<p>I was wondering exactly what colleges look for in ec activities. I have volunteered at my local hospital and library. I am also a member of the Science Olympiad, Integrated Science Association, Math League, Tutoring, Book Club, IQ Club, etc. I also participated in the Ranger Conservation Corps, which basically takes high school students to help out at a local park. I will probably try for a science internship over the summer, but however these activities seem pretty mediocre, compared to other posts on this site. WHat other extracurriculars should I do? I am aiming for Ivies. Do colleges look more at quality (amount of time spent at each activity) or quantity (amount of different things). Are there any necessary, popular extracurriculars that I m forgetting about?</p>
<p>Volunteer hours alone don’t really count for much at the top schools; they want to see leadership and accomplishment. Anyone can spend X hundred hours doing something, few have the drive to lead or the ability to stand out. Same with member of this and that; so what? The phrase adcoms use is “a mile wide and an inch deep”.</p>
<p>The question about impressive ECs comes up regularly on the forum. There is a thread with several posts by Northstarmom, a Ivy alum interviewer, about what constitutes impressive ECs from the point of view of the most selective colleges. The post is at <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/210497-those-ecs-weak-so-what-s-good.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/210497-those-ecs-weak-so-what-s-good.html</a></p>
<p>2 very interesting articles about ECs that stand out and how to get them (same author, different examples) are at [How</a> to Be Impressive](<a href=“http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/05/28/the-art-of-activity-innovation-how-to-be-impressive-without-an-impressive-amount-of-work/]How”>The Art of Activity Innovation: How to Be Impressive Without an Impressive Amount of Work - Cal Newport) and [Save</a> This Grind?](<a href=“http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/09/12/case-study-how-could-we-save-this-ridiculously-overloaded-grind/]Save”>Case Study: How Could We Save This Ridiculously Overloaded Grind? - Cal Newport) While I don’t agree with everything in them, take a look at these 2 articles and I think you’ll get some original ideas.</p>
<p>Better to be fully immersed in one thing than to just be a “participant” in a whole bunch of things. I do music. Other people who got into my school this year do athletics (competitive rock climbing- too cool!), have their own businesses (a few started charity organizations), play music, or do something else. </p>
<p>Just doing something for the sake of putting it on your resume doesn’t cut it.</p>
<p>Ok, I see that leadership is important, but how do colleges know hoe “immersed” you are in a particular ec? Do you have to attain a leadership position for it to be seriously taken into consideration?</p>
<p>For a different approach, take a look at Study Hacks. [Study</a> Hacks Blog Archive Want to Get into Harvard? Spend More Time Staring at the Clouds: Rethinking the Role of Extracurricular Activities in College Admissions](<a href=“http://calnewport.com/blog/2010/02/18/want-to-get-into-harvard-spend-more-time-staring-at-the-clouds-rethinking-the-role-of-extracurricular-activities-in-college-admissions/]Study”>Want to Get into Harvard? Spend More Time Staring at the Clouds: Rethinking the Role of Extracurricular Activities in College Admissions - Cal Newport)</p>
<p>Colleges will know how immersed you are in an activity by your essays and your interview. For example, if I am interviewing you and you tell me you have been the president of club X for three years, but can’t go into detail what exactly you have done, then I know that despite your leadership position, you haven’t done much with that club. It’s all about the stories that you can tell about your extracurricular involvement (either through your essays or your interview).</p>