Reading some of these chance me posts, I’m beginning to feel as if a lot of the class of 2023 applicants have spectacular and extraordinary extracurriculars across the board. I don’t (a sport, volunteering, class president, a job) but I never had an internship or did renowned research. Now, I go to a rural public school (around 800 students), and live in a township of no more than 10,000 citizens. I live in Michigan, about two hours from any large city with revolutionary EC opportunities, and travelling to Detroit or Chicago would create a massive time and financial burden. I’m concerned that my lack of strong ECs is going to deny me opportunity at UCLA, USC, Georgetown, and so on. Am I rightfully worried (clearly those schools are nowhere near a breezy acceptance for anyone) or do universities take geographic location and available opportunity into account?
It isn’t about some fancy internships or titles, per se. A lot of those chance kids get so wrapped up in the spin on what they’re doing that they miss the need for the right rounding, stretch, interpersonal skills, and some appropriate vol work. Even CC adults will sometimes say, “You need a major award,” but you don’t. You need to be the sort who does take advantage of the opportuities around you, finds the right breadth and depth.
Nothing wrong with what you’ve done, so far. On your other thead, you mention more than here. I think it’s a good list for IR, makes sense. So I think you can move on to the next concern and focus on the app/supps, communicating the right things that they want to see in you. And nailing any Why Us.
@lookingforward Thanks for your comment. I feel like it’s been way too easy for me to get wrapped up in all of the fantastic things other students do and then ask myself why I’m not doing the same. I’m almost done with all my apps, so I’m anxious to see how it all turns out.
Note that UCLA is a public university and won’t give you any need based aid because you are from out of state. You are very lucky to have a strong public flagship, too.
One way to distinguish yourself is strong test scores. So study for your standardized tests (and note that Gtown wants THREE subject tests!)