International student has a question about EC's

<p>I went through some threads and saw you guys talking about EC's. What are EC's ??. Economy ??? It means you have to work part-time ??? well for international students it is impossible i think because they don't have SSC.</p>

<p>EC stands for extracurriculars, things you do out apart from schoolwork and stuff.
EC's are very important, they demonstrate what you do in your free time or may impress the adcoms.
examples include: research, club leadership, sports, fishing awards?, volunteer activities....</p>

<p>LoL@Fishing Awards.</p>

<p>Yeah basically it's some kind of activity that you do (hopefully something that you like).</p>

<p>I wasn't really involved much this year, but starting next year I'll do a couple of activities..</p>

<p>Not all schools care about your ECs -- top schools do care and activities outside of school (including jobs, sports, etc) are important. </p>

<p>for the majority of schools, your grades/curriculum/standardized test scores are just about the only thing they look at for admissions.</p>

<p>The emphasis on extracurricular activities (things that you do outside of school such as membership in a club, playing a sport, etc.) is a peculiar US cultural phenomenon. As an international student, what is important for you to remember is to describe your school, and your activities outside of school (family, work, sports, music, community activities, etc.) in such a way as to paint an accurate and interesting picture of yourself. You do not have to invent a bunch of activities that look like activities a US student might engage in. The colleges/universities are going to be interested in you because of what is different about you - those things that only an international student can bring to the classroom. The colleges/universities do not want you to be a clone of the US students who are coming. They want you to be yourself!</p>

<p>alright. i get it. my friend also told me about participating in activities besides studying at school. I'm thinking about it and try my best. I'm gonna do some community services or something and try to join some group. I did join a sport club. Unluckily I don't have any talent in music or sport,etc which may attract people. :(</p>