How important are extracurricular activities in the admissions process?

Applying to College
1

<p>How important are they really?</p>

<p>My ECs are:</p>

<p>Part of National Honor Society, French Honor Society, Science Honor Society
Member of Key Club and French Club
Varsity Cross Country team/possibly varsity ice hockey this year
Student Tutor volunteer
Work as a camp counselor for 4 summers
Have been playing recreation baseball for 10+ years and won Sportsmanship Award</p>

<p>Are these ECs considered average, above average, or below average?</p>

2

<p>ECs are only important if you are aiming at a highly selective school. If you’re not, then don’t sweat it. </p>

<p>Assuming that you are an ivy-wannabee, then your ECs are fine, because they are your ECs. You should only do what you want to do, not what you think some nameless AdCom wants you to do. </p>

<p>If the AdCom decides your ECs are not good enough, or deep enough, and turns you down or puts you on a waitlist -then good for you, because you don’t want to go there. You want to go where they appreciate what you have done.</p>

<p>Good Luck.</p>

3

<p>I’d say average EC’s.</p>

4

<p>At most schools, ECs are not considered or are only an incidental factor. Yours are more than fine for that. If you’re considering very competitive colleges that care a lot about ECs, what you have is “member of this, participant in that”. Not something that stands out or even really hits the bar of what many applicants bring.</p>

<p>The question about impressive EC’s comes up regularly on the forum. There is a thread with several posts by Northstarmom, a Ivy alum interviewer, about what constitutes impressive ECs from the point of view of the most selective colleges. The post is at <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/210497-those-ecs-weak-so-what-s-good.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/210497-those-ecs-weak-so-what-s-good.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>As you will see from that link, at the most selective colleges they are looking for depth more than just participation. Stanford, for example, says

</p>

5

<p>Are you checking boxes or passionate about your EC’s? Are they for your benefit or serving others?? It will matter on College Apps. and outside ( Community or School )
Scholarships. College Scholarships? Depends on the school.</p>