Does my Lack of EC's mean no shot at Ivies?

Applying to College
1

<p>Okay, here's all the EC's I can think of that I'm putting on the app:</p>

<ul>
<li>Varsity golf (10, 11, 12)</li>
<li>LOADS of work experience (same job since 9th grade, almost year-round)</li>
</ul>

<p>Sounds good so far, but that's where it ends.
- School paper (10, 11, 12)...NO leadership; I really don't do much for it
- Model Congress (9) Quit after freshman year
- 20 measley hours of community service
- Going to try for NHS this year</p>

<p>AND THAT's IT!</p>

<p>Do people get into good schools with EC's like this? Great ones?</p>

<p>Is there anything I can do in the next three months to improve this before it's time to apply?</p>

2

<p>It doesn't mean absolutely no shot at the Ivy's, but it does mean your chances are greatly lessened. Given that there are so many applicants who have great stats and great ECs on top of that, it puts you at a big disadvantage.</p>

3

<p>Your work experience balances out your lack of school-related extracurriculars, IMO. Holding the same job since ninth grade is no small feat.</p>

4

<p>still, unless you have perfect stats (and even with perfect stats), you have low chances.</p>

5

<p>Having a job is more impressive than are most people's ECs. A job implies responsibility, independence and maturity.</p>

6

<p>
[quote]
still, unless you have perfect stats (and even with perfect stats), you have low chances.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>????</p>

<p>What kind of preppy brat are you?</p>

<p>Job for 4 years is considerably more impressive ... I don't know what line the OP is in but I know a few people whose high school work paid off sufficiently, where one became a general manager of a fast food restaurant by the time he was a second-year. That is some serious tuition money.</p>

7

<p>Preppy brat?
Actually, I'm a Questbridge scholarship winner, coming from a disadvantaged household on multiple levels: low-income, alcoholism, and physical abuse. I am the first to attend college in my family.
I have also held jobs since sophomore year (now a senior), though not a consistent one since freshman year like the OP.
Don't make assumptions about me because I was realistic in my response.
And do not call me a "preppy brat" - I have overcome so much, more than most people do in a lifetime. I have worked harder to get where I am than many people; NOTHING was EVER handed to me on a silver platter.</p>

8

<p>Um whoops, I misinterpreted your statement -- I thought you said a job couldn't make up for lack of ECs. It can't make up for winning the International Math Olympiad, but those who start work early can win some fairly (blue-collar as it may) good promotions by the time they hit college, especially if they show distinction in a large chain. </p>

<p>Didn't know you were a fellow low-income student lol.</p>

9

<p>You do have an "EC". It's your job and it will help a lot.</p>

10

<p>You play a varsity sport and work a job. Your EC's are fine.</p>

11

<p>And remember...Ivies aren't the be-all, end-all you may think. There are lots of great schools out there, depending on your planned major. With good grades & test scores, and obviously a good work ethic, many schools will see you as an outstanding candidate--and even give you money! :)</p>

12

<p>I think people vastly overestimate the importance of ECs. A varsity sport and a job are more than sufficient.</p>

13

<p>^ I repeat, at any Ivy-league school [which is, as stated in the title, what he/she's going for], the majority of the applicant pool has the numbers to get in, so ECs are the deciding factor. And most have great EC's [quite a few have multiple varsity sports and great EC's].</p>

<p>I'm not saying a varsity sport and job are easy or unimpressive, but the Ivy applicant pool is very, very tough.</p>

14

<p>I'm guessing that you and your family really need that job income. Focus on that - I think adcoms will be understanding. In fact, the Boston Globe recently (in the last few months) had a piece about adcoms liking kids who had actually had a 'real job' - it shows a lot of character to stick to that.</p>

15

<p>was the part time job golf-related?</p>

16

<p>One statistic stands out in my head--Harvard rejects something like 21,000 applicants, most of them well-qualified to go there.</p>

<p>So yeah, even if you have all the good stuff and are OUTSTANDING in some area...it's a very very long shot anyway.</p>

17

<p>Having to work because your family needs the money is a big plus in admissions of colleges like Ivies.</p>

18

<p>In the CC philosophy, if you are not chief manager of a chain of 6 restaurants by the time you are 18, your job is "not good enough for the Ivy-League pool".</p>

19

<p>I think that even Ivy-pool applicants tend to overhype ECs. This is anecdotal evidence, but between me and my group of friends in HS, those of us admitted to top schools, including Ivies, had way less than stellar ECs--less impressive than those of the OP. </p>

<p>There are a lot of ways to distinguish yourself during the application process, and it doesn't always come down to ECs as a tipping factor. If your ECs are great, then it's not going to be a negative, obviously, but if they're unremarkable it's not always a black mark, either. Essays and academic work can be equally persuasive in arguing your case.</p>

20

<p>I'm going to disagree with most of the people who responded and say that your ECs are not sufficient for an Ivy. If you could pick up a service project your chances would be better. And also, it's mildly concerning that you're not already in NHS. In my high school everyone who was in the top 15% of the class was automatically admitted after freshman year.</p>