<p>My standardized testing scores and grades are stellar and I attend one of the best public high schools in the nation, but I lack extra cirricular activities. MIT is my dream school and as with any good college, EC plays a big role in admissions.</p>
<p>Luckily, I'm still a Junior so I may still have time to imrpove. What are some good extra cirricular activities which would really stand out for MIT? I have little talent in either music or sports and don't have a shot at student government.</p>
<p>The problem here is you are asking which extracurricular activities will sell you to MIT. The real question should be one you ask yourself, and that is, which extracurricular activities would you sincerely enjoy? :)</p>
<p>I guess I AM asking which ECs will sell me to MIT. I'm in quite a few clubs and do participate in activities like intramural sports (I'm at a residential high school) that I enjoy, but I have nothing that really makes me stand out.</p>
<p>MIT looks for individuality and originality. Also, they tend to favor students who take intitiative by becoming leaders and show passion in their extracurriculars.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses but any specifics? I was thinking of entering the Seimen's Westinghouse competition as I've heard that it's highly regarded at MIT. Of course, I have no idea where to start for that.</p>
<p>I love all sciences, especially physics, and aspire to become a university professor and do scientific research. I feel that MIT provides what I need to achieve that goal.</p>
<p>"Math/Science related activities of course."</p>
<p>sorry man, not to single you out but that's very not true. Math/science activities is what they SEE the most often, not anything that would make you stand out unless you've gone very far in big competitions like Olympiads or science fairs. If anything, physics club and math team would probably be very typical among MIT's applicants. Of course, if that's where your passion lies, by all means, go for it, but if you're just looking to "impress" admissions officers, that's absolutely not the way to go.</p>
<p>Extra-curricular activities are exactly what their definition suggests: outside of academics. After proving yourself strong in the maths and sciences (SAT scores, AP Scores, Courseload + grades) - you definitely don't want MIT thinking you can't handle their curriculum - you need to present some non-academic interests as well. Well-developed talent not of the math/science category would make you stand out in the pool. </p>
<p>Word of warning though: these people have been doing this for years, it's ridiculously easy for them to separate the students who love every second of what they do and the students who pad their resumes with meaningless activities, even if they have the same activities.</p>
<p>just go do stuff that you really enjoy doing. i put things like work out at the gym, play basketball, and art club in addition to my science/math activities. They will be able to tell almost immediately if you are doing stuff because it means something to you or if you are just trying to pad your application. I started a physics club at my school and put together teams for competitions. that is the type of thing they want to see. take the initiative, but have a good time with what you choose to do.</p>
<p>yes pebbles, that is why they have a check box under strengths that says "techy" A school that specializes in math & science would obviously want the student to show interest in those fields.</p>
<p>short of winning intel/siemens or acing some international olympiad, i don't think there's a magic EC that'll automatically get you into MIT. if you want to shoot for the science competitions, get an internship at some government or academic lab over the summer that'll allow you to work on a research project. but realistically speaking, the best thing to do is probably just get active NOW. learn a new sport and enjoy it, even if you might not make varsity cuts; take up art lessons and love them, even if your paintings would never get displayed outside of your house. maybe you've always loved journalism--try getting involved in the school newspaper. maybe politics is more your thing--join model UN or debate team or SGA (even if you can't be an officer).</p>
<p>my best advice: do it for yourself, not for MIT. that way, if you get in, great; and if you don't, you've still picked up a wonderful new hobby that you'll continue to enjoy at whatever school you do end up at. good luck!</p>
<p>Yeah just do whatever you like to do, things that you have fun with and enjoy. Don't do ECs so that they look good on the resume. Afterall, getting into a prestigious college shouldn't be the something that control what you do. If you don't like any music or sports but like reading and computers instead, then do the latter ones. But always try new things and pursue the ones you like better.</p>