<p>So I have a bit of an odd extra curricular, I buy/sell things on ebay (mainly electronics and tickets.) I have made a fair amount of money over the past 4 years doing it.... Normally I would just put it on, but what I'm worried about is that the ticket selling is "technically" illegal. </p>
<p>Is it a good thing to put on or not? Also, what would I put it under? Is it worth writing my essay about it? </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Consider this question: You only have a brief 600 or so words to tell an admissions committee something about yourself in your essays. Is the fact that you sell stuff on ebay the most important thing you want them to know about you? If so, why? What have you learned about yourself or the world, how have you grown, how have you changed from selling stuff on ebay? </p>
<p>Someone writing an essay about deciding to sell stuff on ebay to help support his low income family says something important about the writer BEYOND ebay.</p>
<p>Someone writing an essay about the interesting people he's met while going to garage sales to look for items to sell on ebay, and the lessons he's learned from doing so says something interesting about the writer BEYOND ebay.</p>
<p>Someone writing an essay about selling stuff on ebay because it seemed like a cool way to earn some extra pocket cash...eh, maybe not so much.</p>
<p>(Please note: I am not suggesting essay topics here, I am merely using these as examples.)</p>
<p>In terms of mentioning it somewhere else in your application -- if you only sell three or four items a month, don't bother. If you sell hundreds of items each month, have set up a real business (i.e., complete with inventory tracking, bookkeeping, etc.) -- well, that might be worth mentioning. However, you should probably be specific about the income you have received, and what it involves in terms of number of items sold, etc.</p>
<p>I'd be careful about the illegal aspect, however. You never know when an admissions officer is going to decide to check out your ebay site.</p>
<p>Perhaps list it as work experience. I did something similar and was able to earn a couple thousand one summer and thought of listing it as work experience as it is the only i have. (no real job, most of my free time is spent volunteering or participating in sports/conditioning. Does anyone have an opinion on whether it would be ok to list this ebay business as "work experience."?</p>
<p>I just put it as an EC... i have the same sort of thing</p>
<p>i WANT to list it as work experience because it freaks me out to have a complete field (work experience) left blank and i have a plethora of EC's, several that I am very "passionate" in. Who knows, its still several months before i apply so i will think about it some more.</p>
<p>My friend wrote his main college essay about his Ebay business and got accepted to the majority of his schools... why not mention it...it can't hurt.</p>
<p>I don't see how selling stuff on ebay counts as "work experience".</p>
<p>bs if you ask me...i don't think college admission folks would consider it work, because it really doesn't require much "work".</p>
<p>schoolsearching: Don't let it freak you out to leave a part blank. College applications are set up the way they are so that colleges can learn more about you, not so that you can fill it up.</p>
<p>In general: Personally I don't think this counts as work experience. It'd be different if you started a small business of another type, even if you were the only employee, but in my eyes this is kind of the same as my brother going around the neighborhood asking people if they wanted their lawn mowed for $20. He did it whenever he needed some spare pocket cash and it didn't take much effort.</p>
<p>It was a different deal when he organized he and a friend into a team, got a small pick-up to carry his equipment, and started posting flyers around town advertising his services and doing it in places outside of my neighborhood on a regular basis. He's very enterprising.</p>
<p>I guess it depends on how you organize it. Is it a legitimate business that you donate a lot of your time to, or is it just something you do every time you need a quick few dollars?</p>
<p>
[quote]
I don't see how selling stuff on ebay counts as "work experience".</p>
<p>bs if you ask me...i don't think college admission folks would consider it work, because it really doesn't require much "work".
