<p>I was wondering whether it would make sense to explain my lack of EC's in freshmen year and most of sophomore year. My main reason was simply the fact that I really didn't have transportation to drive me back home from school without the school bus, so that really limited me. Though by Junior year my mother allowed me to use the city bus system so I got involved much more. </p>
<p>Also, I probably should mention that I am low-income. My mother is unemployed and doesn't drive at all, and everyone else in my immediate family that could drive was usually at work from 11 to 8. </p>
<p>And on a side note, will colleges know that I am low income when I use the fee waiver? (if not, is there another way I can make it known? I doubt my zip code alone will be able to give them this info)</p>
<p>Also, I hope to apply to several ivies (HYP) and some higher end liberal arts schools.</p>
<p>Celita, I think the best thing for you to do to get the message across would be to write about some aspect of your family situation and hardship as one of your college essays. However, it's important not to sound whiny or like you are making excuses -- instead you should put try to put a positive twist on whatever you are describing. Also, don't talk about "lack of EC's" -- think about what you were doing during those 2 years when you came home. Since you did not have EC's, you did have extra time at home -- how did you use it? Did you read? or perhaps have a hobby? or did you have household responsibilities and chores, such as helping prepare meals. If you could write about what you did during that time -- in a positive way, but still making clear that you were limited by your financial situation -- you will then help the colleges understand more about you and your life.</p>
<p>As mentioned in one of the threads you opened in a college-specific forum, this information is relevant to your application and should be mentioned. It will help establish the context of your application at any college with holistic admission practices.</p>
<p>What if I mentioned it in an attachment document rather than an essay? I'd feel pretty uncomfortable writing my whole essay on being economically disadvantaged.. :-/</p>
<p>Btw, the time spent at home was spent reading, school work, and running this website that I started in 8th grade (and still run today), I was thinking of writing about this website in the Extracurricular essay that is 150 words long. Maybe I can mention a line or two about how this is what I spent most of my time on in freshmen year and sophomore year because of lack of transportation to do in school activities?</p>
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What if I mentioned it in an attachment document rather than an essay? I'd feel pretty uncomfortable writing my whole essay on being economically disadvantaged.. :-/
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<p>I'm in a similar boat as you, some colleges have a "Anything else you'd like us to know section" talk about it there. I don't think there's anything wrong with talking about overcoming obstacles.</p>
<p>Another approach might be to really play up the ECs you have/had as an upperclassman - and how "you were so ecstatic to have the chance to participate since your transportation problems were resolved when your mother finally gained employment." Something along those lines... You note the lack, but also emphasize the experience once your life turned around.</p>
<p>Schools always like to see some kind of productivity in hardship. I think this website you manage might look great for some adcoms.</p>
<p>Hmm, nice idea, maybe I can do this in an attached resume or brag-sheet, possibly in a footnote explaining why I only started doing a particular EC during Junior year?</p>
<p>Personally, I don't think the length of time is an issue. My son's winning EC was started in the summer of junior year but it was done with such passion and sophistication that he won over the hearts of adcom.</p>
<p>Emphasize the positives--don't make excuses.</p>
<p>However, there could be a good essay on what it took to try to get around town without transportation.</p>
<p>so you would agree with the possible implementation of fencersmother's idea in my post just above (in the brag-sheet)?</p>
<p>I am curious, if it is not private, what was your son's EC and how exactly did he demonstrate passion and sophistication in such a short time? (I assume you meant he was a rising senior?)</p>
<p>Your web site is an EC. So you are right about your idea of writing about it in a short-answer, 150 word response -- it would be easy to find a way to mention that the internet was a way to open a connection to the wider world at a time when financial circumstances and lack of transportation kept you physically at home.</p>
<p>oh wow, that's a great way to put it, and its really true too. </p>
<p>Though I wonder, would it hurt me if the website is actually about strategy games? (of course, I personally would argue for the educational value of strategy games, I am considering to include how it has supplemented my great interest in world affairs and history) The site has been pretty successful though, I think. We have a few thousand members, and several very active members, and a staff, pretty tight-nit.</p>
<p>I don't think it would hurt. You saw a need, you filled it. That's what makes the whole world go around- people who see a demand and do something about it. It speaks volumes for your perceptive talents and creativity.</p>
<p>I don't think that you have to justify the "educational value" of strategy games -- but you can put a positive twist on it. Games of strategy appeal to people who are intelligent, because of course you have to use thinking skills while playing -- so your interest in those games probably also stems from being bored at home and looking for an outlet. You took a semi-intellectual childhood interest and expanded upon it to create something that required a growing understanding of the field of interest and also led to development of a variety of new skills related to web design & project management. (Disclaimer: I gave up my law practice a dozen years ago to become a web designer & manager -- so I see web site management as a very serious intellectual and educational pursuit. One reason I liked it so much is I was bored with the sameness of my law practice and it was fun learning HTML, Javascript, and Unix server scripting, plus it afforded me much greater latitude for creativity. )</p>
<p>Thanks for the encouragement and help guys, I really appreciate it.</p>
<p>Calmom, its nice to see a fellow web designer! Yeah, when it comes to actually creating the site, I love designing. I do have to say that creating code with HTML and CSS and the other languages does teach you excellent problem solving skills: using trial and error, delineating the problem, finding different solutions. (interestingly, the same type of skills involved in strategy games and consequently in international relations too :D)</p>