<p>Everyone is obsessed about improving their ECs ....the thing is I am equally worried about the college essays...I have heard that it can be a very stressful and difficult process...so which one is more important...the essay or ECs?</p>
<p>Short answer: admissions are holistic.</p>
<p>Long answer:
Since I am no expert I am going to tell you what my counselor told me colleges don’t judge you they judge your application and essays are the most important part of your application but as with all things that are considered holistically a good essay can not make up for lack of stellar ECs but since the essay is the only part of the application that speaks to the adcoms it is how they will judge if you will FIT in their college.</p>
<p>One could be involved with ECs or not, depending on the school one goes to, the town/city one is from, the focus and opportunity to be involved with one, etc…So a single EC done well could be one of the strengths on your application and too many ECs with not much substance to them might not take you anywhere. </p>
<p>Essays - Everyone has to write them, irrespective of ECs, GPA, SATs, Class Rigor, leadership positions held… </p>
<p>In my opinion, the essays can be a great leveller. They are a chance to tell your story, an opportunity to put a face to all those numbers on your application, sell yourself with honesty and sincerity, share who you are, your influences, inspirations, values that have shaped your journey to being a young adult, and what drives you, and so on and so forth.</p>
<p>THE easiest,correct and most logical answer would be to focus on both. However, EC’s are something you are to be genuinely fascinated about…i.e you should not be ‘spending’ time on it. </p>
<p>As for essays, it makes/breaks you. Use it wisely, to climb over any obstacle (lack of clarity) that the college finds intriguing…With some wisdom, you will write your heart out and after that, you should relax, cause college looks for fit and only the right college will hold out its arms to you.
Don’t ever feel bogged down…keep it pumping both ways :)</p>
<p>ECs sound like they should be, just because they’re ECs, right?
I think that while extracurriculars can definitely sway an admissions officer left or right, the essay is their major glance at YOU and your CHARACTER. So while ECs are important in being well rounded, there is a lot of things about you that ECs cannot show- and this is where I think the essay comes in, as more important, in fact.</p>