[/quote]
A lot of work goes into an ebay business.</p>
<p>agreed...you obviously haven't sold any items on ebay if you think it's easy!</p>
<p>i think you should definitely write it down. I sold 60 items or so this past month; and was amazed at how much time it took to just get everything sent out...</p>
<p>I would mention it if you have sold upwards of 100 items or so....and as someone said, focus on what you have learned not like, "Yeah I did that" sort of essay</p>
<p>you know, i would actually recommend writing that for your stanford essay. i've heard of some weird essays from people that were accepted. stanford loves "weird" people. haha. so if you think you can make that subject and make a great essay out of it, do it for stanford. other schools i have no idea though.</p>
<p>Juillet and others: I did it for almost a complete summer. I spent roughly 10 hours a week organizing, taking pics, finding items to sell, answering questions etc. After i began selling items, i also implemented several business maneuvers, like offering discounts to repeat customers, reduced shipping charges on multiple items purchased, etc. </p>
<p>I learned a lot. For example, how shipping charges play into a business and the pros/cons of different carriers, how to shop around for best rates, going high/low on shipping estimates can make you lose a lot of profit or in comparison seem as though you are deceiving the customer to gain extra funds. I won't be writing an essay on it but do you think this counts as "work experience"???</p>
<p>Stratocaster: sorry, i dont want to appear as though i'm hijacking the thread but i think many of the same questions apply to both of us. In your case, i think your business was more advanced than mine and could qualify you for work experience at the minimum. The essay would depend on if you have a stronger area to focus on.</p>
<p>It's a very unique activity to say the least. Colleges want a diverse group of kids with different experiences. You probably would want to elaborate on that EC though. Is it your main activity?.. Or is it a hobby that you just do in your spare time?</p>
<p>for me, it was something i did in my spare time. my other ECs like baseball, clubs, and volunteering involve much more dedication and time. I wanted to consider the Ebay area as "work experience" rather than an EC</p>
<p>Over the past 4 years I have sold about 150-200 items... this is somewhat misleading as the potential profit margin on tickets especially is HUGE... I've made over $20,000 over the past 3 years....</p>
<p>Yeah, It's not like a garage sale or something I do anytime I need a few bucks, its a fairly consistent deal... </p>
<p>So whadya guys say? EC's? Work Experience? Should I devote an Essay to it?</p>
<p>Put it under work experience. It's very impressive. It could be an interesting essay, too, depending on what you focused on.</p>
<p>Keep in mind, however, that colleges would frown to hear about the illegal part of your business.</p>
<p>Well, it depends on what running the business says about you. It certainly says you're very unique, and you're full of initiative to start a business, and innovative as well. </p>
<p>However, a big question to ask is WHY did you start a business? I remember a applicant who had a business and other very impressive EC's and SATs but got rejected almost everywhere. Everyone was baffled. Some felt it was his essays/recs. One reason i felt he got rejected was b/c he was running a business, and never demosntrated why. At the end, it looked like he was just trying to impress colleges and that business meant nothing to him. Even if business is simply your hobby, you should not make them think you have a business for money. (It seems like you're doing the business for money on your post above) You should say something like entrpeneurship is an interesting thing or something like that. Also, since you sell music tickets, does music mean alot to you? It could be a nice connection between your activities, and it'll show you're passionate for music and that you're unique. It'll be highly recommended to elaborate , even if it's simply a hobby. On the common app, you can explain an activity in detail.</p>
<p>". Even if business is simply your hobby, you should not make them think you have a business for money."</p>
<p>I disagree. Most people who start businesses do it because they want to make money. While this isn't probably going to impress admissions officers at the LACs that are seeking students with very strong intellectual passions, a desire to make money paired with the leadership and organizational skills that allowed one to run a successful business would be a boost at colleges that have business programs. </p>
<p>"I remember a applicant who had a business and other very impressive EC's and SATs but got rejected almost everywhere. Everyone was baffled. Some felt it was his essays/recs. "</p>
<p>His not getting in may have had nothing to do with his business.</p>
<p>What if a student simply ran a business as a hobby, and isn't actually looking into business programs?</p>
<p>
[quote]
A lot of work goes into an ebay business. .
[/quote]
Oh really, perhaps you can enlighten me. I had always thought it was just a website like amazon and the like to sell/buy things, and that's what I read from the OP but it seems I'm wrong.</p>
<p>And there may be a lot of work involved but I just didn't see it as work experience, but then again i don't know much about college applications yet. Other than that "bs" since I was tired, there's nothing to say that I was certain of anything or belittling the OP. So no, get off your high horse.</p>
<p>sorry to the OP for any offenses.</p>