How important are extracurriculars,really?

Applying to College
1

<p>I tried searching for this, but I feel like every thread gave a different answer...</p>

<p>Alright, so I'm going to be a senior in high school this fall, and I'm starting to get really into the whole college search-and-admissions thing. I get straight A's and take reasonably challenging courses (A couple of honors and AP, but my schedule isn't full of them). I haven't taken the SATs, and I got a composite of 28 on the ACTs. So, basically, I consider myself a normal student...not brilliant or anything, but ok.
The problem is, I really have no extracurriculars. I have hobbies, of course, but...yeah, that's it. I can't even find a job. It's been partially out of my control; I was homeschooled until 10th grade, and have moved since then. The school I currently attend really doesn't have any clubs at all--everything's related to a class (acting, ROTC, band, etc.). I WAS in mock trial sophomore year, but moved before the competitions started....lol,sigh. I've done some volunteering, nothing special.
So, basically, how much does that hurt my chances for colleges? Are extracurriculars so,so important? I'm not trying to attend any Ivy league colleges...my preliminary choices are Cabrini, Marymount Uni, Elizabethtown, De Sales, Mount Saint Mary's,and Uni of Scranton...places like that.</p>

<p>This is kind of a half-ramble/rant. Sorry. :) But any help or advice would be grrrrreat...</p>

2

<p>Not to worry. With the list you have there, with your grades and scores, you will be fine. Depending on what hobbies you have, you could expand a little on that and perhaps emphasize your volunteering.</p>

3

<p>You can check for yourself how important ECs are for each college. Google the college’s common data set and look in section C7. Here is Cabrini’s last published set. <a href=“http://app1.cabrini.edu/iroa/Common%20Data%20Set%202009.pdf[/url]”>http://app1.cabrini.edu/iroa/Common%20Data%20Set%202009.pdf&lt;/a&gt; You can see the dominant things considered are GPA and SATs and ECs are only considered.</p>

4

<p>Thanks to you both! That makes me feel better…I think what gets me worried is when I look at these forums or google around, I see a lot of people who are trying to get into top colleges with a massive list of ECs, so I compare myself…
Erin’s Dad, I had no idea about common data sets!:stuck_out_tongue: I’ll definitely be using that.</p>

5

<p>Public schools, especially, are going to be mostly if not exclusively focused on the numbers – GPA & test scores. Depends on the school, however. Less competitive schools, esp. LACs, tend to look more holistically, but at those schools your GPA is likely to overcome minimal ECs.</p>

<p>You are bright and high achieving. You have many options. Focus on academic, social, and financial fit.</p>