i’m currently a rising junior at the ill math and science academy. my academics are pretty much okay, and im expecting good AP, SAT II and SAT I scores next year (hopefully…)
the problem is i have VERY few extracurriculars, and seeing as next year is already junior year…ive started panicking a little bit. i transferred after freshman year cuz IMSA is only 10-12th grades so all the 4 yr extracurrics i had planned to do kind of died. what do you recommend that i do? just join a lot next year?
how big of a part do extracurriculars play in the admission process? should i be concerned?
currently i have no leadership positions lol…but anyhow this is what i have so far
2003-2004 ICTM State Math Team
2003-2004 JV Scholastic Bowl
2003-2004 JV Speech Team
2003-2004 JV Badminton Team
2004-2005 IMSA State Science Olympiad Team
2004-2005 IMSA ICTM State Math Team
2004-2005 Future Problem Solving State Qualifier
2004-2005 Mu Alpha Theta (math club)
2004-2005 Key Club general member
2004-2005 IMSA Student Ambassadors (Tour Guide)
2004-2005 IMSA Discussion Classics (by invitation only)
2004-2005 Exodus (refugee mentoring program ) general member
2004-2005 JV Tennis Team
2004-2005 American Regions Math League (Chicago) Team
meh…any advice would be much appreciated. thanks a lotttt
<p>i would say that it is a problem...because of tons of people like you who join everything they possibly can but really have no passionate interest in any of it colleges are starting to shy away from admitting whoever has the longest list of ECs. They are more interested in people with unusual interests that they are very passionate and commited to. Hopefully all your other stats are good enough to get you in where you want to go. my advice: don't bother joining a bunch more it will make you look worse, instead try to find something you actually really like to do so that you can write about something real in your essays</p>
<p>i would say ECs are now VERY important to get into the competitive colleges. too many people already have all A's and passing all their ap exams with fives. u need to do something that will make u different from the rest, and grades won't do it anymore.</p>
<p>Take one or two of your ECs and make the most of it this summer. What do you like to do for fun? Many ARML kids attend a summer math program - does that appeal to you? If you need a job, how about looking at a camp job that uses your athletic ability? Get out there and get started - think of this summer as a springboard for next summer, and a link to your future employment. What kind of activities do you enjoy that can build a base for you?</p>
<p>I think most college admissions people are aware of IMSA and that it is different from most high schools. It's a small school and you live on campus, and so being a member of a lot of clubs is not unusual. However, MIT's application asks for just your top three ECs - think about how you would fill that space. Joining a lot of clubs and teams is an advantage that you wouldn't have at an overcrowded public school. You should think about taking a leadership role in some of your activities next year - where can you make a difference? </p>
<p>Don't get stressed out - it's way too early in the process. The most important thing on your application are your grades, so keep focusing on those. Good luck!</p>
<p>midwesterner-um i go to one of those overcrowded public schools you were talking about and most of my friends are involved in 20-30 clubs/sports/groups. Public schools do not have a lack of EC opportunities and I doubt the difference between public and private will make any difference in this area.</p>
<p>xbisoubisoux-
I was not trying to put down your school, or schools of its type. If you go to a school that has that many clubs offerered, chances are that your school board has planned well to provide funding in non-teaching areas. That is a great credit to them. I hope you realize that in many schools, the money for teams, coaches, equipment and facilities is limited, and harsh decisions have to be made about what gets funded and what doesn't. </p>
<p>I was trying to illustrate the difference between a public school of several thousand students, and a small, highly selective boarding school like IMSA. Since IMSA's clubs and teams have fewer people, there are more opportunities for prominent postions, wouldn't you agree? Take the varsity basketball team, for example. There are 14 spaces available on the team, whether you have under a thousand or 4,000 plus kids in your school. The dedication expected by a big-time sports program is also much greater - the coaches expect that their activity is your number one commitment. I'm sure this is quite different at IMSA.</p>
<p>my point was that you were wrong, not that I was offended. My school districs budget may be as well planned as possible but because I live in california our schools get almost no money in the first place(12 cents per student for books etc.), all of our programs rely on money from fundraising and parents. Unless you are going for a scholarship in a certain sport it doesn't matter whether you are on varsity. ECs are not used by colleges to see how awesome you are in everything you do they are used to show that you are a well rounded person who can blance school with other activities, you're not considered less qualified if you're "only" on JV.</p>
<p>and as for our clubs they get absolutely NO funding from the school</p>
<p>ECs are assessed within the context of the school. This was, and continues to be, my point. If you ask your counselor, you can get a copy of the letter or pamphlet your school sends to colleges with its school profile.</p>
<p>hmm well i used to go to a public school and from what i remembered you just had to pay for almost all the clubs you attend. imsa happens to cover a LOT of that... heh..heh...</p>
