Any comments on my chances for the Ivies…?
-3.9 GPA at a private school
-2050 SAT (I’m retaking the SAT and am confident I can raise my score by at least 50 points (most likely 100) - I didn’t study at all for it, as my current score so nicely demonstrates)
Awards
- State High School Composer (music) of the Year by my state’s music educator’s association (I should also be able to gain that award this year for the 2007 school year as well)
-All State Band Member 2005-06
-All State Jazz Band Member 2006-07
-State Speech Champion in Original Oratory
-Top finishes in Debate throughout the debate season
-Attending a composition camp (only 14 were admited throughout the nation) for kids up to age 18 this summer
ECs
-Varsity Soccer
-Choirs/Bands
APs
Our school doesn’t really offer any AP courses other than the usuals (language and math), so I decided to teach myself AP U.S. Government and Politics and I’m pretty confident I got a 4 on it.
Any thoughts?
I’m afraid this thread will change from a “How to Impress Adcoms with your Extracurriculars” thread into a chances thread.
Is it okay to have ECs that span across a wide range of interests without looking like you have a laundry list?
I’m not an expert on this…but I think it is better to have like 6 ECs/clubs with strong leadership roles instead of 12 different clubs with nothing.
The article posted by fhima… is fascinating:
"Deliberate practice entails more than simply repeating a task playing a C-minor scale 100 times, for instance, or hitting tennis serves until your shoulder pops out of its socket. Rather, it involves setting specific goals, obtaining immediate feedback and concentrating as much on technique as on outcome.
Ericsson and his colleagues have thus taken to studying expert performers in a wide range of pursuits, including soccer, golf, surgery, piano playing, Scrabble, writing, chess, software design, stock picking and darts. They gather all the data they can, not just performance statistics and biographical details but also the results of their own laboratory experiments with high achievers.
Their work, compiled in the “Cambridge Handbook of Expertise and Expert Performance,” a 900-page academic book that will be published next month, makes a rather startling assertion: the trait we commonly call talent is highly overrated. Or, put another way, expert performers whether in memory or surgery, ballet or computer programming are nearly always made, not born. And yes, practice does make perfect. These may be the sort of clichés that parents are fond of whispering to their children. But these particular clichés just happen to be true.
Ericsson’s research suggests a third cliché as well: when it comes to choosing a life path, you should do what you love because if you don’t love it, you are unlikely to work hard enough to get very good. Most people naturally don’t like to do things they aren’t “good” at. So they often give up, telling themselves they simply don’t possess the talent for math or skiing or the violin. But what they really lack is the desire to be good and to undertake the deliberate practice that would make them better."
I agree. Being in 12 clubs demonstrates that you’re there because you have small to no interest in the many clubs you’re in, or you’re only there to get into college. Colleges will be like, “good for you! next…” Gain leadership positions. If you can’t, they’re probably not worth your time. Again, serious (and not pretend just for college admissions) passion should be the driving force. Read the NY times article.
No, I don’t mean like 12 clubs, I was talking more along the lines of 6-7, 2 minor. Is it okay to have a minor club which you’re in just to see how it is?
Cooljoe, if you’re a freshman, yeah. But if not, you should try to get settled in one or two you care about.
Okay, so what if you are a kid that just has a WIDE-range of strong interests and LIKES to be involved in a lot of things for the joy of experiencing as much as their hs has to offer before they have to buckle down and focus on their vocation?
It seems almost impossible to be involved to a valuable extent in a WIDE-range of interests. If your son or daughter is a freshman, they probably still have time to dibble dabble. However, once they reach sophomore or junior year, they will definitely want to choose some activities that they value more. On the other hand, if they can get awards or recognition in everything they do, then I guess its okay. However, you’ll probably be able to get more recognition focussing on one to three activities.
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What is meant here by “independent research”?
