<p>AlexE: That's different. That shows dedication and teamwork; just saying "Uh, I work out sometimes" is completely different.</p>
<p>I consider myself a slacker, but instead of video games I follow politics. Obsessively, since fifth grade. Problem is, I haven't actually done much of anything. Is that worth anything to colleges, and if so what would I say?</p>
<p>Also, my TV-watching isn't exactly casual. I analyze the philosophical and political implications of storylines and the marketing. I followed the WGA strike last year as obsessively as I follow politics.</p>
<p>Problem is, these aren't really "activities" or productive. I have few "real ECs" I can put down (clubs, volunteering, job) and I didn't spend much time on any of them. So my question is: would colleges care?</p>
<p>I think you can pretty much back up any activity with an awesome essay.</p>
<p>Yeah, mike has it spot on. If you love it that much, you will be able to communicate that through an exciting/great essay.</p>
<p>Schools look at the whole picture, meaning you have to show a strong curriculum at school, but care enugh about others to spend a little time, even if not much volunteering in the cause of your choice. Whatever you do with enthusiasm, it will be enough.</p>
<p>video games can be more productive and enriching than a ton of bs activities. Video games are a booming industry and some video games can improve your strategic or mathematical skills.</p>
<p>You get 1 essay, 1 EC rec letter, and the space to explain a EC. Lets say you dont use an essay for EC, you still have two opportunities to legitimize and emblazon your pursuits. For the politics guy, you may use the EC common app spot for that. For the guy doing intense math stuff, rec letter. For someone who has taken the time to learn 15 instruments, but plays none of them well enough for recognition, music teacher letter.</p>
<p>so lets say im that kid who learned a bunch of instruments but only one thats semi recognition worthy and even that not exceptional level. Ive played in every band in the school and my own band outside of school. ive done a few community service things through clubs such as going to do short lessons in the elementary school with spanish club, etc, but that wouldnt be the bulk of my ecs. ive been in several honor programs science nhs, spanish nhs, trim music honor society. ive taught myself the first half of my calc book to self prep for the bc test since my school only offers ab, and im self teaching myself physics c. for fun i like to read websites and books about pure math and theoretical physics. im president of science nhs and of marching band and ive composed songs for my own band, and am currently arranging songs for my marching band. i designed my own independent study in physics curriculum for my own class to re create famous experiments (right now were working on the photoelectric effect) and examine the ways which they affected the world and their historical setting. what of that actually matters enough to mention on an application?</p>
<p>Who would you accept?</p>
<p>A person can make straight A's while playing a sport, volunteering, and playing an instrument,</p>
<p>or</p>
<p>A person with straight A's who just studies?</p>
<p>TBAlalay, all you wrote is extremely relevant and I would mention it all!
Good Luck!</p>
<p>I think it really depends on where you decide to apply. These days, a lot of schools do care. They want well-rounded students. Not just someone who only had an amaznig GPA and test scores, and definitely not somone who only had a bunch of EC's. I'm pretty sure you'll remember something.</p>
<p>To spostaby, the student who watched politics obsessively, I'd suggest turning your opinions into EC's by writing letters to the editor of your local paper. Having one or two published would help support the quality of what you do. You should also think about volunteering for the election - it would be work on the level of handing out flyers, but, again, it would validate how serious you are about politics.</p>
<p>"AlexE: That's different. That shows dedication and teamwork; just saying "Uh, I work out sometimes" is completely different."</p>
<p>I don't just "uh work out sometimes". I've been lifting seriously for half a year now and I've put on twenty pounds...I spend five hours a week at the gym. Is this something I should think about putting on the JHU app?</p>
<p>spostaby, are there no politics clubs at your school? I follow politics obsessively as well...I actually love watching the news. I spend way too many hours watching CNN. I finally acted on it and joined a politics club at my school. I even got a leadership position out of it; there was nobody representing a third-party candidate before I joined, so I took the spot. It's close to election time so I'm sure there's something out there you can join and get involved in.</p>
<p>Why are ECs important?</p>
<ol>
<li> They indicate your outside interests--what you are most enthusiastic about. </li>
<li> They show your ability level with regard to these outside interests.</li>
<li> They reveal other aspects of you and strengths you have.</li>
<li> They show dedication to things that are not required.</li>
<li> They give an idea of what type of contribution you might make to the campus community if accepted.</li>
<li> They give a more complete picture of who you are.</li>
</ol>
<p>I am sure that others can come up with some other thoughts on this. But the point is not to attempt to impress the admissions committee with a bunch of meaningless things as though it is a resume, but to use the EC section and the application in general to tell your story so that they know significant things about you and what's important to you. </p>
<p>If, as one poster discussed, your passion is politics, then you need to look at the application and decide how to let the admissions folks know how important this is to you. They only know what you tell them. Maybe the place will be in an essay, maybe it will be under what you did last summer--or both--but you need to plug who you are into the application and make it your own voice. I am not an admissions person, but it seems to me that every one of them I've heard speak practically begs students to stop trying to second guess them and just tell them who you really are.</p>
<p>If your someone who's at the top of your class, but dosent hav much ECs, then I truly think it's a waste to end up at a typical state school just because you dont think you have some sort of leadership position or whatever that will make you stand out.
Why not apply to a top Canadian or British school. Ofcourse, McGill, Oxford, Cambridge and UCL all consider extracurriculars at the application process, but the main factor is academics. For Oxford tho, they emphasize that you demonstrate passion in your area of study.</p>
<p>
<p>or</p>
<p>A person with straight A's who just studies?
</p>
<p>This seems like an easy question BUT I would want to know what their SAT scores are first and what their course-loads were like. If both had similar SATs and courseloads, then I would except the guy with the EC's without a doubt. However, if the guy who just studies has much higher SATs (I'm not talking 10-20 point difference, think 100 or even 200) and a stronger courseload- I might consider taking him instead.</p>
<p>oh I just rembered this quite obvious choice
Take a year off, following senior year to do something other applicants may not have done. Travel around africa saving the poor or start up your own company. By Jan, after 6 months of an outstanding experience, you should be able to write an exemplary application essay. Your application may look even better than the typical applicant who is the head of 3 clubs.</p>
<p>can you just leave all the common app ec stuff blank and just send a resume in because i already made a resume and dont feel like doing the common add page for ec?</p>
<p>I think it says to fill in that page even if you do attach a resume.</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
Why not apply to a top Canadian or British school. Ofcourse, McGill, Oxford, Cambridge and UCL all consider extracurriculars at the application process, but the main factor is academics. For Oxford tho, they emphasize that you demonstrate passion in your area of study.
[/QUOTE]
</p>
<p>Actually, in the UK they don't considers ECs at all in any way. For example, see Oxford uni FAQ section linked below</p>
<p>Frequently</a> Asked Questions - University of Oxford</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
*How important are extra-curricular activities in making an application. *
Extra-curricular activities will not form part of the selection process. Tutors select candidates based on their academic achievements and potential.
[/QUOTE]
</p>
<p>ECs are totally irrelevant to any applications to a UK school unless the EC relates directly to your course of study (you have to choose a subject, effrectievly a major, when you apply and no switching) eg You would like to study English and have acted in a Shakespeare play. That you could maybe mention.</p>
<p>hey
i dont believe that colleges are fond of those people who can just sit there cracking SAT and enjoy visual effects.
Actually, we areee doing ECs all the time. the burden is how we can extricate value from what weve done and show it to AOs. We should emphasize that in our PS.
so just try it before you regret not seeking that.
lol good luck</p>