As a Junior, I’m about to start a literary magazine at my school. It’s something I really want to do and that I think there’s a demand for at my school, but I’m worried that starting something at the end of Junior year will make colleges think I’m just desperate to pad my resume. I’m not sure how successful the magazine will be, but I have been putting a lot of effort into getting it started- which is a long process what with funding/printing/getting submissions. What can I do/how can I frame this to show this is a project I care about? I don’t think I could win any awards for it or anything before I send applications out, there won’t really be any way to judge its success - beyond how many subscriptions I get parents to buy.
Also, the advisor for the magazine is my forensics coach and honors creative writing teacher, so I’ll probably ask her to write one of my letters of recommendation, and she can say nice things about it probably.
I also started a tutoring club my sophomore year- where students tutor elementary school kids online in math and science, and that club has gone fairly well, once again though I worry that I’ll look like I’m padding my resume - especially with starting the magazine now too.
I worry that all of my extracurriculars are too varied - even though I have leadership positions and dedicate a lot of time, I don’t really have any notable awards. I’m afraid colleges will think I’m just going through the motions.
Will starting this magazine, coupled with me starting the tutoring club the year before make me look like I’m making up things to pad my resume? What can I do to convince colleges I’m dedicated and passionate?
Thanks!
@butterfly999 I wouldn’t worry too much about it - colleges love to see leadership! I think it’s important that you can explain WHY you started the magazine. Is it because you found you loved helping people through tutoring and now can do that on a larger scale through the magazine? I think you just need to come up with a convincing story on how these two activities are tied together and how they fit in with your long-term goals. Happy to talk through more if you want to message me!
If you want to start a literary magazine, I say you go for it! Founding clubs and activities is a plus to colleges, and if you can demonstrate your passion they should see it.
Founding clubs later is not necessarily a minus to colleges. I became president of a club as a junior and volunteered as a peer tutor partway through my junior year. Even though I wasn’t involved in all of these since freshman/sophomore year, I think my leadership helped. I was accepted into some of my top schools, including UCLA and Cal Berkeley.
If you feel very passionately about the magazine, it may also be worth writing about in your essays. If you can write a compelling essay about one of your activities, it would demonstrate passion and commitment to the colleges you are applying to - two things they are especially keen on. Also, if you provide real examples, it should be obvious that you didn’t just make it for college apps.
Overall, if you care about this magazine it should show through your essay(s), regardless of how it sounds on its own. Your activities sound very impressive and I wish you the best in your college search!
I’ve spoke to numerous admissions directors about this issue. Yes, in general, founding or embarking in ventures in Junior year or later can signal a lack of authenticity in one’s motivations, especially if the individual lacks prior evidence attesting to their interest in a particular activity. It even has a name - “Drive By Philanthropy.” So if you can show a trail of activities in prior years that reflect a growing interest in literary pursuits, then your initiating a literary club would seem more authentic. The best advice I think is to pursue the activity if you find it meaningful and explain how it is meaningful to you. Genuine passion will usually reveal itself. Don’t your apprehension stop you from founding a worthwhile club or venture.
If your advisor writes a strong LoR that provides substantive examples of your leadership, effort and accomplishments, you will be fine. A generic letter with vague platitudes will not be helpful.