<p>So I've tried to whiddle away ECs that I didn't really like and were holding me back this year... but now I feel like the ones I'm really passionate about aren't really great. At least not good enough for me to get into HYP. Could anyone give me feedback?</p>
<p>I do...
-School newspaper - editor in chief 11th-12th grades, head writer 9th, editor 10th
-Yearbook - editor 10th, editor 11th, editor in chief 12th
-Cross Country - varsity letter all four years
-Tennis - compete locally, nothing recruit-worthy, varsity letter for 1-2 years
-DARE - vice president 10th, president 11th and 12th
-Speech team - finalist at a lot of tournaments. leader 11th-12th
-Volunteering at Hospital, Animal Shelter, etc. - by the time I apply, i'll probably have 600 hours total.
-Piano - playing since 4, nothing hook-worthy. perform in competitions, first chair piano at school orchestra
-Research programs/internships over the summers...
-Journalism and speech camps, too.
...and that's about it.</p>
<p>I've always thought I've been doing fine, but for some reason I feel spouts of inadequacy. Any thoughts? I'm not a URM. I'm a legacy at Penn, but not at Harvard, Yale, or Princeton, or any other top ten school. Would these ECs help, do nothing, or detract from my application? [I try to focus on my journalism + interest in science]</p>
<p>What you’ve achieved (lives changed, money raised, championships won, awards won, programs organized and instituted, records broken, professional journal articles published, etc.) are far more important than what activities you’ve participated in and how many hours you spent doing the EC.</p>
<p>I think they’re very good! They will help, and will certainly not detract from your application-lol!</p>
<p>The way you present them will make a difference. I don’t see “interest in science” from this list- the one mention of research is the only reference to it. I do see great interest in journalism and writing - even the speech team fits with this theme.<br>
Think of it thematically. You have your journalistic interests (newspaper, yearbook, speech, journalism camps (win any awards there???) and you have a sports theme (XC, tennis- any leadership there?. ) On top of that, you have community service (Hospital, Animal shelter, DARE- what did you accomplish here?)
That’s three really good EC threads- Then you have the music, which is sort of a “hobby”, which is fine.
You haven’t gone into the “reseach, internships” in any detail, so that might be another separate thread. The point is to group things in your mind and on your application so that everything seems related and part of the whole YOU.<br>
You seem like a well-rounded person with a lot of different talents. If you don’t get into some excellent schools, I highly doubt it will be your ECs that held you back. They’re fine.</p>
<p>One of my kids was accepted at Yale with very similar ECs.</p>
<p>Thanks. I’m probably going to start sending things out to Quill & Scroll next year for writing/journalism. And entering more essay contests. Does anyone know of any other ways to get articles published? I might also want to intern over the summer at a local newspaper… my friend might be able to help me.</p>
<p>You might be able to get articles published in your local paper without having to actually work there. Talk to one of the editors. Articles on local issues or student views of community happenings are sometimes published if they’re relevant and well done.</p>
<p>You could do some comprehensive, well reported articles for the student newspaper you’re already working for. Take full advantage of the opportunities that you already have. Have the creativity and guts to pursue successfully some interesting stories. Don’t expect them to be handed to you. Search them out and report them.</p>