Help Please! ECs/Leadership? Where do I start?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
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<p>Hi! So I have a problem/I've no idea what I'm doing and need help. Basically I go to a tiny religious private school (I'm in Grade 11), which has no clubs, ECs, leadership opportunities, guidance counselor, and absolutely no knowledge on anything that has to do with university. They don't even particularly like university. They'd be happy and fine if everyone just went to some random community college. </p>

<p>They won't allow ECs or anything in the school, and the community doesn't really have much. Also due to the religious aspect, anything I do has to be all girls and fully appropriate. Kind of limits me. </p>

<p>And please don't recommend I try to start something, because after a lot of talking and pushing I finally got them to allow us to start a debate team.... but we get one hour a week and are not allowed to compete at all. Not even with sister schools or within the school or anything like that. My school doesn't allow outside school involvement (such as taking classes at a local college) or really anything.</p>

<p>OH yeah and I'm in school from 8:30AM to 5:30PM, and with play now going on, I have drama/dance practice every night until 7:30, so basically I'm busy from 8am-8pm. Doesn't leave much time for stuff. Can't do anything on Saturdays due to religious reasons, but I run a day care in the morning at my local synoguge, and on Sundays I volunteer with special needs kids and try not to drown in hw/tests. Only other thing I've done is had lead in last school play, and i've done fencing, which I used to take every monday and wednesday after school, but because of play I no longer can.</p>

<p>SOOOOOO--BASICS--I REALLY want to get into an Ivy league school, but my options are so limited!!! Any ideas?? What about what I'm already doing? Any ideas about leadership positions/awards/competitions?? :/ Thank you for your help!!</p>

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<p>Take a deep breath and relax!</p>

<p>All colleges judge you within the context of your school. If your school doesn’t offer much, you will not be penalized.</p>

<p>That said, you mentioned “I have drama/dance practice every night until 7:30.”</p>

<p>Well, drama is an extracurricular activity. Every role you’ve played is considered a leadership position. When you fill out your list of EC’s, list each play separately with the name of the play and the role and whether it is a leading role or supporting role. Have you directed anything? That’s a leadership role as well. It’s the same with dance concerts.</p>

<p>“I run a day care in the morning at my local synagogue.”</p>

<p>Wow – that sounds like another leadership role!</p>

<p>“Sundays I volunteer with special needs kids.”</p>

<p>That sounds like community service to me - another extracurricular activity!</p>

<p>Selective colleges are looking for students who have passion in both academics and extracurricular activities. They are looking for three or four activities that show a depth of commitment (not dozens where your commitment is minimal.). Looking over what you do, I don’t see any problems. It’s all in the way you present yourself.</p>