Extracurriculars?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
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<p>Guys, I know I said that I wouldn't do this for a while, but recently, I've been doubting my extracurricular plan. I mean, I know that having a laundry list isn't good, but is it possible to have too few extracurriculars? Currently, my EC's look like this:</p>

<p>Freshman year:
Debate-President
Mock Trial-President
Programming Club-2nd place in schoolwide competition</p>

<p>Sophomore year:
Debate-President
Mock Trial-President
Model UN
Cancer research
Mu Alpha Theta
I've also founded a gamer's group that will attempt to raise money for charity</p>

<p>Junior year:
Same as Soph year, but I'll probably lose my leadership since I'm transferring to a new school. My original research project will be finished, and I'll start a new one.
I'll also attempt to found a science oriented magazine/newspaper and will attempt to start a tutoring program or mentoring program for middle and high schoolers.</p>

<p>Senior year:
See above.</p>

<p>Summers:
Frosh summer-I went to a local summer program on racial reconciliation. I just wanted to meet new people in my state.
Soph summer-I plan to go to NYC to intern at a hospital or Columbia University. I'll also be applying to a summer program at Mt. Sinai.
Junior summer-I'll be applying to RSI, TASP, and the other prestigious research programs. If those all fall through, I'll come up with something else.</p>

<p>As for awards, I'll probably get National Merit Semifinalist (at least) and may win a few awards at Intel ISEF, ISTS, Siemens, Google, etc. for my research. In debate, model UN, and mock trial, I plan to win a few more awards at the state level, seeing as how my state is uncompetitive. I might even do well at the national level, I dunno.</p>

<p>Should I add more EC's to my list, or would this plan be sufficient? Also, on the common app, would I be able to specify why I lost my leadership? Would it be looked down upon?</p>

<p>Again, I apologize to those of you who've seen this type of post from me numerous times before. It's just that not having a laundry list makes me feel a bit insecure, and I need some affirmation that my current plan is good.</p>

<p>Thank you for your time :D</p>

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<p>You’ll be okay.</p>

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<p>lol how in the world did your school let a Freshman be president of debate and mock trial</p>

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<p>He dominated at some tournaments I think he said.</p>

<h2>Id be too envious to let him be president if I was an upperclassman :smiley: </h2>

<p>Your list is fine. Chillax.</p>

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<p>lol nobody can count on that…</p>

<p>did you mean intel sts? 'cause, by the time you win an award at sts, it’ll be the march of your senior year.</p>

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<p>Agree that it is presumptuous to anticipate ISEF, Siemens, etc.</p>

<p>STS semifinalists are announced, I believe, in January. Finalists are announced later - around March. If you’re a finalist, some schools make special efforts to land you.</p>

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<p>I don’t mean to be pretentious. It’s just that, judging from the previous winners/finalists for those competitions, my project, if executed correctly, has a decent shot at placing at some level. Of course, nothing is guaranteed, and I apologize for any pretentiousness I may have exuded.
Tomatox, Atlantic is correct. I was elected after I did well at some regional tournaments.
Atlantic, LOL some of the upperclassmen were angry that they didn’t get any leadership, but they were pretty good friends of mine, so they were cool with me being president. They all either graduated or went to my state’s math/science academy, so I don’t think it mattered much to them.
Do you think “president of debate” sounds cooler than “captain of debate”? I can’t decide! :P</p>

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<p>Master Debater is best IMO…
But seriously, I’d say captain. Its only president if you coordinate most of the stuff.
Like, Do you run the speech team as well, and help decide who goes to what tournaments?</p>

<p>If your a main overseer, and help with coordination I’d say president
If you’re just there to head things up and help pairings or run practices I’d say Captain.</p>

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<p>I think your EC’s are very good, but don’t assume you’ll win any awards or get any positions. Just try hard and don’t over-commit yourself. I can remember all your ECs by now, hahaha.</p>

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<p>LOL I tried to get “overlord” going, but no one else liked it :frowning:
I handle administrative duties as well, such as creating information packets for the members to use for fundraising, writing the constitution for the team, writing letters for the members to use when meeting with companies (I sign my name and the sponsor signs below me), etc. So president would work?</p>

<p>LOL sorry, Vivendium :stuck_out_tongue: If you want, I can memorize your EC’s so we’re even lol</p>

<p>I forgot to mention, I also do piano, so does that help my application any? I realize a lot of my EC’s are cliche, but they’re what I genuinely enjoy doing, so idk.</p>

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<p>I use “Dictator” for quizbowl…maybe if you try “Supreme Overloard of Argumentation” … (yes president will work I guess. The connotation I have with president is sort as an administrative role, while captain is more a competitive role.)</p>

<p>In general, when it comes to teams I think “Captain” works best, but it’s a non-issue really.</p>

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<p>That joke has been completely milked dry at my school.</p>

<p>IMO you should be fine…maybe get a job? Work experience helps.</p>

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<p>So I don’t appear TOO specialized? Is specialization better, or breadth better? I don’t even know anymore…</p>

<p>I’m applying for a paid internship at Columbia. Would that count as a “job”?</p>

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<p>I’m jealous. Hope you get the internship, goodluck!</p>

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<p>Haha thanks! I’m hoping to hear back soon!</p>