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There are too many of them. There are only so many hours in the day, and admissions counselors are aware of this. If you have a dozen activities ongoing during the school year, how much time / real effort are you putting in at any particular one?
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Every activity is an academic competition of some sort. Sure, winning (or placing) in a prestigious academic competition at the national (or even regional/state) level is impressive. However, when ALL your ECs are of this nature, it begins to look like you are more interested in competition and proving yourself than actually doing something original and creative with your talent.
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None of them involve interacting with adults in a non-academic setting. An outside internship at a lab or business, or an actual job says something about your maturity and ability to function in a non-academic setting.
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You have never had a job. This is the most under-rated activity of all.
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None of your ECs at school involve leadership positions, either chosen by peers or faculty.
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None of your outside activities are ongoing over a period of years. Someone actually asking back for another summer internship/job/etc says something about how you performed in that role.
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Most or all of your activities are tightly focused on one specific area (chess, playing an instrument, whatever.) Yes, this shows dedication and sustained effort, but it also can make you look one dimensional.
I’d add to this:
- Every one of your ECs is a prefab construct that you are filling (Editor of school paper, Student Council Treasurer, etc) rather than a personal and original interest, talent, or service initiative.
^^^^ This is a very good point, and I meant to add it to the original list. Starting something from scratch on your own initiative is much more impressive than filling a role in an existing org.
Ha Ha. NickFlynn, you are hard on the wannabees.
^^^^ Hey, I am trying to help - better they take offense at me, and hopefully streamline their lists, than they submit something that causes eye-rolling on an admissions committee.
Sure, but do you want to be responsible for tuning them up?
Good point, but I have a generous heart.
If so, aren’t you at all concerned about getting some of the copy-cats into untenable positions?
You mention that starting something from scratch on your own initiative is impressive. I think that depends. Often I see postings where it sound like someone is starting their own club because they were unable to be elected to be an officer of any existing clubs. If the activity is something the the student has a real interest in and the activity has some positive results, then it is impressive, but a lot of this looks like resume padding to me.
I also wonder how people end up with the long list of activities, even when some of them are varsity sports. At my kids’ school varsity sports is so time consuming that students who participate really can’t manage more than one or two additional EC’s.
^^^^ Agree - just starting a club that doesn’t seem to do anything other than provide a title or whatever is transparently (admissions people are smarter than they are given credit for) worthless resume padding. However, if the organization actually accomplished something due to your leadership, then that is great.
Applicants (and their parents) often seem to assume that the folks reading their applications aren’t going to be able to tell the difference.
I don’t totally agree with your point (7) especially if it is only “one” widely recognized role for the talent that the
activity is about. So to build on your example of “playing an instrument”. There will definitely be some who play that instrument (or perform as in ballet, or sing as a soloist in a renowned regional chorus, etc.) primarily in a recognized venue at a high (vetted) level. Achievement in this example implies considerable practice, dedication, and study/artistic growth. The proof of the achievement for such individuals can be captured in news reviews, awards, etc.
I would also moderate point (8) (by snarlatron) in those situations (which may not be all that common) where as the “new” “filler” of the role demonstrates a very high level of leadership and passion, and as a result the group he “leads” takes a new direction of achievement and becomes highly recognized and appreciated.
^^^ My point in 7) wasn’t that this kind of focus is necessarily “bad” - just that if that is your only committed EC, it can make you look one-dimensional, particularly if that activity isn’t something you are planning to carry on with into college.
I agree. I wonder though, how the applicant can bring attention to the news review in the app. The activity list is so size constrained; @fogcity do you suggest it go there or somewhere else?