<p>Would you guys mention an extracurricular activity that you do, that is not really a "structured" extracurricular. By "structured" I mean, it isn't a club, or a sport, or the normal things. It is something you do entirely on your own, but you take pride in it and are committed to it. For example, I am a violinist but I don't play for any orchestra or participate in any "Violin club." I just play the violin on my own time and I enjoy it. Would it be fine for me to mention this as an EC? </p>
<p>Also, could I pick that as an activity that I want to elaborate on in the Common App writing portion that says, " Required In the space provided below, please elaborate on one of your activities (extracurricular, personal activities, or work experience)(150 words or fewer)."</p>
<p>yes it is fine to put violin down as an ec even though you do not do it as part of an organization. however, i would be wary putting this down as one of your primary ec's and the ec that you wish to elaborate on...while its good to know that you play an instrument, your main ec's and the ec that you focus on in your short answer should be things that are more germaine to your major or career interests, not your hobbies</p>
<p>I respectfully disagree. Your main EC need have nothing to do with your career interest. Many Engineers, eg, have a musical instrument as their main EC. A huge number of students have some athletic pursuit as their main EC; no relation to career interests.</p>
<p>And I agree that it does not matter whether your EC is an organized club or something you do entirely on your own.</p>
<p>What about my ec essay being on a 20 day, 272 mile backpacking trip as opposed to the previous volunteering in new orleans experience i was going to do.</p>
<p>To give you some more info, my essay on backpacking is more about the challenges and how I finally embraced being outside of my comfort zone because I figure I need to live a life outside of my comfort zones at times to really explore myself/the world.</p>
<p>My other essay is about the power of hope I saw in new orleans while volunteering.</p>