How much does it hurt to have NO extracurriculars

<p>Have your guidance counselor explain it in your school report.</p>

<p>"Most state schools (except top ones like Berk, UCLA, UVA, U Mich) put little emphasis on ECs."</p>

<p>Umich places more than "little emphasis" on ECs, according to the head admissions officer.</p>

<p>I love how video games and TV shows are exclusively getting thrown out as "waste of time, trashy" kinds of stuff that's the only thing that shouldn't be inclusive on a list of EC's and something "productive".</p>

<p>Random_girl - perhaps it's something that can evolve into a great essay. For example, if you had several hours commute to get to a particular school you could explain why it was worth it (or not) or interesting things you saw or thought about on your commute. If you had to care for a family member you'll have lots of fuel for an essay on obligations or relationships. If you were doing jail time or required community service you could write a compare/contrast of people around you. If you melted your brain watching tv, you could analyze the market focus of different tv shows and whether you think the commercials caught their niche. </p>

<p>OP - from your screen name it sounds like you follow sports. As others point out ec does not = organized school or group activity its whatever you did that wasn't in direct response to schoolwork.</p>

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<p>Haha :) </p>

<p>not whoring out for college applications isn't the same thing as having no life.</p>

<p>I'm not saying it's bad or good to have tons of ECs...just find it amusing that you'd equate a lack of them with "having no life."</p>

<p>I know that ec's matter because my cousin, who had a 2380 on the SAT, 800 on Chem, 770 on Literature and a 770 on Math II and 7 AP's taken already with all 5's with the exception of one 4 but had absolutely no ec's was rejected from every single Ivy league and schools of similar calibur. We were all stunned when she received all the rejection letters. So I guess it just goes so show that grades aren't everything. Thank goodness I have ec's</p>

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<p>Are they productive? At any rate, I was just describing how they are perceived by admissions people.</p>

<p>You could argue that. i mean, how is playing basketball or football productive?</p>

<p>Very few high school students are doing anything really productive. What is important is that you improving yourself and your own skills. Awards, titles, and clubs are open to all and don't really set you apart. True resourcefulness is what makes an application shine, and it doesn't necessarily come from categorized, defined 'extracurricular activities.'</p>

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Are they productive? At any rate, I was just describing how they are perceived by admissions people.

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I wasn't blaming you or accusing you of anything, but what would I expect again other than the entertainment category dismissed as mere unproductive hogwash by 90% of the people on this website...</p>

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<p>If you don't have a leadership position and did it for only one year, it screams "scrambling to look good or put something down." No one on the admission committees like that.</p>

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<p>This will hopefully be validated in mid-December.</p>

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<p>Coming from someone who plays a lot of videogames, I can attest that other than as a stress reliever they really don't accomplish much, unless you are playing very complex strategy games (Civilization, for example), in which the thinking required is productive in exercising your mind. And many people act as if it is unproductive hogwash because they are thinking like the admission committees are, and speaking from this viewpoint.</p>

<p>PKWsurf21 said:
"I know that ec's matter because my cousin, who had a 2380 on the SAT, 800 on Chem, 770 on Literature and a 770 on Math II and 7 AP's taken already with all 5's with the exception of one 4 but had absolutely no ec's was rejected from every single Ivy league and schools of similar calibur. We were all stunned when she received all the rejection letters. So I guess it just goes so show that grades aren't everything. Thank goodness I have ec's"
They way admissions are, your cousin might have been rejected with the same stats and a couple of EC's...you really don't know. Many "over acheivers" on this site had the same result.
I also think that you should have SOMETHING, maybe not what you would think of an EC, but something you do beyond school. When people say they can't understand not having any, there are reasons. Some students are depressed or dealing with other things they would rather not mention. More practical reasons are not having transportation for after-school activities (my children can only stay on Wed/Friday because of rides and that is difficult) others can't work or volunteer for the same reason. I do believe you should state honestly though any reasons for not pursuing something you desire and how you hope to do it in college.
Sometimes you can work things out, get rides for babysitting, my daughter has some editing sent to her at home for newspaper, etc. but you have to be pro-active.</p>

<p>Actually, they say video games are good training for surgeons so anyone who aspires to med school this is a good ec -- ironic right?</p>

<p>A lot of state schools (and private) will admit kids with high grades and test scores and without looking at anything else. Some consider the app complete with only transcript and test scores and will make a decision right away without waiting for activity resumes or teacher recs or essays.</p>

<p>And some kids without a lot of "ECs" might be spending their time pursuing core academics at a higher level, like reading the Odyssey in the original Greek or trying to pursue mathematical proofs no one ever has before...hopefully that shows up on their teacher recs.</p>

<p>There are schools that do not look at more than test scores and transcripts. If you make the break points, you are in. </p>

<p>Muffy has a good point in her post. There are kids who have unusual ECs in that they do not translate well unless you see what they do. I knew a young lady who did water colors and read all of the time. It was her passion. She did get into a number of highly selective schools. There are video games that take things to a level where it can be viewed as a achievement. If you are just a slacker who likes to while away the time and just do what you need to get your grades and tests scores, if those numbers are high enough, you will find schools willing to take you. There are plenty of non select schools. You just have diminished your chances on the most selective schools and those schools who do scrutinize the applications and look carefully at activities.</p>

<p>I'm applying to some competitive private schools and I have work experience and ECs, but no volunteer work which I know is important. This is worrisome.</p>

<p>I only had two or three ECs.
I think that was what hurt me the most in college admissions.
Most people at top schools aren't the smartest but rather the go-getters.
Take a look at my Stats Profile for more information.</p>

<p>So would selective private schools actually like to see "weightlifting - 5 hrs/week" on my application or would they see it as just filler? I did lots of volunteering but I'm seriously thin on school-related clubs. I just don't want them to think I'm desperate (which I'm not), but I don't want to omit an activitiy which they could potentially like.</p>

<p>VAzimi--Unless you were competitive, I don't think they would. It's possible you could turn weightlifting into an interesting essay, but it's not really the kind of EC they are looking for, I don't think.</p>

<p>Really Weskid? I mean, I am a member of a club that is involved with weight lifting... I work out 4 hours a week and have for four years. This is not a filler thing, it's a part of who I am. Would they just toss it off and consider it something lame or not significant?</p>