<p>I plan to apply to Harvard, Brown, Wellesely, Penn, Virginia, Duke, Notre Dame, Michigan, and possibly Stanford. I know very well that many different factors play into one's admission. However, I am most concerned about my extra curriculars. By the time I apply, I will have completed...</p>
<p>-Active member of Student Council
-Leader of school's enviornmental club
-SADD member and leader
-Help organize 'Carl's Coats for Kids' at my school
-Volunteer Swim Coach for disabled elementary/junior high students
-Compete with the school's academic challenge team
-Mock Trial
-Pride Commitee
-Leader of Club Med (volunteer organization that helps fundraise for medical charities and research)
-Interact Club
-Leo Club
-JWOCA (Junior World Orienteering Championships Assn.)
-Leader of Make a Difference Club
-Founder and President of first UNICEF high school club in the state
-Golf Team
-Tennis Team
-Volunteer year round at the city's Historical Society
-Volunteer at a Scientific Research Museum
-Take part in an internship for high schoolers in marine biology at the Newport Aquarium -Am a junior keeper at the city's zoo, a very selective program
-hold a job at the city's library
-hold a summer job at the local themepark
-hold a job at the local theatre
-Teen Ambassador and Part of Teenage leadership at local YMCA
-Marine Biology research at a Sea Turtle refuge in North Carolina</p>
<p>Also next year as a junior I can apply for PKOM (work as a student to student counselor) and NHS</p>
<p>I am worried that I might not be as competitive as other applicants, is there anything else I should do? Thanks for any tips.</p>
<p>That list is long already, and you want it to be longer? </p>
<p>Selective colleges are looking for depth of involvement in extracurriculars. The quantity of them does not matter. (Actually having too many EC’s can work against an applicant because it’s shows a scatter approach to life, which is not what colleges are looking for.) What matters most is showing your devotion and passion. So, as a sophomore, my advice to you is to stop doing so many things. Find a few activities that your really love and pursue those with a fierce commitment. Best of luck to you.</p>
<p>My main interests are history/social studies and biology. I try to incorporate my ecs with them. Of course I also do community services as well.</p>
<p>“My main interests are history/social studies and biology”</p>
<p>Those are your academic interests, which DO NOT need to be the same as your extracurricular interests. In fact, sometimes it’s best if they are different, as it shows more depth and diversity.</p>
<p>“I am worried that I might not be as competitive as other applicants, is there anything else I should do? Thanks for any tips.”</p>
<p>Herein lies your potential fatal flaw. Competitive (i.e. interesting) applicants to schools like Harvard are not people who are looking backwards at their list of accomplishments and searching for new things to “do” to lengthen it further. They are people who act on things that interest them. They do so without regard of who is looking. Frankly it’s not what you do, but who you are.</p>
<p>Successful applicants are the type of student whose life trajectory is pretty clear with or without a school like Harvard. Accepts to top schools are just an after-effect of a powerful life – not a goal.</p>
<p>And it’s not something you can will yourself to be. Either you already are this person or you’re not.</p>
<p>If I were you, I would only list the activities that you have accomplished the most in, and have stuck with the longest. They want to see depth!</p>
<p>Only list the ec’s most important TO YOU, and which you have dedicated the most time in. If you list too many, the admissions officer is not going to be able to pinpoint your special attributes and interests. So, sticking with two or three clubs for your whole high school career is better than joining 5 different clubs each year.</p>