<p>I was just looking for some advice, here is my situation very briefly:
I've moved 5 times in the last 10 years, lived in 4 different states 1 different country, currently a Junior in the US and have been at 3 different high schools. As such I definitly haven't had time to aquire a leadership positions or find ECs that I like, other than being in NHS and an Eagle Scout(since these are very widespread programs). I'm strong academically, but worried that my lack of ECs/Leadership will hurt my chances at top schools. Anybody have some advice for me? The only thing I can think of is founding a club my senior year. </p>
<p>I do realize that making Eagle was a very tough process and I am proud of it, but I have heard, however stupid it sounds, that Colleges tend to count quantity more than quality when looking at leadership positions/ECs.</p>
<p>What you heard is wrong. It's quality that counts most, and that's why Eagle Scouts are particularly appreciated by adcoms, who know the amount of effort that requires.</p>
<p>Agreed. I know someone from my school a few years back who was accepted into a very nice school because he was great academically and was passionate about two things in ECs. Most people tend to pad resumes, which makes them look like idiots. Stuff like NHS and those national clubs are worthless.</p>
<p>Nalcon, if you can write some specifics about what you did on your path to Eagle, that would be helpful. Unfortunately, there are few "Eagle factory" troops out there and the colleges know that, which has somewhat diminished the value of the Eagle rank in some adcoms' eyes. So if you can write about your accomplishments and experiences as a Scout, they will know that your Eagle rank is the real deal. My son is an Eagle who struggled quite a bit in high school. He got into a great school where his gpa was much lower than average, and the only distinguishing thing on his application was his Eagle rank, so it must have helped him. Good luck to you.</p>
<p>I also think an essay about what you may have GAINED from moving so many times, even though it may have prevented you from some traditional school leadership roles, could also be effective.</p>
<p>"Nalcon, if you can write some specifics about what you did on your path to Eagle, that would be helpful. Unfortunately, there are few "Eagle factory" troops out there and the colleges know that, which has somewhat diminished the value of the Eagle rank in some adcoms' eyes. So if you can write about your accomplishments and experiences as a Scout, they will know that your Eagle rank is the real deal."</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice, I actually think I could write a decent essays about my Eagle project, it was while I was living in the Dominican Republic, I got our troop to go to a really poor orphanage for the mentally impaired and we painted their kid's rooms and living area, most of which were bare concrete before or hadn't been painted in years.</p>
<p>That's a wonderful project to write about. Go for it! Remember to keep the focus on you, not the project or the kids you lead or the kids you did it for -- the project is your framework to help the colleges get to know you.</p>