I am going over-kill with making threads, but I am really clueless and I don’t want to be rejected again by schools 
I live in a rural community, I go to a small international school. And when I say small, I mean small!
Looking back at my application it is looking a bit bare, but my current school offers so little and I take whatever courses/activities are offered. But… looking at it without this knowledge, it looks like I’m not very well-rounded and that I don’t do much EC’s.
This upcoming boarding school application process, how do I let the AOs know about my situtation?
I think the AOs know that different applicants have different opportunities available to them. It’s important to just take full advantage of what is offered to you. On a ton of “Chance me” threads, I definitely got a bit intimidated by the sheer amount and rigor of academics and ECs some people were doing, but it’s also really important to show them who you are as a person, as well as your passion and drive for learning.
Besides academics, what can you contribute to a boarding school community ?
I do not think that lack of ECs at your current school will help even if understood by AOs. Sometimes students have to go into the community for ECs.
I agree with @publisher on this. There should be no expectation that a school has to be chock-full of ECs. If the school does not have ECs (which is the case for most schools outside the US, BTW), then the expectation is that the student will look for opportunities in the community, via the church, the Y, scouts, as just a few examples. Depending upon how rural you mean, milking the cows is an EC. But bottom line, schools are looking for initiative in overcoming obstacles, not excuses.
Are you sure there is nothing you can do as an EC?
Some examples of ECs from kids I know:
- Blogged about politics and featured interviews and profiles of community leaders
- Created sculptures out of found objects and trash
- Started a business making custom birthday cakes. (Awesome website and Instagram Feed, too)
- Created YouTube videos explaining Science and Math topics
- Recruited schoolmates to put on regular performances at local nursing home (musicians, magicians, comedy). Did not perform herself, but coordinated the whole thing.
None of these were school sponsored. None required resources.
Are you sure there is nothing you can do?
See above. One of the most interesting and discussed ECs for my child was completely unrelated to our high-performing, opportunity-filled, LPS. He just happened to have an interest that could be cultivated outside our community. BTW, it did not cost one dime to take advantage of the opportunities.
Find your passion and pursue it.
Just curious, is painting a legitimate EC, even though I’m not in some sort of art club (since it isn’t offered).
Yes