Getting involved.

Applying to College
1

<p>Okay, so I am currently a sophomore in high school and I have dreams of going to Ivy League and other top colleges. Although I have fairly impressive grades and I'm taking advanced classes for my level, I know that ECs are vital in the admissions process. </p>

<p>What I have as of right now is:
-FBLA club president and founder
-Piano (been playing for quite a while but i'm not SPECTACULAR)
-JV Tennis this year (I plan on playing Jr and Sr year)
-Peer Tutor
-Tutor 3rd and 4th graders</p>

<p>And that's basically it...
I would like to get a lot more INVOLVED in school not only for college, but because I'm genuinely interested in doing MORE. </p>

<p>If you guys could recommend some good activities or programs that I could attend to get involved, it would be greatly appreciated!! </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Oh, one last thing, I'd really like to do a program that involved leadership! :)</p>

2

<p>really guys?? pleasee?? hahha im pretty desperate right now :(</p>

3

<p>As opposed to getting minimally involved in many different activities, it looks better and is more unique if you begin to get more involved in one or two activities that you are extremely passionate about. Many applicants think that being the vice president or treasurer of every club will improve their chances. This is nauseatingly unoriginal, and really the opposite is true.</p>

<p>What are your interests? I recommend taking a look at some of the volunteer organizations in your community. Do you have a chapter of Habitat for Humanity in your area? Do you like science, art, or history? Perhaps you could be a docent at a museum in your city. Many students find a calling in volunteering in a hospital or animal clinic. If you are looking for leadership “training,” have you considered a JROTC program? Take a look also at Boys State (or Girls State). This is a summer program run by the American Legion.</p>

<p>And I commend you on wanting to get involved for reasons other than college admissions.</p>

4

<p>desperate right now ? that is silly</p>

<p>make your academics and your program your priority, as well as your test scores</p>

<p>your tutoring may be your strongest EC. stick with it.</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) While I don’t agree with everything in them, take a look at these 2 articles and I think you’ll get some ideas.</p>