<p>I'm really stressed out about my extracurriculars! (I'm a junior, by the way)</p>
<p>My main problem is... I barely have any. I'm involved in all of my clubs, but hold no leadership positions at this point, so my dedication isn't really evident (ironically, I do more for the clubs than the real officers, who usually just ran to have something else on their transcript). Worst of all is the fact that I want to major in biochemistry... and I have no science-related extracurriculars (the only science club at my school is Science Team, which focuses mainly on physics and memorization of scientists)</p>
<p>If colleges only looked at academic information, I could probably get into some Ivies. But, the extracurriculars are really killing me... and colleges seem to care more about ECs now.</p>
<p>I really want to become involved in some type of research relating to biochemistry, but I have no idea how one goes about this. I don't know of anyone at my school conducting any independent research, so I'd really appreciate it if someone here could help me out!</p>
<p>I also would be very interested in tutoring students in Chemistry or Biology, and I made this interest known to my school, but I haven't been contacted to do so.</p>
<p>I'm really disheartened, because grades and SAT scores can always be improved upon later on... but I feel like junior year is too late to turn around my bad EC situation, because forming or joining new clubs will just seem like an attempt to boost my transcript.</p>
<p>Most colleges admit students based overwhelmingly on grades, coursework, scores and class rank. ECs -- if they count for anything -- may count for merit awards.</p>
<p>This particularly is true of state universities, which base virtually 100% of their decisions on stats. The exception is if one is a recruited athlete.</p>
<p>It's basically the very top colleges-- the top dozen or so liberal arts and national universities or so -- that use ECs as much of the basis for admission. That's because those colleges get such an overabundance of high stat applicants that the admissions offices can make decisions based on what's needed to create well rounded, diverse classes. For such colleges, it's probably not possible to suddenly find ECs junior year that make you really stand out in that pool.</p>
<p>if there is any way to find a pattern in how you help with the clubs, put that in an essay</p>
<p>for instance, if you help with the fundraising, the communications, the organization of events...find the pattern and emphasize it</p>
<p>if you want to tutor...you have to market yourself....print up fliers and mail to classmates, find a chem teacher and ask if you can assist when he is helping, try and become a TA in a summer school program in the sciences...go to a museum and volunteer- anything sciencey- what you do does not have to be an exact match to your major...just that oyu are out there....</p>
<p>see if a local school does a science fair and see f you can advise...</p>
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I also would be very interested in tutoring students in Chemistry or Biology, and I made this interest known to my school, but I haven't been contacted to do so.
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In your post you also said you don't have any leadership positions. Leadership is not just about being elected to posts with titles that sound good on a transcript. It's about taking the initiative, making a goal or dream become a reality.</p>
<p>I don't want to come across as harsh in what follows here, just point out some things you could be doing differently. </p>
<p>You seem to think that just putting your name out there as willing to tutor is enough, now its up to the school to follow thru. What if you decided it was up to you? You could arrange for a classroom to hold your sessions in. How you get this done? Maybe thru a teacher, or the counseling office, or some other way. But however you do it -- it's leadership. You then publicize it with posters, announcements in class, in the school newspaper -- how is up to you, doing it shows initiative and leadership. You could recruit other kids to tutor in different subjects; now you're the founder of the academic tutoring club -- and that's leadership. You probably need to line up a teacher as a sponsor -- again, that's leadership. </p>
<p>Or take the science research you mention. It sounds like you've just thrown up your hands -- "I don't know anyone doing it, so there's nothing I can do" to paraphrase your comments. To be honest there isn't much an 11th grader can do in terms of original contributions in research. But to be involved in it, that's a different story. Every lab can use people to help with the grunt work (especially people willing to work for free!), and as you prove yourself with your enthusiasm and reliability you'll gradually get to take on more and more. Have you asked your teachers if they have any contacts at a local U? Tried contacting them directly by phone or email?</p>
