<p>Colleges like to see commitment in extracurricular activities as opposed to sporadic involvement. My problem is that I became involved with a few of my most important ec's at the beginning of my junior year. I'm even an officer in all of them of them, and am still going to be involved with these activities throughout senior year. Would colleges look positively upon these activities because I've devoted so much time to them during these two years, even if I haven't been involved with these ec's since freshman/sophomore year? Thanks!</p>
<p>Yep! As long as you've got your leadership positions and are a nominal member of these groups, you're fine. And I'm glad that you're thinking in terms of what colleges (as sentient entities) like. The best thing to keep in mind when deciding what extracurricular activities to take part in -- and to what extent -- is what colleges will think. Personal interest is irrelevant. You don't even have to spend time doing stuff for these ECs! All you have to do is get the officer titles and put them on your apps, and you're golden.</p>
<p>^ouch (if i interpreted that correctly)</p>
<p>But so if extracurricular activities are what you need to be devoted to (basically if i didnt interprete it falsely) then do u need to be like...only devoted to one thing?</p>
<p>?.?</p>
<p>@Poseur</p>
<p>Can't you just give a reasonable response? People aren't here to listen to people moan about how 'you dont have to go to an ivy league" "personal interest for ecs" "dont do anything for college" blah blah blah. They ask a question, and either answer it to the best of your ability or just be quiet. That's the only respectable thing to do.</p>
<p>If you're not devoted to at least one of your extracurricular activities, then your college essay is going to be BLAND. Try things that you enjoy.</p>
<p>@Ny_Democrat: What is wrong with their response? They answered the OP's question. Maybe they edited after you wrote that. </p>
<p>I think that as long as you show that you've had some impact (ie leadership positions), or had a reasonable commitment (ie 100+ volunteer hours), it will be seen as a considerable EC.</p>
<p>@NY_Democrat</p>
<p>I guess my response was too hostile for the question, but it's nothing personal against the OP his or herself, just that whole mindset. :/</p>
<p>LOL @ Poseur's first post. That was just mean.</p>
<p>No. You're not very safe unless you add some hardcore McDonalds/gaming/sleeping and the like in there. Once you're set on those, it's GG.</p>
<p>Oh wow, I am no longer allowed to respond to posts on 3 hours sleep. Sigh, I am so smart.</p>
<p>Actually, I whole-heartedly agree with Poseur. </p>
<p>With that being said, many people don't start a lot of ECs until junior year. Many simply because they can't get back and forth from places without a car. I didn't get super-involved with school ECs until I had somebody who could drive me back and forth.</p>
<p>sounds like Poseur was being sarcastic...</p>
<p>^ She was. I agree that people do too much just because it looks good to colleges.</p>
<p>Mmm yeahhh... I guess I shouldn't be a jerk about it to well-meaning people like this one, though. I'll try to choose my targets better in the future... <em>prowls around</em></p>
<p>@ OP: Serious answer -- I agree with the above posters; if you've made contributions and what not, it shouldn't matter. Romani is right... lots of people just don't have the resources to do a lot before their junior years; additionally, many people don't find activities that they are passionate about in the very beginning of high school. Make sure the importance of the activities to you comes across, and if you can find a good way to do so, explain how you got into the activities, which might help explain why you got into them (relatively) late. An example would be, "I discovered my passion for acting in my junior year, when an improv troupe came to my school on a tour and I decided to check out the school's drama club..." etc. Something like that is not necessary, but it might help turn your late involvement into a positive thing!</p>
<p>seriously of people accepted to "elite universities" at my school this year (just using these as an example as to thwart off paranoia), none did crap freshman year, maybe a couple soph, and mostly junior/senior...it worked out fine.</p>
<p>Chill. As I have said, if you're desperate about putting down 4 year commitments, I'd suggest putting down hardcore gaming (subsets of WoW, SC, BF2, Flash pacman, pokemon, and the like....) and put it for 4 years or Sleeping experience (such as when you sleep it's genuinely different experience like when you sleep you feel like you're drinking alcohol and becoming intoxicated).</p>
<p>I wasn't kidding about those. Put them down. I know I will when it's my time for colleges (a lot later on...)</p>
<p>say like a guy doesnt no wat kind of extracurricular activities he does (like me for instance)...then are the best ways to get hours?</p>