Feedback on extracurriculars ?

Applying to College
1

<p>I am a junior and feel I am limited in my extracurricular but do not think I can do much more. Please give me feed back. Oh and I'm from Texas. </p>

<p>Schools I am applying to:
JHU
Brown
Rice
Stanford(Reach)
Cornell
Vanderbilt
And just for fun: Harvard Princeton Yale </p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
French Club(10th, 11th 12th(Running for Officer))</p>

<p>French NHS(11th,12th(Running for President))</p>

<p>NHS(11th,12th)</p>

<p>Betal Club(10th,11th(Running for Officer),12th(Running for Officer)_</p>

<p>Mu Alpha Beta/Math club (11th,12th)</p>

<p>UIL(11th,12th)</p>

<p>AcDec(10th,12th) Couldn't do it because it wouldn't fit on my schedule.</p>

<p>Chess(11th,12th_</p>

<p>OTHER:
-Community Service -Even though I'm starting late I can get around 350 hours before admission time.
-Community College- Will be taking Intro Philosophy and either Organic Chemistry or General Physics.
-Job next summer will try and get a job at either Best Buy or Fry's during Summer or Par time senior year.( But the Job is not a fixed thing)</p>

<p>Also just wanted to mention something about my grades . I really screwed up freshman year and 8th grade( which is calculated in class rank)not like failing but C and B's and it screwed up my chances being number 1 ,2 or 3 But after that All I have been making are 95+ and this began mid way through the second semester (Freshman year)up until now and hope to be making even higher. Was wondering will college admissions notice my great Improvement. I mean I'm making grades better then my classes # 1 but am afraid it will amount to nothing seeing as No matter what I will just be in the top 1 or 2 percent.
******Also I'm the only African American in my class to even be that high. I dont even know one thats in the top 10 percent. And am currently taking the most rigorous course load a junior in my School has taken , even though our school has a limited amount of AP's</p>

2

<p>In my opinion, Chess and Acadeca is a bit geeky. Most valedictorians or top ten people are involved with that. Not saying that it is a bad thing, but doing something outside the school like in the community is even better. (oops, I just read that you did do lots of community hours) good job! Knowledge isn’t everything, it’s what you do. It’s good you’re running for officer. Go for it!!</p>

3

<p>Thanks you .</p>

4

<p>Not sure why you feel there’s no more to do. The outstanding ECs typically go on outside of school.</p>

5

<p>The question about impressive ECs comes up regularly. There is a thread with comments by NSM, a Ivy alum interviewer, about what constitutes impressive ECs. 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>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 Without an Impressive Amount of Work](<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 [How</a> Could We Save This Ridiculously Overloaded Grind?](<a href=“http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/09/12/case-study-how-could-we-save-this-ridiculously-overloaded-grind/]How”>Case Study: How Could We Save This Ridiculously Overloaded Grind? - Cal Newport) Take a look at these 2 articles and I think you’ll get some ideas.</p>

6

<p>Thank you mikemac. Very great links.</p>

7

<p>“Running for officer” or being a member isn’t what matters. What matters is organizing some projects or showing some initiative that would demonstrate your leadership. That’s something you can do whether or not you’re an elected officer. Being a leader in name only isn’t going to impress places like Ivies.</p>