Hey y’all I’m a soon to be freshman, deciding on clubs to do. Here’s some that I have in mind:
National Honor Society
Health Occupations Students of America
Pre-Medical Society
Key Club
Student Council
Model UN
Academic Decathlon (I’m not sure about this one…)
It might seem like a lot and I know that quality is better than quantity, you have to have a real passion, but I choose these clubs related to helping others because well… I like to help others, when I see someone suffering I wish I could just go and help them… The only ones that might seem to divert from this ideology are student council and model un, because altough I have a major interest in science and medicine, I seem to enjoy debating politics every once in a while…
Involve yourself in ECs that you like and that you find valuable. There is nothing about the ECs you list that would impress a college but as long as you are involved for other reasons, they are fine. Competitive colleges are interested in achievements not your list of ECs.
So you mean the number of EC’s i plan on taking is okay? and the only thing that matters are the awards? The only problem is I’ve never won a competitive award in middle school or the like alotugh I did get great grades…
Are you are an international student? Yes they matter. They matter for your life. They matter because high school is not only about getting into college. There is a growing “cram” mentality being brought in to the US-as if everything is about getting into the “right college”. It isn’t, It is time to counter that mentality in direct ways!
The most competitive schools don’t care about a list of ECs. They are interested in what you have achieved. The most competitive are obviously looking for evidence that you have more future potential as an achiever than almost everyone else in your class or in your community and (for the most competitive schools) in your city. They identify those they think are the absolute top by looking at the entire record. They are looking for evidence that a student stands out not stands in.
I don’t think it is a bad idea to have some sort of plan for EC’s. I didn’t plan freshman year, and as a result I wasn’t very involved, and I still struggle with it now. The sooner you can attach yourself to a club or two that you really like, the better.
Honestly, that seems like a lot. Colleges may think you are just padding your application with clubs you weren’t really committed to. I’d choose one of the medical clubs, a volunteer club, and whatever interests you more, Student Council or Model UN. You don’t want to overwhelm yourself.
Thanks man, I finally thought it out and what do you think of:
Health Occupations Students of America
Pre-Med Society
Key Club
National Honor Society
Should I add one more club in this spot, considering NHS isn’t much of a weekly club i think?
Also if you are interested in medicine, spend more time volunteering at the hospital rather than joining both HOSA and Pre-Med. It will be interesting to you, and if it isn’t, you will quickly find that medicine is not for you. Also it is community service which is also good.