How critical are the Extracurricular Activities?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I have to be frank, when I take a look at the long list of ECs from some seniors who posted on this board, I feel inferior as I do not have many. My question: how critical are those ECs and What are my chances of getting into my dream schools?</p>

<p>In the last 3 years, I mainly focused my EC activities on a few areas, including </p>

<br>


<br>

<p>From a very large public school, I am not the president of any club, nor did I found any new club. I do have fine SAT score (M - 790, CR – 740 and W – 780 and essay - 11), SAT Subject Test (Math II - 800 and Biology - 750) and good GPA (4.57 out of 4). Like many others, I am also National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist, AP Scholar with Distinction and have won countless minor awards from the many competitions in the past. </p>

<p>My highlights for my 16 years life (yes, I started schooling earlier) was in junior high when I went to the Scripps National Spelling Bee twice and placed very high. My dream schools are Yale and Williams College. But I am very concerned about the list of ECs or leadership experience which I am lacking. </p>

<p>How critical are the Extracurricular Activities?
What are my chances of getting into my dream schools (Yale or Williams)?</p>

<p>Any advice is appreciated….. Thanks!</p>

2

<p>typically the long lists of ECs don’t help much, colleges recognize resume padding when they see it. Generally, if an EC can be faked (like participation, leadership, possibly small awards), it isn’t too significant. Nationally recognized awards, however, are strong hooks. These won’t guarantee you admission (nothing short of a couple million dollar donation, or maybe celebrity status will), but sure will help alot. Examples include recruited athlete, intel, usamo and up, usa(insert science)o distinction, i_o participant, etc. You don’t seem like a very strong applicant to Yale, I don’t know about williams.</p>

3

<p>Yale wants outstanding ECs. You don’t mention class rank and your CR score is below their median. Admission there would be unlikely.</p>

<p>Williams, if you have a high class rank and are not from an overrepresented place, you’ll have a reasonable shot at.</p>

<p>Note: Anything that happened in junior high will not be of interest to colleges.</p>

4

<p>Our school does not rank, but, according to the Weighted GPA percentile bands, I am at 98%. </p>

<p>Your honest opinion and comments are welcome. Thanks!</p>

<p>Good luck to you all on college search…</p>

5

<p>I think this is a rather pertinent question!</p>

<p>Being an international applicant, when I see long (and I mean really long) lists of ECs, I often wonder whether this is what gets them accepted.</p>

<p>On the other hand, I’ve seen people with average ECs (they’re international) but with strong research projects or grades getting into top colleges and universities.</p>

<p>This thread has been useful in answering some of my questions.</p>

<p>But does Yale want outstanding ECs from internationals even more so?</p>