Good extracurriculars?

<p>Not sure if this is the right forum, but I'm planning to add the following extracurriculars to my app, do you think they're ok?</p>

<p>-8 years of piano class
-2 years of singing class
-1 year of painting with an AP Art teacher (lol could this count as an AP class without taking the test?) btw, this is a big passion of me, however I'm mostly self-taught, should I add any info of that sort as well so the school knows, or is it unimportant?
-Junior Achievement Program
-LOTS of hours in volunteering work</p>

<p>Those are the ones I considered most significant, however I also took guitar classes for a year, which I could also add. I'm planning to try out for my school's musical too, and hopefully get a part and add to my curriculum.</p>

<p>What do you think?</p>

<p>Where are you applying to?</p>

<p>Sent from my DROID RAZR using CC</p>

<p>Nowhere yet, however I’m looking to good colleges, thus want good extracurriculars. Thinking mostly among the mid20’s ranks. </p>

<p>I know they aren’t really “educational-related,” but it’s just I’m more interest in the arts. I could join in some more clubs to try and adorn it more if you feel it’s necessary. </p>

<p>Also, if I tutor my friends and stuff, does that count as tutoring (doubt it, but might as well ask)?</p>

<p>Club-padding is unnecessary - a few interesting extracurriculars like yours beat out a laundry list of academic clubs any day. I’d say focus on the art angle a lot, because what you have sounds interesting.</p>

<p>Piano is great and singing is good, but I wouldn’t count the Art teacher things, just mention that you’re an avid painter. The rest of the list is good.</p>

<p>If you still don’t play guitar, then don’t mention guitar classes, giving up on something in 1 year doesn’t look good.</p>

<p>OP- they are good extracurricular activities in that they demonstrate your commitment to and passion for music. However, the way you’ve presented your ECs indicates a focus on input (i.e. what you’ve put in) rather than output or impact. For examples, what was the impact on your community for the “LOTS of hours in volunteering work” you did? Furthermore, what has the years of music classes enabled you to do? Are you part of your church’s choir? Did you start a band with your friends? Do you participate in music competitions?</p>

<p>Thanks for the answers! Well, my piano teacher organizes a concert every year so I’ve participated on that. I also released a CD with the help of my teacher, and participated on a few recitals.
The volunteer work was obligatory in my school, and we went to the outskirts of town for a month to live and teach the people of the community there. I am also part of a volunteering club/group in my school, where we help foundations raise funds and stuff like that. </p>

<p>I was uneasy about adding guitar because I’m not very good… I actually left the classes cause the place broke lol, but I didn’t really want to continue either. I won’t add it to the resume then </p>

<p>And that’d be 2 years of painting, not one. I plan on going to submitting for some competitions or something, hopefully win an award to prove my commitment and talent to painting.</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>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 everything in them, take a look at these 2 articles and I think you’ll get some original ideas.</p>

<p>Thanks for referring me to the articles. Definitely gave me lots to think about. I knew my ECs weren’t the usual competitive colleges would get, hoped that would also give me sort of an edge.</p>