Hello, I have heard that I look like a public school student with my extra curricular activities, however I have been trying to change that.
I have and am trying to do the following:
teach a class at my co-op
create a community outreach committee
I have been trying to focus more on the SAT
I will have my pilot licenses before I graduate high school
I am thinking about volunteering tutoring kids.
I also have been looking for an internship but so far the only places I could find are at local banks, everywhere else says they are only open to college student.
my other EC’s are
FBLA
International Relation
Cello/Violin
Golf Team
Boy Scouts
Model UN
Academic decathlon Individual completion
My options are EXTREMELY limited because my mom does not wish to drive me anywhere, and I will not be old enough to get my licenses until the end of 2017.
Also I live in an area where everyone is expected to go to a Community college or states schools and live off there parents until there 30 and then take over there parents business, but my parents don’t have a business for me to take over, and I will have completed my AA by time I graduate high school, and really don’t want to go to a states school.
The only people who go to big schools from here are the political leaders children or people who are doing what I am doing but are interested in the STEM program. There are NO clubs and very few volunteer opportunities near me, especially with under the age of 18, unless I went to the public school that is one an hour away, or boarding school like everyone else. Just so you can get an idea there is a waiting list to volunteer at the Library. That is why I have started almost every club I am in.
Another problem I am learning I might have and never thought I would have is that the area I live in is some how portrayed as very wealthy as well as the majority of the areas around me, and I have seen in threads schools tend to avoid people from my area.
Does anyone have an idea of what I should, please no insults or snarky comments, I am just trying to improve my chances.
You should pursue ECs because you enjoy them, not because you are trying to impress colleges or avoiding looking like a public school student (not sure why you think that is a negative?)
You have a lot of ECs on your list. Do you enjoy them all? How much time do you devote to them each week?
My kids are also homeschooled. They would not have time to participate in all the ECs you have listed. They have about three ECs that they do because they enjoy them. They devote a ton of time to them because they enjoy them and they would take on the activity even if colleges never wanted to see their list of ECs.
My advice would be to look at your list of ECs and ask yourself if you are pursuing the activity because you love it, or are pursuing the activity because you think it will “look good” to colleges. My guess is that after asking yourself that question, your list will be reduced and you will have the time to pursue the ECs that remain on the list at a much deeper, more meaningful level.
Check out “How to be a High School Superstar” by Cal Newport.
“The basic message of the book is this: Don’t wear yourself out taking as many classes as you can and being involved in every club and sport. Instead, leave yourself enough free time to explore your interests. Cultivate one interest and make it into something special that will make you stand out among the other applicants and get you into the toughest schools, even if your grades and scores aren’t stellar. Newport calls this the “relaxed superstar approach,” and he shows you how to really do this, breaking the process down into three principles, explained and illustrated with real life examples of students who got into top schools: (1) underscheduling—making sure you have copious amounts of free time to pursue interesting things, (2) focusing on one or two pursuits instead of trying to be a “jack of all trades,” and (3) innovation—developing an interesting and important activity or project in your area of interest. This fruit yielded by this strategy, an interesting life and real, meaningful achievements, is sure to help not only with college admissions, but getting a job, starting a business, or whatever your goals.”
Also don’t try to look too much like a public school kid…your homeschooling may give you other opportunties that a public school student might not have.
Don’t try to look like any other kid. Don’t spend so much time reading CC and comparing yourself to other posters. Create a strong portfolio of experiences that you enjoy and want to do. Engage in activities that represent you. Build a strong academic transcript. Make sure you have high test scores.
But, really, be the best you you want to be, not a you you are creating bc you think some admissions committee will check off boxes.
I just started doing online school earlier this month and was wondering, how do I participate in extracurricular activities as a classified homeschooler? I am interested in doing Debate, Mock Trial, and Model UN but don’t know where I can find the resources to join these organizations. Can anyone please share their thoughtful insights?
@Maddieeee Does your state classify you as a homeschooler or are you legally classified as a public schooled student enrolled in an online public school?
The rules in my state permit homeschoolers to participate in any extracurricular activity that is offered at their local public school. This law, however, does not apply to those students enrolled in online public schools.
I would investigate the laws in your state to see if they have any similar laws that would permit you to participate at your local school.
@Maddieeee , not disrespect and I am not trying to say this with an attitude, but I think it would benefit you better if you asked these questions on a thread of your own. Also, I don’t know much about online schooling, but most of the time if you are enrolled solely with an online school you aren’t considered homeschooled.
@shuttlebus After speaking with a guidance counselor, I believe I’m technically classified as an online student. Does this affect my ability to participate in extracurricular activities at local schools?
@Maddieeee I don’t know the answer because the laws vary from state to state. In my state, you would not be considered a homeschooler and, therefore, would not be permitted to participate at your local school.
You should pose your question to the administrators of your online school.
@Maddieeee As suggested above, you would get better response if you started your own thread with a title specific to your question, such as “Participating in extra-curriculars as an online student in Texas?” You may get helpful responses, but as also suggested above, your online school would be the best source of accurate information.
Tacking your own question onto someone else’s thread is considered hijacking and often prevents any question on the thread from getting the consideration it deserves.