Grandparent assisting low SES, high stats grandson

[Mwfan1921]

@maritam

A’s extracurriculars are rather sparse as far as I can tell. He has been and currently is on the board at the Mendocino Environmental Center, Jr. and Sr year. Went to Bioneers, did some fire mitigation work for me. Installs drip irrigation. He is very eager to learn chain saw work, but no time for it yet. He literally worked 10 hour days all summer long helping his family move back to the land which is why he didn’t have any time to work on applications/SAT study. Awarded ‘best achievement’ for one class or the other every year in high school. I’m really in quandary about ECs. Don’t know what counts or what is worthy of putting in apps. His all seem so rather paltry. CSF? Local Science Fair (no awards)? MESA? Robotics? Oh. And his passion: D&D. He’s been the Dungeon Master for about 3 years, I think. It’s an obsession and, perhaps a way to escape into fantasy. He mentored students in Honors English but, I think, not officially. Ho Hum, what to do?

Working is an EC, and a good one…even it wasn’t paid. The others sound like good activities to put in the activities section as well (although I am not sure what they all are!). It’s best to list the most important activities first (typically the ones the student is most passionate about and/or the longest term ones and/or the ones with the most hours).

Here’s the UC financial aid process/deadlines. I would fill out FAFSA and CSS Profile as soon as they are available on Oct 1.