Feel Like There's Something Missing in my EC's...

[corndwag]

<p>So I drum a lot. I wouldn't say it's my die-hard passion in life, but right now it's the closest thing to it. I'm definitely trying to build a strong extracurricular resume by drumming, because that's what you're supposed to do, right? Your ec's should be you doing what you love? I'm pretty sure i've been the drummer/percussionist for just about every musical event at the high school, (i'm in concert and jazz band, help out in orchestra and choir concerts, play in the annual school musical every year), and outside of school I'm in a jazz big band that plays in multiple jazz festivals every year, and drum for my local Chinese school orchestra as community service, since i don't even go to Chinese school. (we play during international/chinese celebrations). I also started with some friends a smaller jazz combo, and we play paid gigs around the city, and volunteer once or twice a month to play at the local homeless shelter for a few hours. My question is: is this enough? I'm aiming for some pretty nice schools (UCLA, USC, Stanford?) and I just feel like I'm not doing enough. I see all these presidents of clubs who never actually do much of anything, and a student government just handing each other prestigious sounding positions without putting any actual effort into improving the school. Should I be going for nice sounding leadership positions or should I just be sticking to what I love doing? Any advice will probably help, thanks guys</p>

[harborceal]

<p>Stick to what you love, and keep expanding on it. Can you provide free drum lessons to low-income kids? Form a club that gives musical instruments to at-risk schools? Think about creative ideas to take your passion further. Don’t hide it with fluff leadership positions.</p>

[letjustin]

<p>"I see all these presidents of clubs who never actually do much of anything, and a student government just handing each other prestigious sounding positions without putting any actual effort into improving the school. "</p>

<p>I cannot tell you how much I agree with this statement. At my high school, we have a very large amount of volunteer clubs. Those clubs even have multiple presidents because the students want the title. In my honest opinion, volunteering, for the most part, is not very challenging. You do menial work for the community for free. One volunteer club at my school spends more time socializing and taking pictures of each other than actually volunteering. On the other hand, drumming is a very difficult and impressive skill that takes lots of practice to master. It frustrates me a little because many leaders in clubs do not spend hours and hours during the week improving their club whereas a drummer practices everyday. Unfortunately, this is the world we live in. I would follow the advice of harborceal, he or she is correct. </p>

<p>Have you thought of drum corps?</p>

[mikemac]

<p>

I see all these presidents of clubs who never actually do much of anything, and a student government just handing each other prestigious sounding positions without putting any actual effort into improving the school.

Don’t think the adcoms haven’t been around the block a few times and see thru the charade.</p>

<p>You are on the right track of pursuing what you love. Just see if you can take it further, as suggested earlier. Are there competitions you can enter? </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.

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 some of his underlying explanation, take a look at these 2 articles and I think you’ll get some original ideas.</p>