<p>Is there a big line between extracurricular activities and hobbies?</p>
<p>I've been playing guitar for about 7 years, but I haven't really done any EC work on it aside from a few talent shows at school--it's just been a big passion of mine.</p>
<p>same question… ive been playing my instruments without lessons. just really passionate about music. not sure if u can really call it an ec?</p>
<p>Depends on how it’s asked on the application. I believe for the Common Application it asks for principle extracurricular interests and activities, in order of their importance to you.</p>
<p>Other applications ask for more of specific activities - so it depends on the wording. If something’s really important to you, I’d talk about it though, somehow - whether it be your EC’s or in your essay. Colleges want to see you’re passionate about something outside academics. This is at the undergrad level, though, once you’re doing grad school academics, I believe, have a more important role.</p>
<p>bump 10char</p>
<p>If you focus on your music and what it means to you then yes. If you just say that your good at guitar and then move away from that the effect will be less important.</p>
<p>^^ What do you mean “move away”?
I’m definitely going to write about my passion for guitar in my college essay–is that what you mean?</p>
<p>Yes thats what I mean. For example, if you mention it for a brief sentence…obviously your not that passionate about it. If you write several paragraphs or possibly even more it shows your passion.</p>
<p>Most colleges don’t consider ECs as part of admission or consider them only in a very minor way. This particularly is true of public institutions, which tend to select students based on stats and state of residence. In general, only the very top private colleges – HPYS type places – have such an overabundance of high stat applicants as to be able to pick and choose from among those to create a diverse, active class. For such colleges, your guitar playing wouldn’t stand out. For other colleges, your writing a well written, interesting essay about your guitar playing may help tip you in.</p>