How important are ECs for very top colleges

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>So I want to apply to top colleges next year, and I have a lot of awards that show my passion for the few activites that I do.</p>

<p>However, I dont have A LOT (as in quantity) of ECs. Most of my ECs are very focused (research this summer, math club...), and I only have a few "hobby" ECs (tennis, volunteering...)-lets just say that I wont be attaching a resume like most applicants. I only have a few activities compared to other people because I want to focus on activities that will benefit me for my future, as I want to go do something in math. Thus, I didnt sign up for all these academic clubs, speech teams, student governemnt (which all you have to do is sign up for) because I dont think I would be fully dedicated to those activities and didnt want to take something away from somone else that is.</p>

<p>The reason I am asking this is because I am a junior and we had this convo thing today in which some seniors that were selected to top colleges stressed that having a lot of ECs is very good. Also, pretty much every other junior in my grade that wants to go to a top college has like 20 different ECs, as most of them just sign up for a club and never really do anything for it. For example, to get volunteering hours for key club, a lot of the juniors just made up a story on how they babysat their little brother or sister and got 5 hours for it..and asking them, most of them said they just did those activities for college. However, the point is is that they still have 20 ECs and can write them all down without techincally lying about them (and the ECs are very diverse)</p>

<p>So I am kinda worried...none of those other juniors are as focused as I am, and they surely dont have the awards/quality of ECs that I do (since most of them dont really care). However, it seems to me that, when reading some college acceptance threads, most of the people that get accepted have like 15 different activites and attach a resume. Will my chances be greatly hurt if I only have like 6-7 activites, if they are very focused and go along with my awards? Anyone get in with only a limited amount of activities? How important are ECs? I know that you will say that the other juniors are just doing it for colleges, but I am positive collegs cannot distinguish between a legitimate activity and one thats just for colleges. Im sorry, but I didnt exactly visit this website when I was like in 8th grade trying to plan out what to do in high school to get into a good college...every activity that I did I did because I thought it would help me for the rest of my life...but that seems like now its gonna hurt me for college apps...as it seems like everyone else in my school is doing the exact opposite. Which would you choose</p>

<p>Person A: 15 activities that actually take up time with 5 leadership roles in clubs/4.0 GPA/2350 SAT/some state awards/10 AP 5s
Person B: 5 activities/2 leadership roles/3.8 GPA/2200 SAT/USAMO/Siemens Semifinalist/5 AP tests, not all 5s</p>

<p>(basically if you are wondering, if I happen to get lucky this summer and win something in Siemens, I am person B)</p>

<p>Im just wondering because I think I might already be down in terms of top college chances.</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

2

<p>The numbers don’t matter, it’s the quality and work you put into it. You’ll see alot of kids here with multiple ECs…they may or may not get into a top school. Otherwise, someone who has a “focus” (say, volunteers at a hospital, interns with a physician, president of a medical club), or focus on one EC may or may not also get into a top school. ECs are important, but you definetly don’t want to be a resume stacker and do things for the sake of being a resume whore. You are fine with 1 EC, nonetheless 6 or 7, and even if quantity were the key, would you sacrifice time and effort (albeit minimal) to get into a more prestigious college? Get leadership if you like the club/activity, try to innovate it, and compete and do the best you can.</p>

<p>As for kids in your school, it’s not really common knowledge that a focus/concentration is better than a quantity. Who knows how many kids in your school will get into a top school, but at the very least you’ll know what you did was worth it for you.</p>

<p>And then kids who actually do well in their ECs have some kind of recognition, a portfolio to show, a recommendation, an award of some kind, research, a well written essay on it, etc. Kids who do it just because don’t have that possibility.</p>

3

<p>I would try to raise my SAT (not necessary, but a 2300 would really be great). And if you get an award at Siemens that would look really impressive. The low number of APs seems a little iffy to me though. Were you taking the most challenging courses offered? However, if you can get great recs and write an awesome essay you have a very good chance at top colleges. You posed a great question, if I were an admissions officer I would be absolutely torn between person A and person B because they both have nice achievements. But if you can communicate to them your passion for science/math, I’m sure you could outshine person A.</p>

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<p>Oh yea and another thing…all those guys at my school are getting leadership positions just for colleges too (sorry i dont mean to just criticize all of them…but there are a few people especially like that since thats all they talk about is how to get to a good college)…I dont think colleges will actually research what they exactly do with those leadership positions (which is nothing)…as someone from my school got in and did absolutely nothing for a club even though he was president.</p>

<p>So thats also kinda another problem: you say you can show it through essays and stuff…a person that was president can just bs his entire essay…afterall he was still the president and even though he did nothing, he can claim what presidents do.</p>

5

<p>HAHAHA. That’s so totally true. I know many club presidents who are just doing it for the sake of padding their college resumes. But don’t worry, just make sure your essay can relay your passion. (btw, do you hold any leadership positions?) College admissions are random, one person might like person A better, and the other might like person B. It all depends on luck and person A’s ability to pass off BS as the “real deal”.</p>

6

<p>yea hopefully math club president next year…im the only person to get double digits on the AIME at my school’s history so I guess that counts for something.</p>

<p>And yea Im retaking the SAT in June…</p>

<p>Oh and I got rejected from RSI so I know how tough it is to apply and how college admissions are very random (someone at my school got in with no awards and really no great ECs and leadership positions, but I am sure that she showed her passion better in her essay and deserved to get in based on personality and motivation)</p>

7

<p>The kid who just became '10 senior class president this morning said that one of his campaign slogans should have been “Help me get into Georgetown.”</p>

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<p>HAHAHA lockn that’s hilarious.</p>

<p>I think that the fact that you got into USAMO is already super impressive. Siemens would also really help since there seems to be a lack of science credentials (unless you won some local and state science fairs and just didn’t put it up). And yea…RSI is super tough dude. Some say that it’s even harder than college admissions. I can’t even dream of attending RSI…
Good luck on your SATs!! You’ll do great!</p>

9

<p>There are only 5 or 6 lines for ecs on the common app. It’s about quality, not quantity. A seimens semifinalist would be strong. With research you have the start of a good story. It’s all about how you tie it together and present it.</p>

<p>I’d agree that I would try to raise the 2200 if you’re talking very to schools, it’s low for HYPS and just median for mid tier ivies. Your chances go up alot when you pass 2300.</p>

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<p>USAMO is better than belonging to tons of school clubs, especially if you communicate your passion for Math. What would be a nice EC to have is to branch out from Math into other Olympiad systems, even if it is just the lower levels it would be great to say that you’ve gotten some kind of Olympiad-track recognition in several different subjects, if you are math oriented I would recomend Physics although Chemistry is also very accessable.</p>

11

<p>USAMO definitely puts you far ahead of Person A, good luck!</p>