First off, great posts. I read through the first few pages, and they really have me inspired. They’ve also made me realize how behind I am.
I just wonder, what if you DON’T know what your passion is?
Right now, I’m just volunteering and joining clubs. I want to do something this summer, preferably an internship, but I can’t seem to find any available. I’ve looked at countless companies and programs (though do realize it’s pretty late now), and I’m pretty ready to give up.
I was hoping to try and find internships that could help me FIND my passion, like aviation, cinematography, and writing. But I don’t have an experience in the cockpit or behind a video camera; in fact, I don’t have much experience at all.
I don’t dance. I don’t sing. I don’t act. I’m not in Karate. I’m not a musical genius. I’m just…average.
And I don’t know what step to take next.
I am willing to put the work and effort in, but what’s holding me back is opportunity and lack of direction.
If anyone can give me a push in the right direction, please do.
jwli-
Do some research on your interests that you listed above(through books/ internet). If your family has a video camera grab it and start shooting, if not, borrow one or find a friend that has one and similar interests and start shooting. Writing is one of the simplest things to develop - get a spiril notebook and start journaling, write about everything!!! Search for writing contests, ask teachers at school who teach these subjects to point you in the right direction, ask your GC if there is an aptitude test/evaluation that you can take which might direc you toward what you would best be suited for. BE CURIOUS ENOUGH TO FIND THE ANSWERS! Build your own fire from the bottom up!
I’m worried because I’m so behind in extracurriculars.
Everyone else seems to be volunteering and starting new clubs, but I really have no time.
I do crew, which starts in the summer and takes up 6 days a week. I really love it, but I feel like admissions will not be very interested in an essay about rowing, no matter how passionate it is.
I could try to join clubs in the winter, but I’d just have to quit in the spring when crew starts again. This really wouldn’t benefit me, the people in the club, or my application.
I’m around 10th in my class of around 600 but I’m probably not very unique in a sea of honor student applicants.
Any suggestions on how to make myself a better applicant?
College Confidential was mentioned in today’s issue of the Wall Street Journal.
In their weekend sector “The Admissions Police”
“On chat boars like collegeconfidential.com, topics range from “How to impress admissions with your extracurriculars” to “Should I tell them that I’m Jewish?””
It’s not about how many, but about the quality of the activities and what you achieve in each. You could do every single lunch activity, and colleges wouldn’t really care –– they’d see that what you’re doing: trying to build up your college app.
Orchard - my daughter won NHD states in 8th and 9th, placed nationally in 9th and was invited to exhibit at the Smithsonian in 8th, so she will mention both in college applications, you should do the same, since your awards are quite an honor (I think on the same level as science competitions like Intel, but not everyone agrees with me). It is definitely a LOT of work!
I knew someone who was extremely involved in 2-3 ECs and got into Harvard and Stanford. And he was an Asian with so-so grades and SAT scores. QUANTITY for the billionth time, doesn’t matter. QUALITY, baby, QUALITY.
haha. cool. I do NHD too!
We placed nationally in group performance in 8th, got third in states for group exhibit in 9th and this year we’re going to states on the 26th and 27th of April. AHHH! SO MUCH WORK!
what sucks is that states is always the week before/of AP Exams.
i really like this kind of approach when it comes to making your application stand out. i myself tried this approach when i was applying to my schools a year ago, however, it doesn’t work all the time. I highly suggest using this method since it is better than listing every single extra, however, you do need stellar grades and SAT scores along with a good essay. I had the rare opportunity to teach an autistic how to play golf. im a pretty decent golfer and i taught him before my senior year. one of my UC essays was teaching him and also about what he taught me. however, i didn’t get accepted to ucla, or berkeley, only sd and irvine. Now some of you might say my essay might have been poorly written and all these other stuff, but my essay was basically perfect and made a lot of people cry while still getting across to the reader what kind of person i am. obviously this shows that a good essay isn’t everything. i lacked gpa and sat score, so i suggest using this method with steller grades.
i don’t know if my answered in this thread but, EC can be outside of school activities right? such as martial arts and instruments? and what if we are involved in school activities but not in high position like president of a club and stuff, would colleges frown on it? since i am in clubs in school that i just like being in.
Yes, outside activities count as extracurriculars. Colleges would not frown on not being in high positions, but it would be even better if you were president. Colleges want to know that you’ve been involved in what you’ve done. Whatever club or band you’re in, make sure you try to get more involved in those activities.
I myself have absolutely no leadership roles, but I’m really involved in my activities. For instance, I’m on the chess team, and I’ve helped my school get 2nd in regionals for two years. I’ve also participated on the A team at state championships. Last year we got 8th in state and this year we tied for first. I’m also on the math team, and although I have no leadership in it, my team has often gotten first, second, or third in state competitions. I am also really interested in Latin. Our team has won first place in state for both years I have participated in, and I have gotten academic awards at the National Junior Classical League Convention last year. But I have done no leadership in any of these activities.
Is being really involved good enough? Colleges want to see passion, right, and I’m very passionate in my activities. I want to know if this is as good as having a leadership role.
use any minority status to your advantage (not just URM, all M’s, i.e. jewish, catholic, greek ancestry, etc etc)–become involved! join a religious group, volunteer at the local (russian, greek, italian, fill in the blank) museum, if possible take a trip to that country and volunteer.
Hi everyone! I had some questions on how to organize my resume. I always thought that pursuing a lot of activities and succeeding in them was the best method. however, that leaves me with a variety of activities that i truly enjoy, but not one particular activity that is my passion. I want to apply for a pre-med major, so do my activities have to relate that? There are few science activities offered in my school. Any advice you guys can give me will be greatly appreciated.
Activities:
Journalism
reporter
news editor junior year
managing editor my senior year
numerous story awards
Writer of the Year awards
(great experience)
Band
member since 7th grade
drum major for two years
all region flautists
also played piano since 6th and won various honors
(great experience)
Started a Reading Program/ Key Club District Officer
greatly involved in key club
lots of community service
reading program for sixth graders (great experience)
Quizbowl/Sciencebowl
-my academic activity that i have been doing since 7th grade
okay so first ill say . i absolutely hate elections for anything. because its always a popularity contest. but i ran for president for asian american and lost [by 3 votes!!] so they formed an “executive committee” for the losers basically. would this have any weight at all? and for my youth group i organized the fashion show for our annual cultural program and i take a lot of initiative in it, but there arent any specific titles for leadership [president, vp etc.] so on an application, what would be filled in for the “leadership position” thing?
