<p>I go to a private Jewish school that doesn't offer EC's. I'm a junior and haven't taken SAT's yet, but looking into schools like Barnard and Swarthmore. I want to become a pediatric oncologist so I need a good undergrad so I can get into a good med school. But I just realized now that I won't get in anywhere without EC's, so I'm just starting now. My plan is this:
*I did this in 10th grade and I plan on continuing to do it every year because I love it: I ran the Miami Half-marathon with an organization that helps kids with cancer and raised $2000. This year and every other year I run I'll be raising $3600.
*Also biked a metric century and raised close to $2500 for the same organization. I'm gonna do this every year too. By the time I apply to college I'm hoping to have raised $10000+. But do these even count as EC's???
*Going to start volunteering in a hospital- hopefully pediatric oncology ward.
*Organizing and running blood drives with the American Red Cross.
*I'm going to get a job somewhere-hopefully a medical office.
What else can I do to improve this list and make it Barnard worthy? I desperately need suggestions and ideas OUTSIDE of school but preferably not too time consuming because I don't get home will 6:30. Thank you!!</p>
<p>Someone please??? Thank you :-)</p>
<p>All of these are awesome. You should also consider taking classes at your local community college in science, or even at a state university (I guess you’re near FIU?). It’s free in Florida except for books (which your school might pay for), and you can join all their campus clubs, including any honor societies, pre-med clubs, etc.</p>
<p>Nope, not near FIU 
I live in the NY area, but we fly down to Miami every year for the marathon as part of the whole program! The community college near me isn’t very good, so will that look good on my application considering the quality (or whatever you want to call it) of the program?</p>
<p>You’ve completely missed a real resource available to very few other applicants: your Jewish studies background. Jews have worked in medicine for millenia and, as you surely know, have written about their experiences. Could you do some sort of independent study with a teacher or maybe even a doctor with a Jewish studies background? I don’t know what resources are available to you, but New York is awfully big. I bet you could find someone to help.</p>
<p>By the way, you can get to med school from almost anywhere by doing well, and all medical schools are good. Don’t worry so much. Shana tova.</p>
<p>Yes, those count as ECs, and whatever community service your school does (soup kitchens etc) can also be counted. Are you involved with any youth groups outside of school? Can you volunteer at your synagogue, maybe offering child care or something during services?</p>
<p>The fact that you don’t get home until late is a real limitation (as I’m sure you’ve noticed!) Maybe you should focus on something for the summer rather than a school year commitment.</p>
<p>Shana tova tikatevu.</p>
<p>Wow, so cool to find fellow Jews on here!! Should’a known though! 
So I’ve been volunteering whenever I can at my synagogue and I just signed up now to bake meals and mentor a kid in our community with an organization that helps sick people. And I’m trying not to do all this just to get into college. I’m choosing things I actually enjoy! Thank you for your advice and G’mar Chatima Tova!!</p>
<p>I don’t think the quality of the college matters much. I doubt most admissions officers at top colleges know ***** about the quality of random community colleges. What IS important is that this will give you the opportunity to take more advanced classes and do extracurriculars you wouldn’t necessarily have the opportunity to do otherwise. BTW, I don’t think colleges will hold a lack of typical ECs against you since your school doesn’t offer any. They say they look at applicants in context. Of course, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to start an EC at your school, if they let you.</p>