On average, how many EC’s is a good number to stand out? I already do a sport. What else can or should I do?
What may help you stand out more is how impressive your achievement is in an EC. For example, what is more impressive, someone who joins 10 clubs, or someone who wins a state or national championship in something? And if the something is a sport that is recruited by colleges for their sports teams, that can be a boost way beyond what high EC achievement would normally give, if you are interested in the colleges doing the recruiting.
Quality vs Quantity for EC’s.
Numbers don’t matter if all you do is be present only. Count the one you’re dedicated to and where your achievements are.
If you’re thinking engineering, math-sci activities will be critical. I you’re thinking tippy top colleges, it’s depth and breadth. Take on some challenges, try new things. Get out of the easy hs comfort zone. Just being dedicated to one or two won’t show them what they want to see. Nor do you need major awards. Read up on what your possible targets look for. They’re the ones to learn from.
How good are you at that sport?
You only need one more activity (2, total) but they need to be high level: all-state athlete or singer, DECA national winner, etc.
Check out “How to be a High School Superstar” by Cal Newport.
“The basic message of the book is this: Don’t wear yourself out taking as many classes as you can and being involved in every club and sport. Instead, leave yourself enough free time to explore your interests. Cultivate one interest and make it into something special that will make you stand out among the other applicants and get you into the toughest schools, even if your grades and scores aren’t stellar. Newport calls this the “relaxed superstar approach,” and he shows you how to really do this, breaking the process down into three principles, explained and illustrated with real life examples of students who got into top schools: (1) underscheduling—making sure you have copious amounts of free time to pursue interesting things, (2) focusing on one or two pursuits instead of trying to be a “jack of all trades,” and (3) innovation—developing an interesting and important activity or project in your area of interest. This fruit yielded by this strategy, an interesting life and real, meaningful achievements, is sure to help not only with college admissions, but getting a job, starting a business, or whatever your goals.”
http://www.examiner.com/review/be-a-relaxed-high-school-superstar