<p>After being on HSL for a few months I have noticed when someone has a LOT of extracurriculars it comes across as if the person just has a bunch of fillers or is resume-padding. Especially is the activities are clubs or academic in nature.
The common advice from you awesome CC'ers is normally "focus in on what you love" or "follow your passion"</p>
<p>But what if you are interested in a bunch of different extracurrics (a majority academic in nature)? I have almost 15 activities which I am/am going to be involved in, because they are all things I am interested in. How do I relay this information in a college app without seeming like I am just padding? Or should I just not become involved in the first place?</p>
<p>Also how would you all suggest to handle a lot of activities, a rigorous courseload, and somewhat of a social life?</p>
<p>Well, I can’t really help you on the first one. I never expected to get involved in much of anything at high school. (I fell into Student Council, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Green Team, and the theater group, and I still have a year to go.) So I never looked into that.</p>
<p>As for the second one though, here’s what I do. You need to let yourself relax. Come home, watch an episode of a television show. Set aside an hour for relaxing a day. And for one night a week, don’t go out and do anything. If I didn’t do the above things, I would go nuts. XD</p>
<p>If all your ECs are academic, you can group them into categories. For example, you can tie your science academic ECs together into an essay and explain how those clubs influenced your interest in science. Something like that. And of course you should get involved. Generally, you start off going to a whole bunch of clubs and eventually only attend those you’re actually passionate about and involved in.</p>
<p>Time management. You need to be efficient. Use the time during which you idly sit around in class to do homework in another class (unless of course, the teacher frowns upon it). Don’t turn on your computer until you’ve finished all of your homework that doesn’t require a computer. And at least once every two months, go out with your friends.</p>
<p>Your EC’s are only as good as your scores. I don’t know, I haven;t done very many EC’s but I think the idea should be that you focus on what you like and the “prestige” will come. If you can balance 15 things - do them. For most people, being passionate about one thing will mean less time available for 14 others.</p>