<p>I'm looking at top colleges and, academically, I feel like I could get in. I have just below a 4.0 UW and a 35 ACT. However, my ECs aren't quite as good as I would like. I'm involved in things but many of my ECs are sort of scattered. I was wondering if there are any top colleges which don't care much about ECs. I have heard Brown and Georgetown don't make a big deal about them but I don't know about any others.</p>
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<p>That is false. </p>
<p>Nothing you can do at this point to remedy that. Just apply and wish for the best.</p>
<p>Fortunately for you, you can “stat-in” into schools ranked below 20 on the USNWR with your stats.</p>
<p>Brown Section C7 <a href=“Office of Institutional Research | Brown University”>Office of Institutional Research | Brown University; ECs are important (rigor, character and interest are very important)</p>
<p>Georgetown <a href=“http://www.georgetowncollege.edu/ir/files/2011/06/CDS_2010_2011.pdf[/url]”>http://www.georgetowncollege.edu/ir/files/2011/06/CDS_2010_2011.pdf</a> ECs are important (GPA and rigor are very important).</p>
<p>Maybe your friends meant ECs are not weighted as highly as at top Us like Harvard where they are weighted equally with all the other criteria. Your flagship U probably doesn’t care much about ECs compared to grades and scores.</p>
<p>What are your ECs – maybe they’re better than you think they are.</p>
<p>Also, consider, EC’s do not only include in-school activities. Jobs, Church Activities, Volunteering, Lessons outside of school, etc. etc., etc. all could go on the list.</p>
<p>My extracurriculars are not bad. They just aren’t on the same level as my academics. I’ll go ahead and list them because I’m not sure if they’re something I need to worry about or not.<br>
Boy Scouts (6th - 10th grade) Second class, Senior Patrol Leader
Concert Band (6th-10th)
Marching Band (10th)
Beta Club (10th)
Then I switched schools so I had to quit some of these.
Spanish National Honor Society (10-12)
Co-Founder and Co-President of a school service club (11th-12th)
Selected to be ambassador for the school
Coin Club (7th-12th) - Paper published in national newsletter
Physics Research in England
Active in Church and youth group (6-12)</p>
<p>The thing I’m primarily concerned with is my lack of a sport and volunteer hours.</p>
<p>Thanks – I’m going to start with my conclusion</p>
<p>While your activities don’t blow me away, they don’t underwhelm me either. You look to be average to above average for bright students who are looking to apply to top schools. With your Grades, Scores and ECs, there is not a school in the US that I would discourage you from applying to.</p>
<p>You have actvities that you’ve stayed with for many years, you’ve published, you’ve done research, and have some leadership. Quitting activities because you moved sounds reasonable.</p>
<p>Given the Service Club and your Church activities, you’ll probably find as much community service as the average student. I wouldn’t worry about a lack of a sport given the fact thatyou seem to have other activities.</p>
<p>The one thing that is missing is something that shows a true passion (maybe coin collecting?). If you can show this, it’s a plus, but honestly, many – probably most – HS seniors do not have such an activity.</p>
<p>Anyway, good luck.</p>
<p>Perhaps an honors program at your state school would be right for you as a mid-reach/safety? If it’s one of the state schools which your stats wouldn’t blow away.</p>
<p>I’m pretty involved in coin collecting. I have a fairly extensive collection. I have written and published an essay about it. I’m in the ANA and very involved in my local coin club. I also sell coins. I’m planning on writing my Common App essay about my collection and a couple mistakes I’ve made while collecting and what I’ve learned.</p>
<p>Your interest in coins is what will differentiate you from all the other smart kids with good grades and test scores and the usual run of ordinary ECs. Run with it.</p>