<p>My ECs/volunteer work are probably going to be the least competitive aspects of my application, so I want to present them in the best way possible. I would like to emphasize leadership, commitment, and well-roundedness. How can I do this in the format given on the common app? This is what I have so far, in this order:</p>
<p>(hrs/wk)/(wks/yr)
4 years rowing, 24/12 (I listed I was voted captain, varsity letters, I wrote for the newsletter, state/national medals).
4 years rowing winter training, 6/14
4 years cross country, 12/12 (listed my varsity letter)
2 years working, 9/52 (listed a brief description of my job)
1 summer rowing, 10/8
1 year community service, 6/6 (rowing related)
1 year community service, 2/6 (organized a 5k walk/run)
3 years community service 3/3 (misc. volunteer work for the same charity)
2 years "school spirit", 2/3 (organization at my school that helps new students/other events)</p>
<p>Hopefully I'll get into NHS and then I can add those events if they happen before I apply early. 4 of my 9 activities are rowing related, is this a problem? I'm also volunteering at a regatta this fall and would like to add that. I can always combine my 1st 2 rowing activities and average the hours. I know I have practically no volunteer work. I was so behind on it, and even if I can cram stuff in to the coming months, it'll probably look like I did it just for college. I never really had time to volunteer all that much, so I hope that comes through on my application.</p>
<p>Another question I have is, is it typical for people to attach resumes when applying to highly competitive colleges? I wasn't planning on it.</p>
<p>Community service is not required or even especially desirable - it’s just another EC like any other. If you have it, then list it. If not, don’t worry about it. Remember for ECs, it’s the depth and quality of your engagement, not the number of activities you participate in. Rowing is what you like to do - and that’s fine. A few summer jobs and the school spirit club are fine too- they show that you are responsible and engaged in your community. And yes, you can combine all your rowing activities on one line and total up the hours/week and weeks/yr.</p>
<p>Finally, a resume is not necessary at all. Adcoms are inundated with documentation from applicants already. To duplicate what you have already provided in the common application is a waste of their time and yours. The only time it’s marginally helpful is if you are interviewing and you want to hand someone a very brief summary of what you’ve been doing.</p>
<p>Nothing wrong w/your list that I see. Frankly, if you have monster ERG times, you’ll be highly recruited. Have you contacted coaches of schools you might want to target?</p>
<p>All this volunteer hours stuff is mythology. Don’t sweat it.</p>
<p>caro223 i know that you aren’t expecting a rowing scholarship at the schools, but still talking to the coaches could be a good idea. If they see potential they might want to recruit you scholarship free but it will look good through the admissions offices of these schools.</p>