Is it to late to join a ec junior year .

I am a junior, for 9 and 10 grade I have not done any ec except for some community service. I also have anxiety but I don’t want that to stop but it is difficult to control it. I have looked at videos of people who have gotten accepted into UC’s and they have been doing their ec for years, I feel like I don’t stand a chance getting into a UC. I am currently in girls inc and will apply for youth leader next year. I am interested in medicine but i can not volunteer at any hospitals at the time because of Covid. I also can’t be in student government because I’m not popular and probably won’t get elected. I actually do want to be in ec because I want to get out of my comfort zone and explore new things. I am so lost. Please Help.

Community service is an extracurricular.

A lot of high school students think that extracurriculars are only activities that they do through their high school. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Anything you do other than your school work is an extracurricular. Babysitting your little brother is an EC. Working at McDonalds is an EC. Playing video games is an EC.

If there’s an extracurricular you want to do, go right ahead. But - don’t join an extracurricular just because you think it will look good on college applications. Do it because it’s something you want to do.

Go for it! Do it for yourself, for your own pleasure and development, and also put it on your college application. You may find that once you put yourself out there, and show up for it, you will be accepted, and be able to make progress in getting past your anxiety. FYI, there are certain school clubs that are very welcoming and accepting - the gay/straight alliance club is usually welcoming to all (even straight people). If your family is of a particular religion or ethnic group, and that group meets at your high school, they will likely be very welcoming. If there is a Best Buddies group (group that works to include the intellectually disabled students in high school activities), the kids who run it are often very welcoming. You’re not going to be a walk-on to the cheerleading team, or be elected to student council, but you’ll gain valuable experience, and maybe some confidence, too! Good luck to you.

What sort of community service, so far? That matters. Some is easy, too easy. Comm Service lite, not really engaged.

Covid limits us all. I was going to suggest something directly with the needy, but sheesh, we can’t do this directly, for now.

So another idea is to join some local group advocating for something or other. Healthcare? If you’re thinking medicine and can’t vol at the hospital, you need some alternative that reflects the med interest, shows willingness and concern for others.

You’d play some minor role, but be involved, part of a virtual effort, remote. It might manage some anxiety while still allowing you to make some contribution to their efforts. Not just member, but doing some work.

Beyond clubs, the idea is to show you can do a little more than what the hs offers.

Junior year is absolutely not too late. You can pick something up next summer or even in fall of sr year. It just takes some thinking.