get them (same author, different examples) are at [How</a> to Be Impressive](<a href=“http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/05/28/the-art-of-activity-innovation-how-to-be-impressive-without-an-impressive-amount-of-work/]How”>The Art of Activity Innovation: How to Be Impressive Without an Impressive Amount of Work - Cal Newport) and [Save</a> This Grind?](<a href=“http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/09/12/case-study-how-could-we-save-this-ridiculously-overloaded-grind/]Save”>Case Study: How Could We Save This Ridiculously Overloaded Grind? - Cal Newport) While I don’t agree with everything in them, take a look at these 2 articles and I think you’ll get some original ideas.</p>