<p>Okay guys, I know that colleges routinely say "we don't want a laundry list of ECs because they lack focus and dedication..." but what would you say if a person had a long list of ECs but was either in each activity for all four years of High School and/or captain/president of the organization. Do you think colleges would except the list if it contained a lot of leaderhip. I'd like to know what you guys think.</p>
<p>no i feel that even in laundry lists of ecs, there are certain themes that they follow, whetheri t is comm service, or athletics, or journalism, or knitting, or something, and what really intersts those adcomms more are the passions like those, and less on the clutter that surrounds it. if you are director of your school's costume crew, founded the knitting club, and took classes FIT on fashion & design, i feel that carries more weight than being the president of the soup kitchen club, the piano club, the japanese culture club, and the ... club, because the fashion would appear to be something you're passionate in. </p>
<p>that is to say of course, if you are by chance president of key club, president of arista, and president of the school, that kinda laundry list still has a theme: school dictator =/ the thing is to not make it long and tedious</p>
<p>The only time i would vouch for a laundry list, if you have 2 or 3 genuine passions, adn the list is made out of ec's that focus on these passions.</p>
<p>thanks that makes good sense</p>
<p>I have a laundry list of EC's and the only thing that doesn't 'tie in' with the others is crew.</p>
<p>Start your own club or kick off something of your own, that holds more wait.</p>
<p>But doesn't that start to build up</p>
<p>Sports
Clubs
Starting own club/business/whatever</p>
<p>I'm just not sure, after looking at everyones threads, some people are all over the place, others are super dedicated to music, science fair, etc. I'm just not sure where I fall in.</p>
<p>Hmmmm.</p>
<p>Being part of a sport just for kicks/physical exercise is not a big deal. If you're not amazing at the sport, consider whether it's really helping your app. Do you have better ways to spend your time? If so, I'd defintely consider dropping the sport through school and do it through your community, so you can continue with it but with a smaller committment. </p>
<p>Also, is YOUR invovlement in the clubs really adding a lot to the club? Colleges couldn't care less if you just said, 'hello' and came to the clubs. Rather, if you are leading them, or have an evident impact on the clubs, then they're probably worth your time. Again, only start your own club if you really care about it, and you'll actually be serious with it. </p>
<p>In high school you'll notice that you don't have time to do everything, and consequently must prioritize the things that mean most to you. Although it is very possible that you could be interested in 5-10 subjects, it's probably more likely that your interest lies in 2 or 3. Research indicates that the things you enjoy are the things you're good at, and the things you're good at are also very good at getting you into college. </p>
<p>What makes you so worried about your position?</p>
<p>Could you take a look at this list, maybe you'll see why I feel so disorganized...</p>
<p>Music
Piano-Independent Study for 10 years
Saxophone-Playing for 10yrs; Play in School Wind Ensemble (1st chair)
Tuba- Play in Marching Band since 9th Grade
-Mens Varsity Cross Country
3 yrs-Captain
-Mens Varsity Ice Hockey
4 yrs-Captain
-Mens Varsity Track & Field
4 yrs-Captain
-P.R.I.D.E. (People Recognizing International Diversity Enthusiastically)
4 yrs-Club President
-The Pride of Mayfield Marching Band
4 yrs
-World Affairs Club (Model UN)
3 yrs
-Maurice Saltzman Youth Panel (SYP)
Community Service Panel that met several times during the to discuss how to appropriate $50,000 to local charities
-Ambassadors for Unity (AFU)
Community Organization that did many service projects in Cleveland as well as a trip to Israel to do community work in a low socioeconomical environment</p>
<p>Community Service
-Since 7th grade I have taught students hebrew every week at Sunday school, I have taught in grades 3-6 (100hrs/yr)
-Various smaller things with the clubs, especially PRIDE, for which I coordinate most things
-By the time I graduate, I will have logged somewhere between 500-600 hours</p>
<p>Work Experience
-Funded this summer by Cleveland Clinic (3rd ranked hospital in USNews, so its like the Yale of Hospitals) to conduct my own epidemiological research on Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in the Congestive Heart Failure Center, the Clinic published this report
-Worked two summers at a Sports Camp as a Counselor (40 hr/wk for 8 wks)
