<p>I'm wondering if whether working adds a good EC to your list. I've read in one of the top threads that it is very impressive, but I'd like to get everyone's thoughts. For example, I work in a construction and development company. I have to manage clients, complete designs, and do quite a bit of sales and marketing. Not exactly a job at CVS. </p>
<p>For what kind of colleges would this apply to? I've heard that the top schools place more emphasis on scores. I work about 4-5 hours a day after school, thus eliminating most EC opportunities. But I'm not sure if that will appeal to ad.officers if explained.</p>
<p>It doesn't matter if you flip burgers or do construction or work in an office. A job shows that you have work ethic and a sense of responsibility. Top schools, hell, any school, will see it favorably. That is, it's the same as a very good EC. If you don't have many ECs because of work, it's not a bad thing, they'll know that it requires a lot of work. Admissions officers aren't idiots that have never been outside their offices. They know what people and the world are like.</p>
<p>Thanks for that. I was thinking that ad.officers didn't really care. It's reassuring to know that the work I'm doing could help me in admissions. </p>
<p>What did you do with your earnings? It looks impressive at certain colleges if you used your earnings to pay for school stuff or help support your family.</p>
<p>working is a good thing. If you have to work and can not have more EC because of that it is totally ok, Working shows your leadership potential and maturity level which most schools will appreciate. Now you will be required to send you W-2 forms and show your income. If your family EFC is very low and you earn some money it might lower your fin aid sometimes significantly. If money is big concern you might want to play with EFC calculators on line and estimate your scenario so you know appr what are you facing regarding need based aid.</p>
<p>Work definitely is a positive indicator for the ADCOMs.
For one thing, many work applicants get tested for drug use.
Secondly, working person usually attains a bit of maturity by interacting in the society of people other than his/her family & friends.</p>
<p>Replying to fresnomom, a good portion of my money went to the family, and the rest was used for necessities. Now, since I'm working for my family as I'm the son of the boss, I really don't have the legal forms and what not. So, how would I verify that I worked if they inquire? </p>
<p>A job looks good on your app ,especially if you have done the same job for awhile. It shows maturity and responsibility. My S had great grades and stats but said that in his interview for a major scholarship, the interviewer was really impressed by his job experience and that he had worked so much all through high school and still maintained great grades.</p>
<p>We are farmers and our sons work for us. Son #1 (now a freshman at Berkeley) applied to 12 colleges and not one asked for verification of his employment history. I guess if verification is requested, they could call the owner of the business (my husband) or my son could send a copy of his W2s. </p>
<p>As a side note: my son receives work study at UC Berkeley. He applied for a job that only had 10 available positions, and he was the only freshman hired. I think they were impressed with his work history (shows responsibility).</p>
<p>Dumb question, if work is considered to be such an impressive extracurricular, does that mean it's not that common in a HYPSM/other top 30 applicant pool? Doesn't everyone work??</p>
<p>Work history shows responsbility and a number of other good qualities, to be seen in a good light. But I know a lot of peers who work excessive hours and as a result have poor grades, a lack of other ecs, etc. Working can be a positive aspect of who you are if it is done in moderation, or is a legit passion (like working in an office, not burger king), but can have a negative affect if it influences adversely if the way described.</p>
<p>Acry, what do you mean "doesn't everyone work?" In high school? It probably varies from area to area, but at my school a lot of kids don't work because it's not really necessary (middle-upper class suburb).</p>
<p>Work is generally viewed in a positive light by adcoms. They won't ask you to prove your income or even how much you made an hour for admissions purposes. Some students work in family businesses for no pay and that is okay. Income verification only comes in to play for financial aid purposes and then they will accept income tax info. If you aren't involved in ec's because you have to go home and take care of younger siblings because both of your parents work, they will take that into account. They will look at lots of different kind of things. Adcoms just want to see a student engaged in something outside academics. </p>
<p>Work can show initiative, responsibility, time management, leadership skills, communication skills, etc. And working in a family business can show dedication and loyalty. All of these things can be important to college success. If you have an interview and can slip in a story or two about how you appeased the cranky old lady no one else could, how you set up a computerized tracking system to better manage materials, how you tried to do something and failed and what that taught you for the next time, etc. that would be great. If you use something about work for one of your essays, it shouldn't just be a "what I have learned from work" essay. The work scenario should focus on helping someone see who you are and what makes you tick, the same way someone writing an essay on being a basketball player should. It could be a why I am interested in majoring in xxx kind of thing. </p>
<p>You might go to a library or book store and browse through a business resume book. Don't spend a lot of time with it but that will give you an idea how to present your work experience to best showcase what you have learned and accomplished by working. Since work has been a major part of your outside of class life, show how it has shaped who you are in some way and what you have accomplished within that environment and you should be good.</p>
<p>Saint Paul, where I live (middle class suburb), many of my friends have held down jobs for at least a year. Some have held down two. I just kinda figured working was common and not really all that impressive, but I forgot that people come from different areas/economic backgrounds.</p>