<p>First of all this, this question is motivated only by curiosity. It doesn't apply to any of my kids. </p>
<p>Just wondering what would happen if a student applies to college and clearly states that he has done no ECs at all during the last 3 or so years.</p>
<p>To make this a little more real let's include the following info that may be presented during an interview or essay:
- I'm an intellectual. I like reading and learning. That's all there is.
- I checked out several clubs and teams and nothing interested me.
- I spent some of my free time productively reading books and going to movies.
- I spent some of my free time doing kid stuff. I played video games, spent time with friends and family, did sports, watched TV, etc.
- I have great recommendations - remember, I'm an intellectual. Teachers love me.
- If present trends continue, I won't help you get into the Rose Bowl, nor will I participate in student Government, or charity drives, or musicals or the school newspaper.
- If you want a low maintenance student who will do his school work, get lots of As, participate in classroom discussions and get into a top graduate school, then you should admit me.</p>
<p>Of course, all of the above is stated respectfully and humbly. It might even include the possibility that he might volunteer as a research assistant or tutor or write for a literary journal if the right opportunity comes up.</p>
<p>Let's also say this student has top grades. Good enough to be a HYPS contender. Let's say GPA is around 3.8 to 4.0 UW and SATs are 2350+ Also lots of APs with 5s.</p>
<p>So where will he get in? Will HYPS even take a second look? Maybe there's a specific top school like Chicago or Swarthmore that is likely to accept him? Does he have to go all the way down to Tier 3?</p>
<p>I think you need to explain it somehow why you're not involved, the problem you'll face is that alot of your competition at top schools will be intellectuals who also have everything you said you didn't participate in.</p>
<p>that's exactly the problem. the competition will have the same academic achievement, but they'll have jobs/volunteers/sports/clubs/activities. being able to juggle all that and having clear, non-academic passions, will distinguish them.</p>
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I spent some of my free time productively reading books and going to movies
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<p>this person could do something literature-based at school, or start a film club. anything. literary magazine - creative writing... i'm assuming this person has interests. there's always a way to turn it into a passion that can come off as an EC. at that point it will be resume padding, but when your resume is empty... well, i guess you do what you have to do!</p>
<p>This person explains that he's not well rounded, he's just an intellectual. Resume padding is of no interest and won't happen. </p>
<p>The question is: How low in rankings does this person have to go to get accepted?</p>
<p>Or let's word it this way: It's April 15, 2009. He's applied to the 150 most competitive colleges. Being an intellectual, he hasn't gotten around to opening his snail mail or email for the past month or so. What happens when he opens all the mail?</p>
<p>^^ummm....the great student i know did actually show some ECs...but his ECs were really common that nothing was special...(he had no leadership,no sports team,he was only in a few clubs and did some community service....but his academic performance was really impressive.)</p>
<p>bird rock, your hypothetical student would get into some great schools, and not into others. Selective college admissions is very personal -- if his essays and recommendations impress an admissions officer, then he might get in. I would think a lot would ride on his recommendations and essays. For example, if this is truly a brilliant student, and all his recommendations say he's the next Einstein, he'll be accepted even without ECs.</p>
<p>If you're an intellectual... what did you do in the summer? that would be my question. Because if it's absolutely nothing -- movies, read, video. I am thinking you're not much of an intellectual. If you went to summer internships or worked on research at the local university or with their science program, than it's a different story. But if all you do is study? You better have a perfect 4.0 in the absolutely hardest curriculum and then still I am going to find you boring and not much into your classmates. Personally, I've seen dozens of kids get in with OK grades and passionate EC's to some of the best schools. I know of few example of the other way around (and I say a few, but to say none would probably be a stretch).</p>
<p>fireandrain I have a feeling that's right. In this example the student has not proven himself to be the next Einstein - otherwise there would be little to discuss. I just chose very high scores so there could be some consistency in the discussion. But to stay with the example the essay and recommendations would of course be excellent. Just no hint of well rounded.</p>
