EC not related to school?

Applying to College
1

<p>If I ski a lot in my spare time, does that count as an EC? also, I have the same question about reading and writing in my spare time...EC to put on app?</p>

2

<p>Sure. From the common app:</p>

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<p>If those are important hobbies to you, put em’ down.</p>

3

<p>Of course, but I really don’t know about reading and writing. Definitely not reading, but if you’re a published writer, that’s an EC. If you’ve won writing awards, that goes under honors. Same goes for the skiing. If you do competitive stuff, it goes under honors, but can work as an EC. But anything you’ve done in school comes before all of these if they are of the degree of importance I can see here. In the end, if you have empty spaces, then put reading down. Colleges really prefer to see stuff that’s original, stuff that has leadership, and stuff that gets you involved in your school and community.</p>

4

<p>one more question, I play drums in my free time, as a hobby, not anything involved with school. I’m not the greatest, but I’m teaching myself and enjoy it. is that okay to put down?</p>

5

<p>Definitely! But once again, after all the relatively important stuff that colleges want to see. There’s always room for hobbies and other things that mean a lot to you in your essay, don’t forget that other way of expressing your other interests.</p>

6

<p>I have a school sport, 2 clubs, and 1 volunteer job, so I was just looking for what to fill the rest of the activity slots with. thanks for your help!</p>

7

<p>

Colleges aren’t interested in seeing all the slots filled in. They’re interested in what you’ve done. Truth is, at most colleges the admissions standard is not that high. Bet you didn’t know that most colleges admit over 80% of their applicants! But attention is focused on the 100 or so most selective ones, and at these “member of X” and “volunteer at Y” are not going to cut it. As Stanford says in its FAQ

If you want to see what selective colleges consider an outstanding EC, see this post by a Harvard alum interviewer : <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/210497-those-ecs-weak-so-whats-good.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/210497-those-ecs-weak-so-whats-good.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

8

<p>i read that thread. I noticed one of the EC’s was varsity team captain. I was the captain of JV Soccer one year. is that even worth noting?</p>

9

<p>^Of course. Put down anything and everything that is important to you.</p>