<p>Tbh, I'm a bit disillusioned. It seems like nowadays, most applicants just do random clubs and ECs to make their college app "look good", especially at my school. It's not like I don't have any interests. I like reading, chess, Latin, science, etc. But does that mean I have to join a school-affiliated group/club/organization to demonstrate my interest? I've tried joining some, but they're not run very well and are usually rather dull. I just don't want to screw up my chance at a selective school though.</p>
<p>@supercilious,</p>
<p>You don’t have to do school sponsored ECs. Follow your heart and what gets keeps your interest. My own DD did very few school sponsored ECs, danced to her own drum. She was always fascinated with marine life so what did she do when she was old enough? She became an aquarium docent. She is an avid reader, she became a literacy volunteer. You enjoy science, is there a science center in your area where you can volunteer? Not only will you be learning some great skills, you will be teaching others. You don’t have to follow your classmates just for the sake of college apps. Do what feels great! You won’t go wrong.</p>
<p>
Extracurriculars are important because top colleges can’t accept all their applicants with high grades and test scores, and they need a way to differentiate among them. You can look at a college’s Common Data Set to see how much they care about ECs relative to everything else.
Low-level participation isn’t especially useful for getting into highly selective colleges.
No. Colleges want to see focus, dedication, accomplishment, and leadership (if possible) in whatever activities you’ve done, regardless of whether they were sponsored by your school. </p>
<p>From a Yale admissions officer ([source](<a href=“Q. and A.: College Admissions - The New York Times):”>Q. and A.: College Admissions - The New York Times)):</a></p>
<p>“The thing we are looking for outside the classroom is not a series of check boxes on a resume; we’re looking instead for a high level of engagement or leadership in whatever it is that the student cares about most. For some students, community service is at the forefront of their extracurriculars, in which case we pay a lot of attention to what they have accomplished in that area. For other students, some other passion or interest holds primary sway, and we evaluate the engagement in that area. We know that very few students can fully engage more than one or two primary activities at a high level. Though it is fine for a student to have varied interests, a significant number of students make the common mistake of spreading themselves too thinly in a resume-building exercise.” </p>
<p>@halcyonheather This is an honest question: how would a college classify participation in an extra-curricular activity as low-leveled or high-leveled? I mean, I participate in quite a few extra-curricular activities, and I’m pretty involved in most of them. Could it look as if I’m just in it to beef up my application? In my situation, I’m the president of two clubs, and the secretary of the Junior Class, so I think that’d help. But is there a way for them to classify participation if a person doesn’t hold any positions? </p>
<p>@ awakeningvenus</p>
<p>I think they classify low level vs high level not by if you have a position in the club or not, but what you have accomplished. Just because you are in science olympiad doesn’t mean much, but it would look a lot better if you scored gold in one of your events in science olympiad, helped other people in the club with their events, were in the club all 4 years of highs school, and you helped coach a middle school science olympiad team. You need dedication, leadership(does not have to be a position ex. tutoring), and achievment(awards)</p>
<p>
You can list up to ten ECs on the Common App, and in addition to listing them you have to add a description for each one. You should use this space to describe the level of your participation/involvement. If a club is really important to you, you could also consider whether it would work as a topic for one of your essays.</p>