I heard it’s best to have ECs that show quality and commitment instead of loading up with everything. At the moment, and in the future, I’m not planning on having a long list of EC (mainly because I think it’s a little late for the quantity, since I’ve missed out on freshman and sophomore year). However, I did do a few activities like cross country and math team over freshman year, but I haven’t continued them.
I’m still a sophomore, so this is not imminent, but should I consider continuing those activities or listing them on my EC list, or should I just clear it up to leave the things that I’m going to be serious about and are truly passionate about? Would leaving them there be nice just as filler?
Also, in general, is it better to have a cluttered list, or a streamlined one?
Just wanted to add. I’d probably only have 2-3 activities and achievements if I didn’t put them on. I’m aiming for pretty top-tier schoosl (Ivies and all that) so would it be best if I just started loading up?
My son decided what sort of person he wanted to present and built his application around that. His main essay, ECs, and supplemental essay all added together to show his talents, interests, and personality. He wanted to be accepted or rejected based on who he is rather than who he imagined colleges wanted. He applied to a variety of colleges (some well known and some not, but no Ivies), and was accepted to all of them.
Most of my EC’s were just enviornmental stuff (enviornmental competition state conoetition, president of enviornmental club, enviornmental research, enviornmental fundraising)
but then obviously i had the sports and a few honor societies with it, just make sure ur EC’s follow through with ur essays
You can keep the other stuff but when you fill out the common app, you can put your most meaningful activities at the top and the misc. towards the bottom. It will probably be obvious that you weren’t too serious about those activities but it shouldn’t hurt as long as you make it clear what the important activities were to you. If you really feel like you didn’t do much for the club, no reason to put it on though.
Keep the stuff you are currently doing whether you drop it or not. You’re still doing it during high school so it counts, but if you drop it later on, you put your most recent/relevant EC’s towards the top of the list. There’s nothing wrong with having a lot of EC’s as long as you are passionate about them and they make decent sense (align with who you are/what you want to be/what you like)
I had an emptyish list (only 3) but they took up a large part of my life so I don’t feel like I was hindered. Could I have done more? Yes, but I wouldn’t have had the time to do the 3 I really enjoyed. So the EC question is a huge subjective tossup and the answer depends on your situation. I personally feel it is better to have a simpler, streamlined list that isn’t all over the place even if it means less EC’s, but others may feel differently.
Thanks everyone! I’ll take that all into account, but I think I’ll go for the concise approach that says more about who I am.