<p>(cursory searching netted me no specifics on this... but sorry if this is a duplicate thread anyways.)</p>
<p>Many of CCers seem to have boatloads of ECs to go along with a 2300+ SAT and 4.0s -- and yet plenty get rejected from even not-so-elite schools. *So just how important are extracurriculars anyways? *</p>
<p>And then...
- Is it better to have focused on a few, even if you're not an official "leader" of any of them? Or is it better to do lots of things that apply to your interests? </p>
<ul>
<li><p>Does the answer change if you're talking about HYPSM vs. other Ivies vs. state schools? </p></li>
<li><p>Assuming you're well-qualified for the school, do ECs (or relative lack thereof) become a dealbreaker during admissions?</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Answers to any or all of these questions are much appreciated.</p>
<p>I second wanting to get an opinion on this. I have a great SAT and weighted GPA (not bragging, just saying) but zero ECs. Literally. (I don’t have a major valid excuse either–no family problems–just that I didn’t like the opportunities offered.) But my essay concentrates on my love for art and writing, and at least one of my teachers has a high opinion of my talent.
So I’m excited/anxious/curious to see how the top-tier privates (and UCs) react to this. I think I’ve done a good job painting myself as a unique applicant with something to contribute to a school, but…we’ll see.</p>
<p>I always hear about ‘It’s better to focus on a few activities for a long time’ and ‘it’s best to show leadership’, etc. etc. but it also varies per high school and what it offers. Another thing I’ve noticed is that people on CC may post on chance threads for top-tier with great extracurriculars, but people (mostly other high schoolers) will still say they’re “weak” because they don’t have superpowers and aren’t recognized nationally.
I’ve also heard “unless you’re applying to top schools, ECs don’t matter much and will never matter more than your GPA/test scores, so don’t sweat” on CC, but then again, this is CC. When you’re applying to top schools, almost everyone has an amazing GPA and stellar test scores (or other academic achievement), so ECs and essays are really the defining factors. (‘Holistically’, of course.)</p>
<p>ECs matter depending on how selective is the college in question. Since most colleges aren’t selective, ECs matter little for the vast majority of college applicants. The more selective, the more secondary criteria beyond stats, such as ECs, are considered in the overall evaluation. Make sense?</p>
<p>For top schools, most of the applicants will be statistically “qualified.” Many will be statistically exceptional. So, yes, not having ECs could definitely be a dealbreaker; in fact, it almost certainly would be. Top schools are trying to build a diverse class. They have musical ensembles and science labs to fill, new majors and programs to bolster, and classrooms to fill with people of varied backgrounds–racially, geographically, experiencially. Without ECs, you don’t convey to the admissions office your interests and abilities; they don’t get a sense of who you are and what you offer their school.</p>
<p>I agree with the second part, but the first part depends largely on the school. Having no ECs will hurt you a lot at, say, Harvard, but make no difference at the average state school, as T26E4 says.</p>
Focus on a few. While you don’t have to be a leader, awards & recognition help show adcoms that you made a difference. Here’s what a top school (Stanford) says they look for in ECs
<p>OK. Apply my rule to schools with over 20% admissions rates only.</p>
<p>ECs matter for Harvard/yale/princeton/MIT/insert any school with very selective admission. But only because they need something to distinguish you from all the other 4.0’s.</p>
<p>But does that mean if you differentiate yourself otherwise (such as an amazing essay about outside passions like hiking that may not count as an official EC, an arts supplement, standout recs, being URM, and/or having a disability), having zero official ECs can be overlooked? (Assume top-tier privates)</p>
<p>Supposedly, but whether an EC is “official” doesn’t really matter. It’s always nice to have an “official” EC to back up your interests, though. JMO. Good luck.</p>
<p>@mikemac
What if your EC doesn’t have that many awards to give? I’m very involved in my school’s Youth and Government program, but I don’t know how to express that because the things I do for the club… you don’t really get awards for them. It’s mostly organizational stuff, helping out the new kids, being active in session :</p>