Hey guys ,
It’s really hard to have any extracurricular activities where I am living tho …
I am an international high school student but I cannot find the opportunity to join in any activity . In the area where I am living women are not given the freedom to be independent and so someone has to keep my company…
So for the most part , my parents keep me always ''sheltered ‘’ by their sides.
Besides that first and foremost important hindrance, our school’s principal annuled all clubs which she used to offer long before I entered high school…
As a result of all the aforementioned, I have no ECs . I am a junior and I am really concerned about how that will affect my admissions.
Do I have the chance to relay my conditions and expect universities to take them into consideration? Or will they relegate me as a lethargic person who has not contributed to her comunity? I really wish for an opportunity to contribute and volunteer tho
Thanks in advance
Omg, I feel so sad for you!!! Hey, I am also an international student, and it is true, for us that extracurricular activities are the hardest thing to do because we don’t have the money and resources to engage in different extracurricular activities like those who are born in US. You can write an essay and explain the lack of extracurricular activities in your school,the oppression of your society and the role of women in your society. Also, you can join some activities online - such as translating brochures into languages for people, or writing transcriptions, or write articles…etc. Are you and your friends allowed to form clubs in school? If so, I would suggest you and your friends create a club in subjects which you are interested in ---- or maybe it doesn’t have to be an official club in school — it can be on a website, where people can go on and debate different things…etc.
Whether ECs affect your admission or not depend on what school you apply to. If you apply to first and second tier school I think it might affect you somewhat unless you have a stellar score on your SAT, GPA. School also judge you based on your essay and personality as well. On the extracurricular parts, you can also list out your hobbies and talents.
Also, I suggest you to go on here: collegedata.com. This website list out all different schools and what their criteria are. Some schools said “Extracurricular” is very important, “Essay” is important, and SAT score is “not important” (just for example), while other said that “Extracurricular” is of no important…etc. So you can go on there, search your school, and see whether they place emphasis on extracurricular activities.I’m here if you need any help, and hope you succeed.
I think you mean the Common Data Set (google it) for data about what each school considers important - it’s the best source in any case.
As for ECs, you are thinking too narrowly. Schools want to know what you do with your free time. It doesn’t have to be a club, organized sport, job or something with official structure or organization. Do you study music or art? Garden? Cook? Sew? Provide childcare or help an elder relative or neighbor? Are you active in your religious community? Do you have a passion for a particular kind of book or movie? Are you a killer Scrabble player? Write poetry or short stories?
Somewhere along the line, someone decided that clubs and teams is the best way for people to demonstrate ‘leadership’ as if that were the only legitimate thing high schoolers can do with their free time. But schools love to read about kids who have found their own way. The key question is “Do I think this person is interesting and would contribute something worthwhile to our community?” If you can answer that question in the affirmative, then you are half way there. The rest is about communicating effectively what you care about and why.