<p>My point is that you're holding back on doing things that you <em>could</em> be doing to show leadership and build a EC portfolio. And its the kids that do these things that the most selective colleges are looking for. I'll admit that at some schools it's like a well-oiled machine; all the things are in place and the counselors steer each class of kids into filling roles that lead to great-sounding ECs. But even without the skids already greased there's still plenty to be done, and in fact it's going to be more genuine leadership if you do it (as well as recs that glow about how you went out and got things done that nobody had thought of before, as opposed to the well-oiled school where they're just writing another edition of the rec for this year's debate captain and so on).</p>
<p>(edit: citygirlsmom posted just about the same advice I gave about tutoring while I was writing my post. Oh well ...)</p>
<p>Thanks for all of the suggestions. Even if it is 'too late' for me EC-wise, I'm still going to take that advice. It definitely wasn't too harsh... I feel stupid for not realizing the above sooner. If I really am dedicated to something, I should by trying harder to devote myself to it.</p>
<p>Oh, and I realize that I, personally, wouldn't be able to conduct any real research at this time, without having been involved with any programs earlier. I just said that I wanted to become involved, even if it means washing out test tubes =) I simply wasn't sure how I would go about this (...and yes, I realize that I sound completely uninformed... feel free to laugh)</p>
<p>For the research - contact all your local colleges and universities asking if there would be any opportunities. I did this, thinking it was a complete long shot, and ended up doing research all summer with a Physics Professor, which was awesome. Just try it, it could happen to you.</p>
<p>You don't have to list only offices like "President" and "Treasurer" for clubs on college applications. It actually looks more impressive, in my opinion, to say something like "organized bake sales netting $XXX" or whatever it may be. </p>
<p>dont do ECs because it will look good on a transcript. Pick something you love and stick to it - chances are you already have its just subconsious. For example, I never joined any clubs, never had any academic awards, and my illustrious soccer and baseball careers stopped in sophomore year. I was pretty sure I was screwed on ECs, then I realized I've been sailing for 17/17 years of my life - I'd actually been on a boat 5% of my waking life. You probably have something like that your just forgetting (fundraiser fanatic, event organizer...). If you just spend your life sitting at home doing HW/Test prep then I guess that doesnt help...</p>
<p>I don't want to sign up for ECs just to enhance my transcript... I love the ECs that I'm involved with. I'm mainly concerned by the fact that I'm not in any ECs concerned with my major... My ECs are mainly centered around music and volunteering/helping my community, along with a couple other unrelated organizations/clubs. Obviously, these don't relate to biochemistry whatsoever... I do love biochemistry, though, so I think that I'm going to try really hard to become involved in research projects at local colleges/ universities. I just hope that this won't seem like a last minute attempt to boost my list of ECs... (which it does, unfortunately)</p>
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I do love biochemistry, though, so I think that I'm going to try really hard to become involved in research projects at local colleges/ universities. I just hope that this won't seem like a last minute attempt to boost my list of ECs... (which it does, unfortunately)
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Since I'm on my high horse ... ;) Don't sell yourself short, not now nor in the future. What's done is done. Learn what you can from it, but take the lessons and move on. </p>
<p>So don't worry about how your ECs are going to sound to some adcom. While you can't turn back the clock, what you can add to your ECs between now and next fall is better than trying nothing new. Much better. And since you're already doing stuff in music and volunteer work think about how you already are positioned compared to the kids that have done squat so far. It's a glass-half-full kind of thing.</p>
<p>Keep in mind your life course is not set in stone at 16 or 17!!! Maybe you will end up in a career in the sciences, maybe you won't. It's too early to tell, you haven't spent a day as a college student yet and don't know about a lot the other wonderful subjects there are out there to study or careers to pursue. And at the heart of your post I detect a whiff of the train of thought that says tomorrow's winners are already determined; they're the kids who have the great ECs that get them in to elite schools which get them into top grad programs and then onto success in academia or industry. Not so, not by a long shot! Each step of that reasoning is fatally flawed. </p>
<p>So take a moment to reflect on what you've learned already. For example, if you don't know how to get something done then ask for help (like you did posting on these boards). You've learned that research jobs are there for the persistent, and even if you don't do something in HS you can certainly change that in college. You're already getting ahead in the game because you've realized you want to change some things; the crucial issue now is whether you follow thru and actually make changes or stay frozen in place.</p>