Extracurriculars?

[AmyAndTheDoctor]

<p>I know extracurriculars are very important in the admissions process and you can't get into a good college without them. I've been wondering, however, how important it is to be involved in a specific activity for a long time. By this I mean, do colleges want to see you participate in a few activities for several years, or many activities for just one or two years each. I'm currently playing a sport that I absolutely love, but my mom might make me quit. I have been playing this sport for many years I'm worried that colleges will want to see me continue it all throughout high school (I'm only a sophomore). How important is it to them for you to have something that you do all throughout high school? I always quit everything after one or two years and I'm afraid that colleges will look down upon the fact that all the extracurriculars that I have, I only do/did for a short time. Any advice?</p>

[emmymillions]

<p>Well first of all recognize that I am not an admissions officer, or even a parent. I’m another student like you. Also my pet theory is that once the acceptance rate dips below 20% the process goes as follows: sort by grades, gpa, test scores, course rigor, etc. Then pick out the Olympic athletes, business owners, Non-profit starters, and cancer-curers and set them aside. For everyone else they stick your application on a dartboard, spin it, and throw red and green darts to see who gets accepted. It’s honestly seems to be pretty random.</p>

<p>But your question.</p>

<p>Unless your family is going to be absolutely destitute (hyperbole, but you catch my drift) if you continue playing, if you like it I say don’t quit. If you don’t like it that’s an entirely different story. Why is she making you quit, if you don’t mind me asking?</p>

<p>I would say that your college application reflects who you are. If who you are is someone who is dedicated to one thing, and has tried out some other stuff along the way and didn’t like it than so be it. I think, and if other people answer this post I’m sure they will agree, that colleges tend to like people who have done things for long periods of time. The most important part is that YOU like what you’re doing, and you’re not simply doing it to “impress” schools. If you find something Junior year that you love and you put a lot of time into, that will show up on your Common App, since there is a section for exactly how many hours you spend doing each activity (on average). I’m a firm believer in doing things for yourself, and not so that it “looks good on your college application”.</p>

<p>It also depends on your definition of a “good” college. There are SO many variables, that I don’t see the point in worrying about them now. However do take the time to look at what types of schools you want to apply to and creep on their message boards here so that you can see what the case may be. Don’t worry about being locked in: I had 10 schools I was applying to picked out and only ended up applying to 4 of them. And that was this summer (senior year)</p>

[college134nj]

<p>Ask yourself this question…
“Do I like/love this sport?”
If the answer is yes, and you can figure out transportation, etc yourself or convince ur parents to let u continue, then do not quit no matter what.
If you find it boring and are just looking to continue for the same of a college application, see below:
If the answer is no, don’t be a masochist and go do something you
Really love. Whatever it is. Even if its two years- I know people who got into yale and MIT soon activities for 2 yrs only.
Passion is more important than number of hours/years. Make that passion visible in ur essays and u will be golden.
I think you will find that most people on CC will agree with me.</p>

[mikemac]

<p>

I know extracurriculars are very important in the admissions process and you can’t get into a good college without them.

ECs play a minor role, if even that. Its just grades and scores for most colleges, and at many the bar just isn’t very high on even those. Actually most colleges in the US accept most of their applicants. On the other hand if your definition of “good college” is the top 100 or so most in demand out of the 3,000+ 4-year colleges in the US, yes they care about ECs.

By this I mean, do colleges want to see you participate in a few activities for several years, or many activities for just one or two years each.

For the colleges that DO care about ECs, mere participation is meaningless. That doesn’t even put you in the running for a selective college. They want to see leadership and achievement. So if your primary reason for playing this sport is the thought that just being on the team for 4 years is going to impress an adcom someday, you should understand that it won’t.</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&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>As you will see from that link, at the most selective colleges they are looking for depth more than just participation. Stanford, for example, says

Students often assume our primary concern is the number of activities in which one participates. In fact, an exceptional depth of experience in one or two activities may demonstrate your passion more than minimal participation in five or six clubs. We want to see the impact you have had on that club, in your school, or in the larger community, and we want to learn of the impact that experience has had on you.

</p>

[schlaag]

<p>omg Doctor Who <3</p>