<p>Has anyone put independent reading as an EC on their apps? I ask only because it occupies a fairly large amount of my time and some of the books I read are conducive to what I want to study in college (some econ/sociology books)</p>
<p>You’ll want to get other people’s opinions on this matter because I’m just a newly graduated high school senior, but I would only put it if your reading is a type of “project.” For example, I’m reading all of Shakespeare’s plays in chronological order this year, so I am going to write that down, but nothing about the other independent reading I’m doing.</p>
<p>It sounds like the reading your doing may qualify as self-studying a topic, so I may put that. I probably wouldn’t oust a club that you’re involved in to put your reading on the list (Common App only gives you 10 slots for activities), but if you have some slots left, then I’d go for it. Again, you’ll want to get a second/third/nth opinion on this.</p>
<p>No, it is not an EC. It is an expectation. 
If it amounts to research on a specific topic, you can work it in somewhere, and probably impress an interviewer or two, but it is not an EC.</p>
<p>You can put anything you want, but I doubt admissions committees will be very impressed by it. Reading, in general, is a hobby for most people.</p>
<p>My daughter did. She put it down as a major EC and then she wrote few essays about it. One of her essay prompt was, “what would you do if you had 2 hours free time.” She wrote about taking a long bath with her favorite books, which she used to do, and that’s why most of her books had water stains. Her private college counselor encouraged her to do. She got into her dream school ED.</p>
<p>My daughter grouped her ECS. As an example, under volunteer, she listed all volunteers work she did. For dance, she listed all groups she belonged to and summer programs she participated in.</p>
<p>thanks all for the advice! i probably won’t mention it but ill ask my counselor just in case</p>