<p>When I was fifteen, me and a classmate of mine planned and hiked the Long Trail in Vermont. It is 270 miles long and took us three weeks. How would HYPS look upon such an achievement? I am also writing my essay about the experience and how it has affected me.</p>
<p>It's interesting and unique, shows hard work, determination, initiative, courage, etc. Was there an intellectual dimension to this journey of sorts?</p>
<p>Intellectual? Not really besides adding up how far we had gone each day. lol</p>
<p>I think kyledavid means "intellectual" in the broader, more philosophical sense, beyond academics to how you look at or think about the world.</p>
<p>its an original achievement that i think colleges would look at positively. especially if you're writing about it in your essay...one thing i would think about is how you continue to be determined and have initiative like that today. also, do you still hike, etc??
thats really cool, btw</p>
<p>unique ec!!! would definately talk about!</p>
<p>I think that's definitely something that will make you stand out--very unique! :)</p>
<p>Seems like from the tone of the posts from the student contingent, it's a unique EC... at least nowadays.</p>
<p>Back in the stone age, (early to mid 1970's) the rite of passage after highschool and before college was usually one of three or four options:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>throwing your tent, some sundries, a few clothes, maybe a girlfriend if you were lucky into your VW campervan (or other similar clunker) and doing a driving tour of the country, usually coast to coast.</p></li>
<li><p>hiking the Appalchian Trail from Georgia to Maine (or vice versa). </p></li>
<li><p>Doing the Allagash wilderness waterway canoe trip.</p></li>
<li><p>Taking a full year to accomplish number 1. This was often the standard gap year of my time. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Sophomore and junior high school years were normally devoted to working to secure funds to accomplish 1 through 4, or any financially achievable combination.</p>
<p>Seems there were no worries about summer EC's to impress admissions. </p>
<p>But then, the number to the left of the comma on the COA only had one digit.</p>
<p>Times have changed.</p>
<p>violadad,</p>
<h1>1, but did the western states and met the bf along the way ;).</h1>
<p>bumb ..... anyone else?</p>
<p>bumb .... any more comments?</p>