<p>As an East Asian, I would love to beat the Asian stereotype some college admissions officers may seem to have. </p>
<p>However, I worry that I may sound like just your average Asian. Here are my ECs:
-National History Club, Officer (We have some general officers after president, vice president, etc)
-History Book Club, President (Gotta change the name on that, sounds so...boring :0)
-Reader's Rally
-Art Club (National Art Honor Society next year)
-Head of Club Signs Design
-Dances for recreation
-No more time for JV cross country.Goodbye...:(</p>
<p>Here are things that may help me beat the stereotype:
-I am low income
-I struggled with parental abandonment when I was 9. I have counseled and comforted other peers who are facing similar situations.
-I used to struggle with binge eating, and tbh it still haunts me at times. I've never been quiet about this, though, and have used a blog to try to promote awareness. And yes, I'm trying to do more. It's not just for college; it's just really close to my heart.
-For probably the worse, I epicly suck at math and science.</p>
<p>What do you think, guys? Am I a stereotypical Asian? Do I seem too school-driven and artsy? What would you suggest to help beat the Asian stereotype? (I was thinking getting involved in organizing International Culture Night, becoming a Prom Show model or organizer, and/or participating in our school's Black History Quiz Bowl).</p>
<p>Are you really considering selecting your activities based on what someone else might think of you? Seems like they win when you do that, just be yourself and do what you enjoy.</p>
<p>You don’t seem to be that “stereotypically Asian” based on your ECs. Based on my knowledge, common “Asian” ECs are piano, violin, tennis, math/science competitions, etc. If you really want to stand out, your essays are your best chance to do so.</p>
<p>@entomom: I won’t force myself to do what I would hate to do. But if an activity is suggested to me that I am interested in, and may help me stand out from the pack, I don’t have a problem with going with. For ex., I am honestly interested in the Black History Quiz Bowl.</p>
<p>You can avoid being “stereotypical” by being yourself. </p>
<p>You won’t look like an “average asian.” You are going to look like an average applicant. What about that profile is distinctly Asian and not some other ethnicity?</p>
<p>Stop worrying about beating some “asian stereotype” and worry about just differentiating yourself from ALL the applicants.</p>
<p>Even if Asians don’t mark themselves as Asian on the demographic section of the Common Application, the admission officers can usually tell by our last names. I mean, who would think that a last name like Zhang/Yang/Xiao/Huang/Liu/etc. would be anything but Asian?</p>
<p>The best way to pick your ECs is to pick the ones you’re interested in, not the ones you think will look good to colleges. Picking ECs you’re interested in, good at, and care about will lead to you actually accomplishing something in those ECs, which is what makes your ECs stick out. Attending weekly meetings–or even holding an officer position where it’s not clear you did more than the average high school club officer (i.e., nothing)–is not going to help, regardless of what the ECs are called. Results that you can describe quantitatively and qualitatively are what’s going to set your ECs apart from the rest of the pack.</p>