<p>At my library they have this thing where you can tutor elementary kids in their school subjects after school. Is this considered a valuable EC to colleges?</p>
<p>bump .</p>
<p>Yes, tutoring is considered a valuable EC.</p>
<p>Depends on how committed you are.</p>
<p>All depends on where you are applying too. </p>
<p>ECs always look great for any college application. The more selective the college, however, the more important it is for the ECs to either really stand out (published, national winner of something, etc...) OR that the ECs are related in such a way that it is clear to the admissions board that you have very directed passions/interests (ie., you want to be a teacher: you have ECs in the area of tutoring, library volunteer, book club, writing club, Future Teachers of America group, blah, blah, blah and you are applying to a school that is known for their teaching program.) Get it? Otherwise, it's just another EC of a list of ECs among a bunch of other talented students. Not that the ECs are bad by any means at all, but you get the idea.</p>
<p>Who cares what colleges think? Do you feel moved to tutor? If so, go for it. I'd hate to be the little kid who had some hoop-jumping, ticket-punching high school student tutor who was just doing it for a line item on their resume. If you aren't in it to help the younger kids, don't bother.</p>
<p>In general, people should NOT worry about whether one EC is better than another, and how colleges view this EC versus that EC. Do something that you enjoy, can commit to, can contribute to, and can learn from. If you love tutoring, cool. If you love Science Olympiad, cool. If you love doing ground-breaking cancer research, that's cool too. You don't have to do something totally crazy and extraordinary to get in somewhere top-tier.</p>