<p>How hard can the lack of extracurricular activities affect the application of an international and domestic applicant? especially when applying to a top 20 college.</p>
<p>I'm asking this since I have never been in a sports team,nor participated in charity funds or community service.</p>
<p>The only activities that I have done in my free time and out pleasure were going to the gym and riding my bicycle.</p>
<p>It would definitely hurt a domestic applicant because it’s EXPECTED of American kids to have ECs. It’s less important for international applicants, especially if they come from countries where there are fewer opportunities. </p>
<p>But ECs serve two functions: to show that you achieve outside of school (and manage your time successfully to do both school and ECs) – and to give the school an idea of what you can contribute to their student body. </p>
<p>So if the school has to pick between you, and someone with the same grades/SATs but who ALSO has demonstrated school/community involvement, it’s likely they’ll pick that person over you. And that’s especially true if you need financial aid.</p>
<p>When you ride your bicycle, do you take pictures? Look at things? Have you managed to involve others or do you go on your own? If you had managed to convince others to join you, it’d be a proof of leadership. If you took pictures and did something with them it’s good too (exhibit at school, portfolio, source of inspiration, donations to decorate the local orphanage…) Or if you picked up flowers and leaves and created an album. Or used that time to meditate. I’m spinning this but you see what I mean: if you didn’t just get on your bike and pedal aimlessly for a while…
You need to show that you’ve been involved in your school or your community (local, religious, political, ethnic…), that you have passions and pursue them.
For a top 20 college, it would be expected that you achieved some kind of national recognition for something. If you have national recognition for your academics, you’ll probably be okay as long as you can present a few extracurriculars (student delegate for your class… guitar lessons… temple youth group… anything?) beside riding your bike around, reading, going to the gym, and listening to music. If you don’t have national recognition for your academics and no extracurriculars, don’t apply to top 20 colleges, you won’t be competitive for them.</p>
<p>Top colleges in the US (or any college for that matter) like to see that students are involved in activities outside of school. They also like to see that the student has a world awareness, and is willing to help others through volunteering and community service. Well-rounded students are appreciated, which means that students are talented in all subjects of life, for example, music, sports, extracurriculars, AND academics.</p>