<p>I'm a very conservative person, not that Hillsdale would base it off of that anyways. I have a GPA of about 3.5, and this year and next year half of the classes I've/will take will be honors or AP. I go to the best school (test scores wise) in my state, and I'm in the top 20% of my class. The only problem is that I currently have no extra-curricular activities, I plan on getting a job this summer among other things but I'm afraid it'll be a little too late and not enough. </p>
<p>I realize you're not admissions so you won't know exactly, but from you best guesstimate what do you think the odds are?</p>
<p>Hillsdale would take into account your philosophical and political stances. Thats why they prefer to have interviews with applicants. What are your test scores? If they are anything within the median 50% of Hillsdale (1900s average i think) and you dont grossly blunder in your essays or something of that nature, you should be in.</p>
<p>I disagree that Hillsdale takes into account “political stances.” And I believe that EC’s are very important. If anything, the interview is to learn more about the applicant, not to assess their political views.</p>
<p>One can tell a good deal about political and philosophical stances after an interview. They are trying to make sure that an applicant “fits” into the college’s philosophy. At least thats what I was told during my interview.
EC’s are important. However, you dont have to volunteer 60 hours a week at a homeless shelter to fulfill the requirement. It depends on how you approach them. If written properly, I am sure an essay about your job can do it, too.</p>
<p>I also disagree with political stances being a consideration. I think it can certainly come up in an interview, but I suspect it’s the excited interviewee who injects it into an answer (e.g. “Why do you want to come to Hillsdale?”) rather than the admissions counselor fishing for it. </p>
<p>Hillsdale’s philosophy is also not easily divided along political lines. The pursuit of objective truth is, I submit, far above politics. </p>
<p>Lewis: I think your academic stats are fine, but it’s definitely time to branch out. What have you been doing for three years? Studying and playing World of Warcraft? College is as much about social development and extracurricular activity as it is studying. Admissions does consider it a big red flag if they think you’re going to spend all of your time outside of class cooped up in your dorm room. I recommend trying a no-cut sport, some reasonably unique organization, a church group or the like.</p>
<p>You guys are making me refine my points thats good.</p>
<p>Look, I am not saying that if you are pro- Democrat than you will certainly be rejected. Quite contrary, you can see a couple threads below this one that its not the case. However, and here is what I mean when I say political stance, if you have read the college’s mission statement and find it appealing to yourself and resonating with your views on life, then you are most likely (notice, not all inclusive ) to be libertarian or conservative.</p>
<p>Lewis, you wont be asked “Who did you support in last election” during interview. But you will be asked “Why did you choose Hillsdale?” You can incorporate your “conservatism” there, however, you certainly dont have to.</p>
<p>I’ll have done at least 80 hours of service by the time I graduate but our school makes us do that. I don’t know if that’d make any difference. I’ve also done things sporadically throughout high school, but I haven’t stuck with an activity and I’m not in any now.</p>
<p>Lewis, you can still list the things you’ve done sporadically. As long as you demonstrate that you are outgoing, I don’t think specific extracurricular activities / long-term commitment to them are that important unless you’re a student athlete gunning for an athletic scholarship. </p>
<p>You’ll be fine-- good luck with your apps in the fall!</p>
<p>Hillsdale will be more impressed by your understanding and support of its mission statement than your political leanings.</p>
<p>You really need to get some decent ECs. Frankly, 80 hours over the course of 4 years, or even one year, of high school doesn’t especially impress me. Sports? Jobs? Where is your passion? Do you walk dogs after school? Are you a champion knitter? Hillsdale is becoming MUCH more competitive that it has been in the past. Find your passion and grow it!</p>
<p>Hillsdale is full of brilliant, passionate students. The “philosophical” leaning they would be looking for is not political, but rather a real passion for obtaining a true liberal arts education.</p>
<p>^ Insightful and helpful article, but are those numbers correct - 960 students accepted last year. I thought they only had about 1400 students total, what I am missing? This also helps to explain why they are pushing for overnight visits and they wanted D (a junior) to interview. I thought it would be better for her to interview on a second/follow-up visit but it is too late in the school year for a visit anyway - something to look forward to in Sept.</p>
<p>Those numbers could be correct, because not everyone accepted goes to Hillsdale. Like I’m applying to more colleges than just Hillsdale and if I get accepted into Hillsdale then I’ll go there instead of any other colleges that I get accepted into. Other websites I’ve seen have said about the same statistics.</p>
<p>Here is a question for the OP: what have you been doing with yourself for the past 2-1/2 years?? LIterally, you have NO ECs?? You joined no club, had no job, played no sport, didn’t branch out in your church or community? </p>
<p>After reflection, I am wondering what you would bring to any college? Do you have a passion for anything? You say you have political “leanings.” Did you ever campaign for a cuase or a candidate? </p>
<p>I think the fact that you haven’t participated in anything other than what your school mandated is bad sign. Why don’t you have any ECs? </p>
<p>And by saying you figure you’ll have a job this summer, since you have no ECs, why didn’t you have a job for the entire school year? </p>
<p>I think that these questions raise red flags and they will definitely come up in an interview.</p>
<p>Fencersmother: You want to know why I didn’t do EC’s? First of all I’m not some conformist pig like you very angrily seem to expect me to be. I can pretend like being in SAB/Basketball/Football/Any-other-meaningless-activity makes me or my life any more valuable or purposeful but it doesn’t. It’s superficial and superfluous in the grand scheme of things except for entering college. If a person’s value to you or a college comes from activities then I think you/they need to double check what’s important to you/them. Second of all, I suffered with severe self-esteem issues and social anxiety for the first 2-3 years of high school so sure I could have participated in a sport. I would have felt extremely humiliated if I didn’t play much or score much which would have only made me even more shy around my classmates since I’d feel guilty after every single mistake. I never would have had the guts to run for an office because of those issues I had.
