<p>So right now most of my better/interesting ECs relate to graphics (doing freelance graphic design for small dotcoms and winning some nat'l + int'l photography contests). However, I'm thinking of majoring in business/econ. Would colleges see this or weird or would they be OK with it?</p>
<p>Not sure if it matters, but mainly looking at HYPSM + maybe some lower ivies + UCLA, UCB. </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Edit: re-reading my post I kind of made it sound like my only ECs are graphics...I still have OK community service experience, like travelling under Red Cross int'l to Taiwan to help mentally challenged children + elderly for a couple of weeks this summer, plus divisional + school positions for Key Club, VP of CSF, etc.</p>
<p>Colleges know that your interests will change during high school. The main point of extracurricular activities is to show that you CAN be passionate about things; it doesn’t matter too much if your extracurriculars aren’t what you plan on majoring in.</p>
<p>Frankly the Graphic Design thing is so much more interesting than seeing things that you can bet will be on other HYPSM applicants, ie school positions, key club etc.</p>
<p>The few colleges that use ECs for admission care more about the quality and type of ECs than whether ECs match one’s prospective major. Not only do such colleges know that most students change majors at least twice in college, they also know that people often avidly pursue ECs that are very different than are their day jobs. It’s fine to have a variety of interests.</p>
<p>Diligence in ECs always looks good, no matter how obtuse the activity may seem. Furthermore, applicants with a variety of experiences enriches a program. Example: A business or econ dept. might appear rather limited if all the acceptees have the same background – part-time job, investment club, FBLA, etc … It gets a bit more exciting and diverse when you throw a kid with an impressive science or art background into the mix. What I’m saying is, imagine doing a group project in college where every kid in the group has exactly the same skills and those skills are very narrowly focused.</p>
<p>I think it’s probably BETTER if your ECs don’t relate to your major all that much. If nothing else they want to see that you’re going to do SOMETHING on campus. I didn’t really have a lot of ECs that related to my major, but I did alright. I’d say if it’s not better it has no effect.</p>
<p>Do what you love and do it well. If you love two or three or four very different things, but you do them all well, alls the better for you! In fact, I think a college would be much more interested in a design whiz who also rocks at other things.</p>
<p>On the other hand, it might help if you at least try and tie in your EC to what you want to do in college or how they helped you develop as a person.</p>
<p>It is refreshing to see ECs that do not focus on potential concentrations or majors.</p>
<p>How many trite “I am trying to help humanity/children/animals…which
is why I volunteer in E. Europe/S.Africa/Israel/China/Taiwan/Bangladesh/etc.” ECs
do you think the reader is going to have to wade through?</p>
<p>Trumpet and indulge your passion and to hell with those positively-pugnacious-premeds;)!</p>