<p>I've heard about high school students even spending 3-4+ hours on Wikipedia each day...wouldn't it be unfair if this wasn't really considered by adcoms?</p>
<p>I think that it could if the accomplishments led to something - say becoming a Trustee or Admin or some other recognized contributor to Wikipedia.</p>
<p>The problem I see is that this isn't a very social EC. There are no inter-personal skills necessary, no leadership, and you don't have to get along with others (beyond the revert wars). So at the end of the day, I think that it could be an EC, albeit a weaker one.</p>
<p>Actually, I would think the biggest problem would have to do with how easy it is to make stuff up about that.</p>
<p>Hmm...I'm weak in that department of ECs. I've never done anything to demonstrate leadership in my entire life. Frankly, I don't even like the idea of leadership in general.</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure you can put whatever you want down as an EC, it's just a question of whether it will impress an adcom. I'm guessing using Wikipedia contributions as an EC would be about as impressive as saying you spend 3 to 4 hours a day on CC. (Which I would guess would be throughly unimpressive, but I'm not an adcom, so what would I know.)</p>
<p>No one said EC's have to be social.</p>
<p>That's true. Writing a novel is a great EC, and isn't at all social.</p>
<p>I would think you would want more than one EC, though, and that one of them should involve some interaction with other people...</p>
<p>Writing a novel and wikipedia is social, albeit indirectly, because it contributes to a larger conversation in society between people. Social interaction doesn't always have to be face to face, I think.</p>
<p>I think you would be hard-pressed to find a website where contributing alot of time would constitute a legit EC, let alone one that's impressive. Now, if you've created a company and need to manage it's website, that's one thing. But, I know if I were an admissions officer, editing Wikipedia seems slightly more impressive than playing World of Warcraft alot.</p>
<p>I would classify it more as a hobby than an EC.</p>
<p>Well it doesn't have to be impressive. I have no impressive ECs.</p>
<p>I like that EC actually. if you're an editor or an article writer, I'll say that that EC is really impressive. </p>
<p>Of course, if you really spend 3-4 hours a day on Wikipedia, you should put that down no matter what.</p>
<p>If you worry about how the ADCOMs will perceive it, you should really consider weaving it into your essay to explain your devotion and how it reflects your character</p>
<p>You have to use it as it is your main EC because it IS. Just explain in your essay how it changed you/your life and made you a better person; i.e. it sent you in a new direction that is now your intended college major, it made you realize your calling in life is to be an editor, and how you cannot wait to get on campus and sign up to be part of the daily newspaper there. Good luck.</p>
<p>"Frankly, I don't even like the idea of leadership in general."</p>
<p>I like you. :)</p>
<p>You've got to be kidding me. I thought this topic was a joke when I looked at the title.</p>
<p>Of course you can't put this down as an EC, it's impossible to verify and nothing about it screams "legit EC".</p>
<p>Why not put "walking your dog" or "cleaning the room" or "working out" on the application too? Come on people. Stop trying to turn every single activity into an EC.</p>
<p>ha ha ha, like GoldShadow I thought this was a joke post too. No, editing Wikipedia is not AN EC. Don't get me wrong, I love editing Wikipedia, but there is no credit system so all your works are not recognized publicly, and the word edit carries so much subjective baggage. You can mislead and lie in your "edits" as much as you can inform. Finally, Adcom can't call up Wikipedia and ask if you've done such and such. Doing recognized research for a non-profit organization is an EC, running its website is an EC; so look for other EC that fits your talent and interest.</p>
<p>"Why not put "walking your dog" or "cleaning the room" or "working out" on the application too?"
I hate to break this to you GoldShadow, but I know people who did put that in their resume; morons I know, but "human stupidity is infinite" (Einstein)</p>
<p>Yep, editing wiki cannot be proved unless you occupy any particular position or is recommended by wiki's control board.</p>