The only thing that adds value to a human life is Christian behavior. At the beginning of High School I wasn’t very Christian either so why would I become involved? I had to evolve first. Besides that I’m forced to go to a church that only has kids from another school district which would have only worsened my social anxiety while around them since they already had cliques and I knew none of them.</p>
<p>So before you go around portraying my value as a student or a person as completely meaningless due to your irrational and conformist standards maybe you should be a little more open minded and get the story behind the person before you judge him or her. I have not indicated in any way that I participate in any nefarious or dark activities-not even parking or speeding tickets, I’m at the top of my class, and now that I have overcome those issues I am becoming involved. Why would you be so harsh to me?</p>
<p>Lewis, I answer as a friend: I advise you to work on growing a thicker skin. You may have overcome burdens in the past, but your post is an overreaction. I understand how fencersmom’s comments can be construed as abrasive, but even in the worst possible light she’s being no tougher than, well, college admissions counselors (specifically, Hillsdale College admissions counselors). And if you think they’re tough, wait until job interviews, especially if Obamanomics keeps on its merry path. </p>
<p>You’d do well to explain your history to your admissions counselor, but you will have to work on telling it objectively. The way you tell it here, complete with the word “suffer”… dude, it’s not like you beat cancer and lost your parents in a car accident. Low self-esteem? Severely low self-esteem? Most adults call that puberty. I’m not here to chide you, but if you think the world is going to walk on eggshells and make you feel special when you can’t offer up what you are contributing (aside from “nonconformity,” a value you will seldom hear about outside of high school) , you’re dreaming.</p>
<p>I did not read judgement in Fencersmother comment. I read it as a question -"how do you spend your non-study time’? This is what will need to be answered in interviews, either job or college. The typical activities can include sports or church groups, so fencersmother was listing some to help Hillsdalelewis think along those lines. Applicants may overlook some EC’s when completing their applications.
There are many fine ECs that can be listed that do not include group activites, that are not meaningless and would not contribute to “self-esteem” issues. I know students who became involved with advanced horse training, sent birthday cards to missionary kids living overseas, sent cards to military personnel, translate bios from South America for children in sponsorship programs, wrote book reviews, selected books for the church library… There are many more activites that are NOT superficial and that serve to take our minds off ourselves while serving others inside and outside the community. While these may not be typical, I have to believe they would be better than listing nothing on an application. I did not list these to say anyone is terrible if they don’t participate in these activities, but to help the non-sports student to think outside the box for EC’s and to help them realize that some activities they may already be involved with are important enough to include on applications. These activities give life to an applicant and can be used a conversation starters.</p>
<p>dalealumus: This whole culture is total superficial conformist bull crap, and not just adults who are far better than the sleazy phonies I have to deal with on a day-to-day basis. I’m not going to college to contribute anything, if I had that mentality I’d be a liberal and there’s no way I’d be going to Hillsdale. I’m going for my own personal education.</p>
<p>Once again there’s the not knowing me coming in to play. I was so severely shy and had such low self-esteem I couldn’t talk to people my own age very well. I’d become radically nervous and would lose the ability to think of what to say. haha “World walking on eggs shells”, ya right. You really have to overcome the idea that in order to be confrontational to an insult like Fencersmom gave to me you have to actually be insulted. Do you not understand non-conformity? I don’t want the world to make me feel special, the world started off in the dumps and is only going to Hell. If the world approved of me it would be a bad sign. I’m not the emo or hippy type of non-conformist, or any other type. I formed my ideology, theology, etc on my own and disagree with everyone around me on it. The goal in my reply wasn’t to express a feeling that I am entitled to being treated sensitively. I’m actually great at destroying people’s self-confidence and reputations while being honest-Not that I do(I don’t!), but back when I used to hate my sister…-I’m not some fragile child and I don’t view myself as one. If anything I view myself as one of the few thinkers rebelling against a country and a world of completely irrationality and idiocy. My goal in life is to change the entire structure.</p>
<p>I already have a job, of course not a real job. Interviews don’t intimidate me, I can be pretty appealing to adults because I give off an honest-vibe and I’m pretty good at twisting little things into bigger things.</p>
<p>Homeschoolingmom: Thanks, you sound very nice and caring. In all respect, I still don’t view any of those activities even listed as meaningful. I can do them since I realize their importance in making it into college, even though that’s a little like prostituting who I am for college. I’m not terribly shy any more, I’ve joined a Pentecostal youth group (ugh… Pentecostalism sucks, it’s sort of crazy). I have some various things to list, and I’m going to join clubs at my school. Thanks HomeschoolingMom!</p>
<p>I wasn’t attacking, though it may have come off like that and I do apologize for the harsh tone. Not intended. (Perhaps I need a writing course or two at HC)</p>
<p>I was just trying to point out some questions which might be asked by an Admissions counselor. </p>
<p>No judging. Just letting you know that like every other college, Hillsdale will ask these questions of you and will expect well-thought-out answers. How else can a college or an employer or anyone who must choose make the choice without a “resume”? Just be prepared!</p>
<p>But, one other thing: extra curriculars are important to college admissions, and sometimes they are indeed hooey. But, truly, those things for which we have passions - religious/political/community activities, hobbies, sports, whatever - are items which can distinguish us. Our personalities shine through when we devote our free time, that time which is all ours to spend, on something we love. </p>
<p>OP: maybe you haven’t yet found something you LOVE. Maybe you have lead a bible class for five years! Maybe you know every kind of personal watercraft ever made… whatever that passion is, your college admissions people will want to know about it!</p>
thats good.</p>
) to be libertarian or conservative.</p>