-I co-founded my own business called KH Video Productions, we have been working for 5 yrs now and do event videography for weddings, bar mitzvahs, and local businesses
-Spanish Tutor over the summer</p>
<p>Dude. I don't even have any leadership.</p>
<p>My commitment to anything is 3 years at most.</p>
<p>You're fine seriously.</p>
<p>But, I think there is either a lack of passion or a hint of being unfocussed and trying to hard. Would you guys consider doing a lot of sports just a passion for athletics?</p>
<p>you have a strong sports background and strong passion in music, i wouldn't consider the comm service as a passion for you even with your above normal hours, the other clubs you mention i feel is clutter, the work experience is work experience (and is considered a little separately. </p>
<p>in a nutshell, ur ec list is long, but not necessary filled with clutter. at least, not that much.</p>
<p>Well my question is: how big is your school and how good are you (honestly)? If you're only mediocre, consider spending more time on one sport? Also, how good are you at the saxophone. I learned in HS that there really is no reason to pretend that you're good at something unless you really are. Understandng your strengths and weaknesses is KEY for organizing your priorities, and knowing when you need to work more to achieve excellence.</p>
<p>what about my "laundry" of ECs?</p>
<p>Taiwan
Awards</p>
<p>10th Grade
1st Place in Sho-Wo National Debate Competition
2st Place in Sex-ed Cup Taipei Debate Competition
4th Place in Elite Cup National Debate Competition
Role Model of the Class
Representative of School for Teenager’s Day National Chinese & English Speech Contest
Representative of School for China Radio National English Contest
Top Six in Middle School Education Cup National Debate Competition
9th Grade
1st Place in Mainland China&Taiwan Youth Math Contest
5th Place in Taipei English Speech Contest
1st Place in School’s English Speech Contest
1st Place in School’s Chinese Speech Contest
Mayor’s Award </p>
<p>Activities</p>
<p>10th Grade
Debate Team (Captain of class of 93)
Debate Club (President of class of 93)
Director of Cheng Kong Senior High Debate Competition (Vice CEO)
Student Council (Class representative)
Class Leader
Teacher’s Assistant (Math)
Teacher’s Assistant (English)
9th Grade
Science Lab Club (President)
Bridge Club (President)
Teacher’s Assistant (Science)</p>
<p>Community Service</p>
<p>10th Grade
Student Service/Discipline Team</p>
<p>Work Experience</p>
<p>10th Grade
Handing out trophies, certificates, Medals for Taipei Middle Education Sports Tournament</p>
<p>The US
Awards</p>
<p>10th Grade
AMC 10 School Winner Pin
AMC 10 Honor Roll of Distinction
AMC 10 Certificate of Distinction (AIME Qualifier)
AIME Certificate of Participation
AIME School Record Holder (5/15)
Honor Roll all Three Terms
Head of School’s List all Three Terms</p>
<p>Activities</p>
<p>10th Grade
Model UN Club
Debate/JSA Team
Class of 08 Executive Committee
Orchestra (Piano & Percussion)
Soccer Team
Swimming Team
Life guarding</p>
<p>Community Service</p>
<p>10th Grade
Dining Hall Service
Peer Tutoring </p>
<p>Work Experience</p>
<p>10th Grade
Peer Tutoring </p>
<p>I think my list is filled with debate, but does that actually help if I want to do engineering, probably Electrical Engineering when I apply?
Or should I put policical science as my desired major when applying to universities that accept as a whole? (ex: MIT, Stanford) (not like: Cornell, which accepts people by their different schools)</p>
<p>I guess math could be another part of my EC</p>
<p>oh, btw, I'm a rising junior who took 10th grade in Taiwan, came to the US last year and repeated 10th grade.</p>
<p>Dude, kennyk, you kinda just hijacked my thread. lol. Why don't you start your own post and that way we can both have our questions answered seperately instead of competing with eachother on the same board.</p>
<p>As for being good at the stuff I do:
Sports-All varsity level (I start in hockey)
Music- First Chair for Sax in school's wind ensemble
Volunteer- Been doing it since 7th grade so I feel I have a lot of dedication involved</p>
<p>oh well, sry about that if you feel offensed.</p>
<p>halopeno2, I see a few threads:
music
international unity/action/service
sports leadership</p>
<p>also, being captain of a sport doesn't show lack of interest in other things, it shows:
1. that you're good at the sport
2. that your teammates recognize this and respect you
and
3. that you're willing to take on the responsibility for more than 1 year shows dedication</p>
<p>don't worry.</p>
<p>Thanks for the post Lunarchic</p>
<p>KennyK, I wasn't offended: I'm just saying that it would be more efficient if we each had our own threads. No biggie.</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone so far, you guys have been a sweet help!</p>