Would establishing an ultimate frisbee team, recruiting-organizing it be a decent one? Or is it just a good one for the more off-beat schools like Colorado college/Reed/Oberlin?
is it ok to have a very minimal amount of academic ECs like (clubs etc.) but have a good athletic EC such as a high regional ranking in a specific sport?
kctwister-
As long as it is not gymnastics…
Kidding! 
I am guessing that is your sport from your user name. I don’t know the answer but felt like joking around today as things have been so tense lately. Personally, a high regional rank would seem pretty impressive to me. Congrats.
Sejanus- I think “independent research” means you write a report based on experimentation and research that hopefully becomes published (not necessary though). That is a GREAT way to spend a summer.
musictoad- establishing a ultimate frisbee team would definitely be good, because it demonstrates your love for the sport, your organizational/leadership skills, and it will probably be good community service because you’re creating an activity that wasn’t already availible in your community. And the most important thing (get ready, it’s really trite!), it will be fun.
kctwister- high regional ranking is always a good thing. I had a friend (okay, not a friend, she was mean and snobby, so I guess it was an aquaintance) who got Cs and Ds throughout school (not to say you do of course 
but was a nationally ranked rower. She got into Bowdoin!!! I suppose being nationally ranked would be pretty cool as well. But congratulations! I’m an arts kid (music, performing arts, and a little bit of writing), so I guess I’m not the best source of advice.
kevster
just a little word of advice from experience … DONT FREAK OUT ABOUT ECS
you honestly have plenty of time =]
I moved my ssoph year so i kinda had to start all over with a lot of my ECs and I was kind of worried about that at first … I had quit most of the thing (piano … GAWD) that I had been doing since I was 3
but I took a risk in a lot of EC’s during my soph and junior year … for example i initiated 2 huge projects with my school’s red cross club (im the president) … one was a raving success but the other was a biggg BIIIGGG failure …
let your EC’s come to you naturally … I experimented during my after a while I realized the ECs that I really enjoyed and the others just kinda fell away because I really didnt care for them. And I was able to accomplish quite a lot surprisingly even though I started most of my EC’s late
don’t become discouraged by “failures” … in fact you could probably write about trying and failing in a humorous way if you are really good at writing essays
If you worry that much about EC’s … then it will probably show and you most likely will not be able to accomplish as much … well I couldn’t … bu tmaybe your just more motivated than me ^.^ … I guess I’m not the typical neurotic asian … DARn
but yea just my little two cents after surviving a crazy junior year
Im becoming a junior shortly. I moved to the US 1 yr ago. I needed time to get used to this new place, so I was pretty much discouraged about ECs and clubs and the like. So I’m with 0 clubs right now. I know, that joining clubs isn’t necessary. But you know, sometimes I am aware of not-being-part-of-the-school-actively-might-look-bad type of problem. Im not the typical asian, so don’t worry, we’re in the same boat. (= No science+math+piano nerd…)
Anyways, Im quite worried I might not be involved in school activities. While other students are heavily involved (sports, ASB, club pres and vce pres., etc etc etc etc etc)
Im at school right now… Posting about my EC later this day.
Wow, I felt relieved that although I have less extracurricular activities, I believe that I am passionate about two or more things: Joining choir and helping in the community.
Thanks for that post. It certainly helped me.
Hi MoreThanWords. ECs are about doing things you like, activities that Drives YOU. Nobody’s forced to take Leadership positions and be Prez. for 6+ clubs. Do what YOU like. Remember, Depth over Breadth. Adcoms want people who are really passionate about their ECs, not just for padding up resume. Hey, I’ve seen a kid around CC that got into Harvard that put “Playing Chess with his family” X hrs. per week in his 1st EC list., most prob. b/c he loved playing it. However, this doesn’t mean do weird activities in order to impress. Of course, that guy must have aced other things as well. So taking a little risk is nothing bad. Just imagine how many kids in America are joining many clubs in order to look good? (= trap) Just be yourself, be honest, and adcoms will know it.