<p>I'm applying for transfer admissions to Smith, Mt. Holyoke, Bryn Mawr, Wellesley, Agnes Scott, and a few other co-ed schools (haven't decided which ones yet). I feel like I am strong academically, 3.89 GPA from a fairly unheard of Tier 1 LAC in SC with a pretty rigorous course load, 740 M 670 V 660 W SAT, 3.9 UW/4.95 W GPA in HS, ranked 2/275 in HS. My prof recs should be good if not better. White female from SC, low income. History major, unsure of minor (leaning toward Political Science, or maybe Psych). Transferring as a junior for Fall '09.</p>
<p>Two questions:</p>
<p>1) Are my EC's too scattery? Do they demonstrate a lack of focus?</p>
<p>College Democrats (president this year, secretary last year): worked very hard to register voters this year, planned events open to entire campus to watch
presidential/vice-presidential debates and celebrate the election results, worked with local area coordinator for the Obama campaign, weekly meetings before election, biweekly meetings afterward</p>
<p>Newspaper Staff (World/Politics Section Editor, Layout staff): write an article about once every two weeks, read over/edit articles for the World/Politics section, spend many long hours doing layout for each issue (average of 15 hrs/issue, comes out biweekly-ish)</p>
<p>Students for Environmental Education (secretary, Recycling Committee): attend weekly meetings to discuss ideas to educate students on environmental issues and how to make the campus more green, spend 30 minutes a week collecting school's recycling from several dorms, group plans a few events per year (films, speakers, etc.) and a big Earth Day celebration (which I was 2nd in command for last year)</p>
<p>Academic Affairs Committee: a student committee that meets with the provost, student voice in deciding various policies and changes the school would like to make, students can bring up issues of concern, committee has a role in hiring new professors</p>
<p>Spectrum: Gay/Straight Alliance, meet weekly-ish to discuss related issues, group plans monthly-ish events (films, speakers, etc.)</p>
<p>Chinese Scholar: took beginning and intermediate Chinese classes, studied abroad in China for 5 weeks last summer with a stipend from my college</p>
<p>Freshman Honors Seminar (last year): top 15 freshmen, met with the provost monthly, discussed international issues and two books</p>
<p>International Dorm resident: not sure if this counts as an EC, but it's very selective--only 20ish students are selected each year, I live with an international student from South Korea, groups of residents in my dorm are required to plan 3 events per year to educate the campus on international issues</p>
<p>After reading all that, in case you couldn't tell, I'm really interested in political issues and international issues and I like to be a leader/influential member of my school community. If any of those don't really fit that description, which ones? Should I leave them off? Personally, I really don't want to leave any off, as I feel like they are all a part of who I am. But I don't want to get rejected because I look like I don't have focus.</p>
<p>2) Which do you think would make a better/more interesting essay topic, just in your opinion? None is my favorite, although I suppose I've probably put the most time into Newspaper, since layout stuff takes FOREVER, with College Democrats at a close second (unless you count time spent living with my international roommate--that's 24 hours/day :)). I'm extremely passionate about almost of all my EC's, and I'm still pretty passionate about the other one or two. So I don't know which one to talk about/work into my app. Advice?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance!</p>