<p>And should I put it down as one on the common app? I already have the school i went too under "other Secondary Schools, summer schools, or programs" but i wanted to specify that I was an exchange student with AFS for a year. What should I do?
If i do put it under ec's what should i put down for hrs/wk. 168 looks kind of silly, and it won't let me leave it blank.</p>
<p>I’d talk about it under Additional Information- I agree with you that it’d look rather silly as an extracurricular. If you already have stuff under the Additional Information, I think this is fair game for the 150 word Extracurricular/Personal Activity Essay.</p>
<p>I guess I’m just kind of worried because my exchange was/is really important to me and I’m writing my main essay about an aspect of it. Also another of my activities is my involvement as a volunteer for AFS, (this is what I was planning on writing the short activity essay on) which wouldn’t make much sense without the exchange as context.<br>
In the Additional Information section I was planning on putting down a college course I’ve taken, independent study I’ve done, and some more detailed explanation of some of my activities.<br>
So I still don’t really know what to do…maybe I’m worrying too much.</p>
<p><em>bump</em> please?</p>
<p>penko – an AFS year abroad is a very valuable EC. </p>
<p>Schools know the amount of maturity/courage it takes for a 16-year old to leave home & move to another country. And on top of that you did it for a YEAR. That itself is impressive because many teens choose to only do a semester abroad. Devoting a year to your experience shows particular commitment & passion. And you know how schools love commitment and passion!</p>
<p>I’d go with your idea of writing about it in your essay. Afterall, that’s probably what distinguishes you from a ton of other candidates. Then put your year abroad as an EC – & explain the relative lack of other ECs (if that’s what worries you) as result of your absence & possible effects on your schedule. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Thank you so much katliamom! Yeah, I guess I am kind of worried about my lack of ECs. I mean what I do do I really love, but I don’t have the continuity (starting in 9th and going through 12th) that I guess colleges look for that they say proves “passion.”</p>