Is tutoring my sister an EC?

<p>Is it? Not for community service, but just as something I do everyday.</p>

<p>i would include it, just for the heck of it...its not going to get you in, but it might touch some admission person's heart and make them like you more as a person (which is apperently the new "in" for college admission) =P</p>

<p>...you honestly think I should include that?</p>

<p>YES tutoring ANYONE is community service. I have like fifty hours for tutoring (my brother), so there ya go ^^</p>

<p>There is a part on the application of several schools, which asks something like:

[quote]
If applicable, please tell us about anything you regularly do to provide
significant support for your family, either by working, by providing care
for family members, or through other work that you do at home.

[/quote]

You can write it there. I don't think it's really appropriate to list that as an EC. It is NOT community service. COMMUNITY service suggests you are helping those in the environment around you, not your own family.</p>

<p>Tutoring siblings=leadership
Taking out the trash=community service
Arguing with parents=debate</p>

<p>Wow. That's an excellent resume there.</p>

<p>^ Lol. That's funny.</p>

<p>Tutoring itself is an EC, it doesn't matter who you're tutoring. If you spend a significant amount of time doing it, why wouldn't you list it?</p>

<p>Central Perky gave the best response - anything else just looks ignorant/naive.</p>

<p>"Tutoring siblings=leadership
Taking out the trash=community service
Arguing with parents=debate"</p>

<p>lol i was thinking the same thing. </p>

<p>thegame, it seems ridiculous to include tutoring your brother as an ec...but i guess everyone is finding whatever they can to pad up their resume.</p>

<p>I do not think that tutoring your sibling is considered an EC more an expectation and just something you do as a good sibling and a member of the family. </p>

<p>Norcal, I like your analogy. I guess we as parents would have amazing ECs as we tutor, coach and counsel, provide financial support and advice the list could go on :)</p>

<p>Sorry, but if I were an adcom, I would be turned off to read that someone would write that they was tutoring their sibling as it would present too much padding.</p>

<p>I'd be turned off, too, if I were an adcom and saw that someone included tutoring their sib as an EC. Padding wouldn't concern me as much as the fact that the student appeared to think that they should get some special recognition for doing normal things around their household. I'd wonder if everything on the student's activities list were something that the student did to try to impress colleges.</p>

<p>Think about it: Many admissions officers apply for leadership programs, fellowships and other opportunities themselves. In their personal lives, they do things like help their kids with homework, and keep their own home clean. They wouldn't include these activities on a fellowship or leadership program application.</p>

<p>Now, if a person has to take on a lot of responsibility for a sibling because, for instance, the parent works an evening job, that would be something to note, but still wouldn't count as an EC.</p>

<p>For instance, if one has to pick up and drive a sibling to school and the sibs activities, help the sib with homework, cook the sibs dinner, get the sib ready for bed, attend teacher conferences in place of your parents, take sibs to doctors appointments, then that kind of heavy responsibility would be something to note on one's application. It also would provide a reason for one not having the time to work a job or do any ECs.</p>

<p>Include it in the spirit of "how you spend your free time"</p>

<p>Especially if you are tutoring consistently, regularly. That means that you've spent a big chunk of your high school time teaching someone else, and not just zoning out</p>

<p>I think tutoring your sibling should count. Just because someone "should" help their sibling doesn't mean that they do or do it well. If you're actually contributing something significant to your sibling, above and beyond "the square root of 144 is 12, duh!" you should discuss it. Not as an "EC" but as something you do and enjoy doing -- it might make a good essay about what you get out of helping your sibling. My son didn't list it on his app, or discuss it anywhere, but I thought he should because he spends a considerable amount of time and effort in helping his little sister, much more than is expected of a sibling. She, for her part, pays it forward by helping classmates (something her teacher noted in her recent comments). I think this shows what you can contribute to your college community (the willingness and ability to share your knowledge).</p>

<p>I wouldn't list it as an EC, but you can talk about it in your personal statement, or anywhere else where you can provide additional information. It seems kind of like padding that you need because you might not have other activities.</p>

<p>I think it should be mentioned, and where else can you put it except under ECs? I spend a significant amount of my time tutoring my brother with a learning disorder, and if I don't mention it, as far as adcoms know I could just be spending that time watching TV or playing video games. That doesn't seem right.</p>

<p>19382: It could be the focus of an essay or could be mentioned under additional info.</p>

<p>Also, what's "a significant amount of time"?</p>

<p>At least a half hour a day during the week while he does his homework, sometimes a lot more.</p>

<p>So I guess the general feel is that I shouldn't mention it...</p>

<p>She's not your sister, she's a "family acquaintance." Remember, you're a CC'er, you have to make Oprah's community service look like a chore. </p>

<p>I would tell you not to put it on there because I think people should be honest on their apps. But I'm being unrealistic with that expectation.</p>