"Most Important EC" in 150 Words!??!

Parents Forum
1

<p>Well, I have just had my first frustrating common app experience. Since I have only finished Georgetown, Chicago, and Princeton, I haven't had to deal with this horrible system - but now I am forced to discuss my most important extracurricular in 150 words??? Thats about ONE paragraph - for my other schools, I used a 500 word essay to describe my internship. </p>

<p>So I guess you can't be too creative? I'll just have to focus on WHAT I did instead of why I did it and why this is rewarding.</p>

2

<p>Write it as though you are sending it by telegram (where you must pay by the word!)</p>

3

<p>Well, I think that's the point. They don't want an essay; they just want a synopsis. And every student applying has the same small limit, so you're on even ground. If you had to, couldn't you describe what it is in a couple sentences, maybe a paragraph, and why it was important to you in a couple more?</p>

4

<p>Try doing it in only 100 words. Then you can figure out what is most important of that which you left out.</p>

5

<p>You may use most of the words on the descriptive material, but the most important words will tell the adcom why the EC is the most important. I'd shoot for a 50/50 split if I could do it.</p>

6

<p>This feels weird, but here goes:</p>

<p>On a particularly boring day when I sat in a corner stuffing envelopes I wondered to myself how I could make a rather mundane intern experience more useful and rewarding. With a few thought out words, and a few days of proving my ability, I was rewarded with a position as “Veteran’s Liaison Officer”.</p>

<p>Since then, I have organized Veteran’s workshops for the brave soldiers who fought for our country years ago, and I have produced newsletters and mailings that provide updates to these men and women who deserve their under-utilized benefits. Recently, the work of my office was featured in Roll Call and Newsday as a model of excellence for attaining veteran’s benefits. </p>

<p>When a veteran called in one day to tell me how far the money would go in paying bills and managing debt, I realized the potential impact even a mere intern can achieve. Something inside me had changed since the day I sat by myself stuffing envelopes. I came to understand the value of working for others, and I was exposed to the inner rewards of taking action for others. Looking back, I can only be thankful that a job I once found monotonous now serves as the catalyst for a future career in public service.</p>

<p>-Its short, and it feels funny - but I think thats the best I can do with 150 words!</p>