Hey, so I’m a sophomore, and given that it’s kind of late in the year, I’ve been starting to think a lot about college and which colleges I’m interested in personally, and if I’ve put myself in a good position for top tier schools (top liberal arts colleges and some Ivy leagues—not all, I’m certainly not the type to apply just for prestige).
I currently have a perfect GPA and got a 1370 on the PSAT without any prep, so I think (let me know if I’m wrong) it’s reasonable to assume that with prep I can rack up some “impressive” scores. I will have taken AP’s such as AP Language, AP US gov, AP comparative gov, AP us History, in addition to an IB program schedule with Biology, English, and world history as well as 5-6 years of Spanish. I’ll be taking math all four years and pre calculus junior year but won’t be taking calculus senior year because I have to fulfill IB requirements. Major yikes (maybe?).
As for extra curriculars : (this is all stuff I enjoy and love. struggling to find that one thing I’m amazing at. is there any “story” here?") lol. This is the big thing I want to know. Are these good enough? How do I make myself distinctive without wearing myself out, then, if they are not?
Involvement in debate 4 years, VP, some local awards, hoping to be captain senior year
Theater all 4 years (stage crew, and some lead roles, and some supporting)
Student government all 4 years, had a position but not president or anything
200 hour leadership fellowship program (directing my own community service project towards kids and education)
Also have volunteered with elderly all 4 years and can relate my drive to do so to a profound personal experience
I love to write and have always gone to writing programs, gotten pieces in my school newspaper and literary magazine, got a small scholastic award but hoping for a larger one
Part of school social justice club for 4 years, i used my writing and acting to help raise money for the club at a few fundraisers
One other selective social justice “program” i may be admitted to
My sense is that these ECs are okay but not distinctive (tell me if you think they’re not even “good enough.”) for top tier schools, i am hoping to distinguish myself through essays. I’ve been told I am a good writer and I think that I am a genuine person who can be vulnerable and real in these essays. Also, do you think essays should be about an extracurricular that’s most important to you to show your passion for that thing, or is it a better idea to show the adcom something that they can’t see at all in the rest of your app (read: a quirky story or something that shows personality?)
Thanks so much <3. These threads are totally annoying but the comments are always so helpful, so I had to add myself to the madness.
No one? 
It’s 9:40 pm Eastern Time on a Saturday. Nobody’s on College Confidential right now. 
Your ECs are fine. Continue pursuing the things you like. Worry about essays when it’s time to write them – prompts change from year to year.
Thank you. 
Hahaha you’d be surprised at how many people seem to frequent this website. It’s addictive.
Also, i wish my ECs were more than fine, but I am working on it…
I think the best advice anyone can give you is to be yourself. Like, it sounds super corny and done to death, but it really is all you have to do. Don’t do something special just for the sake of standing out (adcoms see right through that); participate in extracurriculars that you genuinely love so you can write essays that really come from the heart. As for your question regarding what specifically to write your essays about - either works. Write about whatever feels the most natural for you. Most schools have prompts that will probably sway you to write an extracurricular essay vs a “quirky” essay vs a “why do you want to go here” essay… just do what feels natural, and you’ll be heading in the right direction. 
Best of luck.