<p>And it sounds like you're saying that some adcoms would be fine with a pure intellectual and some would prefer more well rounded.</p>
<p>BTW, your name sounds familiar, haven't I seen you somewhere? :-)</p>
<p>birdrock, it would depend on the college’s institutional goals, which do change from year to year. One CC regular aptly describes college admission like casting a play. If there is a role for an intellectual who has few ECs, then this kid might get in. Is he a true intellectual, or just lazy? That is certainly a question the admission committee will ask.</p>
<p>And it will depend on his competition – does this kid live in Nebraska or New Jersey? </p>
<p>And the issue is not whether this kid is well-rounded. It’s that colleges want to accept students who will make a contribution to their community – either the college community or the surrounding area. A real intellectual will make a contribution to the school’s academic life, and may be accepted for that alone. </p>
<p>(And I don’t believe we’ve met before – this is the only site on which I use this particular screen name.)</p>
<p>You will probably not get into top 25 schools unless your in-state public is a top 25-school.</p>
<p>What’s of more concern is that your career, life in general, and even graduate school options will be restricted due to the social skills deficits you’ll have as a result of not learning things that people learn by participating in some kind of organized activities. It’s great that you have friends, but you’ll find that in college and after college, people make friends through things like clubs, sports, and other activities. In college, one tends not to make friendships by going to class with people, but by doing some kind of mutually enjoyable activity together – club, sport, volunteer work, theater, music, etc.</p>
<p>I agree with northstarmom (U like skiing at northstar? I love that place, but I’m more partial to Alpine Meadows). </p>
<p>Anyway, there are PLENTY of kids out here who will have the same exact academic stats, but will have Clubs, sports, or other EC’s. Loading one side of the triangle doesn’t work as well as it used to, you need to have all 3 sides (EC’s, Academics, Leadership).</p>
<p>Sorry if this is off-topic, but would I be considered to have enough ECs for the very top schools? (I’m homeschooled, btw):</p>
<p>-I’ve been running for the last four or so years, mostly on my own (although I’ve had to stop for a few months due to exams and a knee injury)
-I’ve been lifting weights for the last six months or so
-I’ve been writing fiction and poetry since I was quite young (kind of on and off, but I’ve started doing it again recently, since it’s so much fun)
-I’ve also been drawing continuously for that time. I’m not a stellar artist or anything, but I might be sending in some of my sketches as supplementary material
-I’m trying to set up my own online business
-I’m trying to do some Computer Science research (is this even an EC?)</p>
<p>I’ve been doing all of these for a while, and they’re definitely part of my schedule nowadays, but I haven’t been doing some of them consistently… what do you reckon?</p>
<p>P.S. Especially since I’m homeschooled, would colleges want to see that I’d done more ECs which involved socialising? None of the above really did…</p>
<p>They’d want to see some ECs that required your being involved with others and/or developing expertise that resulted in some kind of honors.</p>
<p>What the top colleges care about – those are the ones who most care about ECs – are attracting students who not only are able to handle the academic work (something that’s typical of the majority of their applicants) but also will add to campus life by participating in clubs, sports, etc. One of the things that such colleges offer is the chance for students to be involved in activities they care about – along with other students who have a high level of interest, independence and assertiveness when it comes to activities.</p>
<p>The colleges also care about attracting current and future stars in a variety of fields. Consequently, if, for instance, your writing had resulted in your publishing a book, getting some kind of major award, etc. , then it would be a strong EC for you, but just writing on your own doesn’t count for much when it comes to those colleges.</p>
<p>If you had started a writing club – invited local authors and creative writing professors to coach and speak to your group – that would be a more impressive EC as would, for example, creating a writing conference for teen writers or even going to writer’s camp (some are competitive, requiring students to submit samples of their work in order to be accepted).</p>
<p>I kinda fit into this category. Id honestley say that this hypothetical person could def get into some top 25 schools, but DEFINATELY not all of them. There are some exceptions though and truthfully grades matter the most.</p>