<p>I think this entire forum is a sad attempt at making the average high school student’s life seem more rigorous.</p>
<p>Either you have the amazing extra-curriculars, or you don’t. Pulling out interesting knacks that interest individual people—there’s nothing special about selling items on eBay—just screams, “I’m desperate!”.</p>
<p>The truth is, guys, we ALL have things that we could put down on college applications, but it doesn’t mean they’re “hidden”, or worth noting.</p>
<p>(And most importantly, if it takes a forum like this to remind other people of what kinds EC could possibly be added to their list, is the “extra-curricular activity” really an honest addition? If you have to be REMINDED, or given the “okay” to add EC you would have previously forgotten/set aside, is it a TRUE EC to YOUR person? Or is it just playing monkey-see, monkey-do, monkey gotta compete with you?)</p>
<p>@ new beginning, I didnt ask if I should put it down or not, I asked if I should put it as job experience OR extra curricular…but def im putting it.</p>
<p>Im not from the states, Im not used to this kinda apps, or questions or whatever. Over here its way different. So yeah, I think I will be asking a lot…</p>
<p>“…we ALL have things that we could put down on college applications, but it doesn’t mean they’re “hidden”, or worth noting…” So whats your point?, point it out or not? lol first you make fun and then you basically take it back.</p>
<p>To this guy who fixes ipods and gadgets and all that, I think you should def write about it, since it shows passion, commitment, electronically skilled lol, concentration, risk, etc…</p>
<p>Ill give a second thought wether writing about my fixing stuff “skill”, mostly what I fix is furniture and decorate empty spots at my friends house and people i know, sometimes they give me their old furniture and ask me to pimp it lol. But I think itd be more interesting to write about it rather than point it as an extracurricular.</p>
<p>skateboarding (street tricks) for over 2 years, tennis for about 4 years, violin for about 7 years.
recently i really started to LOVE tennis for some reason.</p>
<p>Fixing up little gadgets and selling items on eBay isn’t a job, and it’s not an extra-curricular for a few reasons:</p>
<p>1.) There’s no way one could officially track your hours spent selling/fixing gadgets. There’s no official way of knowing how many people you have come into contact with. Etc.</p>
<p>2.) Being loyal to a flexible activity that doesn’t require scheduled time in your day is hardly an EC that is on par with other ECs (a job, for instance, that REQUIRES you to be at work. Very few people get to go to work when they want to. Your idea of a “job” is rather a hobby that takes up as much time as you allow.)</p>
<p>Absolutely. Keep it concise but definitely explain what you do. Be sure to avoid using abbreviations or any words/terms (including names of local stores or businesses) that might be unknown to those not involved in this activity or who don’t live in your part of the country.</p>
<p>I’m thinking about adding some hobbies and stuff too. Where would i add them in the common app? Under “Extracurricular Activities and Work Experience” or just in"Additional information" in the writing section. The things i’m looking to add are like surfing and playing guitar (not in a band or for the school).</p>
<p>newbeginning doesn’t get the point of ECs. It’s not to show that you can handle a rigid work schedule or that you do something that other people can verify. It’s to show a side to you that may not be evident from your grades and academic performance-in fact, may not be known to anyone in your school. You want to demontrate creativity, vision, compassion, leadership, a thirst for knowledge, independence, self-awareness, or any of a dozen other characteristics that schools value, but can’t necessarily glean from your academic record or your teachers’ letters of recommendations. If your EC accomplishes that, then it’s worth talking about, especially if you have invested a lot of time in it, over multiple years, and can demonstrate increased mastery, commitment, leadership, or achievement over time.</p>
<p>I helped my mom start an online busines (making websites). This includes writing and editting articles, and designing webpages. Does this count?</p>
<p>working at the school cafeteria
listening to all of the songs by the Beatles
yoga club
trying to cook Indian cuisine with whatever’s available at home</p>
<p>I have been to every football bowl game of a single college, minus the 1949 one. And after that the most recent one was 1996. So, every one in the past 50 years. =)</p>
<p>how about hiking?
or climbing rocks around the river?
or looking under rocks for salamanders?
or learning different bird calls?
and i don’t think this could ever count… but what about just jogging every night?
writing poetry? climbing trees? drawing (for fun)?
does ANY of that count?!?!?!?!?</p>
<p>dd got into knitting on her own, then formed a knitting club at school that had a huge turnout of girls AND guys. They each made something and help an auction donating the proceeds. But she didn’t put it down. I think she ran out of room, and that was just something she started Sr year. One boy made her a hat and scarf in her college colors when she went off. It will be interesting to see if that club is still going when she goes back for 5 year reunion next month.</p>