Let's be realistic here-- how far can excellent ECs really take you?

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>I don't have horrible stats, but definitely mediocre towards low end for all the colleges I'd like to apply to (UChicago, Wake Forest, Duke, Tulane, Oxford at Emory). I have a 3.67 unweighted GPA (4.5 weighted-- that's about at the bottom of top 10% of our class if not 11-13%). I have average SAT scores-- 2040 (1360 CR+W), although I'm planning to retake it. However, I think my extracurriculars and leadership positions are my hook, I just don't know how far that will actually take me. I hear ECs are important all the time, but how important are they in context of mediocre stats?</p>

<p>Here's my list of extracurriculars (maybe these are average as well, then I'll be embarrassed for making this post, haha):
~ 4 years of policy debate-- first in the district in 2008, National tournament qualified (competed in Las Vegas), Quarter finalist and octafinalist at 2 national tournaments, First place at the Samford Institute tournament, several speaker awards</p>

<p>~ In 2008, I single handedly founded an international literary and art magazine which has published works from people from all across the US, Sweden, Canada, etc. It has received around 10,000 readers. I'm also currently the editor-in-chief. I've also designed and maintained the website for the magazine.</p>

<p>~ In late 2008/ 2009, single handedly founded an organization that encourages people of all ages to engage in hobbies that will make their lives more meaningful. It has members who's shared their success stories from all across the U.S. I've designed and maintained the website for the organization.</p>

<p>~ 10 poems/photography published in 8 international literary and art magazines. Each have about a 20% acceptance rate.
~ Established website where I sell my photography, and have had pretty good income in place of a job.</p>

<p>~ Co-president of the AI club in our high school for 3 years. During my co-president years, the club has won the "best interest club" award from our high school.
~ I helped establish another club in our school during Sophomore and Junior year. I'm currently the co-vice president of that club, and it has more than 100 members.</p>

<p>~ Piano for 6 years-- state champion in 2007, honorable mention in state in 2008, district winner for 3 years (fresh-junior), winner of sonata competition in 2007, consistently invited to play in private recitals, etc.</p>

<p>~ I've volunteered at a selective Science center, the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America. I have over 500 hours of community service.
~ I've worked in a lab at a state university over the summer.
~ I've attended 2 national debate institutes over the summer
~Attended a selective Youth Leadership camp during summer 2008</p>

<p>~National Merit commended 2009
~Member of the Spanish Honor Society
~Member of National Honor Society
~Member of Mu Alpha Theta, a national mathematics honor society.</p>

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<p>You're easily in at all those schools, and would still have a very strong chance even without those EC's. Sometimes people seriously overestimate the competitiveness of these schools, and the qualifications of the average applicant.</p>

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<p>Thanks, futurelawyer.</p>

<p>Any other thoughts?</p>

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<p>I wouldn't use "single handedly" when describing your ECs on your apps...</p>

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<p>bank1019,
The above was only a quick draft that a wrote. It's a little vague and grammatically incorrect, but I'll definitely fix it up for apps.</p>

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<p>Take with a grain of salt any kid telling you that you are in at all these schools. I have a hard time understand why kids are so out of hand in writing such things.</p>

<p>The trick with ECs at top college is to focus on doing something extraordinarily well, not a lot of things well.</p>