<p>Lol Egbert, that was what I wanted to say!</p>
<p>Many state schools don’t really give much (if any) consideration to ECs. They often have “formula admissions” (if you have the stats and the right classes, then you’re admitted.). </p>
<p>If you have eyes for elite schools, then you probably need to expand on any existing ECs that you have. Starting new ones will ring hollow.</p>
<p>but I am definitely not a URM or poor</p>
<p>If your stats were above average or right at the average of the schools you were looking into, would being URM compensate for lack of EC’s</p>
<p>also the schools you’re looking into are selective but not Ivies</p>
<p>You may be overlooking ECs…</p>
<p>1) Are you taking band at school— a course yes, but it’s also an EC as are any related private music lessons…list them together on the Common AP - same activity</p>
<p>2) Do you ever “help out” (loosely defined) at your church group-- assist with visiting the elderly, , shovel snow, lead any kind of youth event…think hard…you don’t really just go to school and come home do you? I doubt it…where do you go with your family and friends on the weekends, summers-- any of this involvement in your community even informally</p>
<p>3) Are you ever leading informal peer tutoring with friends and classmates?</p>
<p>4) Ever paint or draw just for fun…</p>
<p>Go to the ACT registration page…they have about 500 or so possible categories you probably never thought of…some of these will stick</p>
<p>But don’t just join a club for the sake of it…that’s an obvious no-win for ADCOMS</p>
<p>and by chance if you really do nothing but your homework and school attendance-- it is indeed time to leave your desk and join society …we don’t work to work, we work b/c we enjoy what we do and contribute to our communities around us…</p>
<p>3)</p>
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<p>Keep in mind that top-scoring URMs are rejected from Ivies every year. Will it make up for mediocre ECs? Certainly, although there are never any guarantees. A total lack? That’s iffier.</p>
<p>I’m only apart of 3 clubs and only have 100+ service hours. I do tutor sophmores, juniors, and seniors in geometry and precal and I really enjoy it and am committed to it. Would URM make up for not having that extensive list of EC’s and again not aiming for Ivies. University of Michigan- Ann Arbor would be the most selective school I might be applying and my stats measure up (sorry if this sounds like a chance me)</p>
<p>OOS, I assume?</p>
<p>In general URM status matters less at publics than at privates, because publics do not have the same latitude. Some, like the UC system, are not allowed to consider race at all. I think Mich lost a major affirmative action case a few years back, so that might factor in as well. (State schools are also very numbers-based, but that’s less true for a top public like Michigan.)</p>
<p>Looking through the schools you want to attend…I think if you sell your passion for tutoring (through your essays?) you have as good a shot as any. Again, at some of those state schools it’s really a numbers game.</p>
<p>Doing my best to keep my grades up and also will try tutoring to help other people. I’m going to try boxing/mma this summer. Don’t know if those count as ecs though.</p>
<p>OP I’m in the exact same boat. I’m a little relieved that I’m not the only one actually. I’m aJunior with basically no ec’s. I just joined here last night and was freaking out because all the people on here have crazy SAT/ACT scores, GPA, and ECs. I’m basically in Key Club and a club my friend made and that’s it. </p>
<p>Also, question. If I pick up an instrument and start self-teaching myself and actually commit to it is that an EC? or do I have to play in the school band or something like that</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>