My ECs aren't "focused"... What do I do?

Applying to College
1

So I’m a rising senior, class of 2016, and I had been wondering for a while about focused ECs. Do top colleges want prospective students to have a general theme to their ECs, because I feel like mine are really scattered. Here’s the list of mine:

School Newspaper Club (Founder and Editor-in-Chief, 11th-12th)
Environmental Club (Co-Founder and President, 11th-12th)
First Priority Christian Club (Student Leader, 9th-12th)
Member of a School Board/Committee that meets to discuss things we can do to improve the school. I was nominated for this and there are only 15-20 students from our whole school on it. (11th-12th)
Unpaid Internship at Boeing (summer after 11th)
Biological Research with a college professor (summer after 11th)
Started a community service drive with the enviro club, but not really…
Volunteer at local hospital (Summer after 10th and 11th)
Won a few writing competitions, nothing notable…
NHS (Member, 10-12th)
SNHS (Member, 10-12th)
Quiz Bowl (Member (9-12th)
This is not an EC but… Siemens Competition Semifinalist (10th) That was so fluke-y

And that’s pretty much it. There might be more that I’ll add if I remember them. The last three clubs require minimal effort, so they shouldn’t really be counted. Looking over this list once more, I feel like it shows that I don’t have focus. I don’t really know what I want to do, but I do have some ideas. I don’t want my scattered list of ECs to harm me in the eyes of the adcoms though. Any advice?

2

Yes, to an extent you need a theme for your EC’s that describe you. Organize your EC’s by passion, the activity you love doing often and work your way down.

3

I think the most notable achievement is making Siemens semifinalist. Why do you list it last?

4

I kinds of see a science focus, maybe you want to group all the science activities together to make it obvious

5

Relist the in groups:

Leadersip positions

volenteer/comm service

achedemic awards/competitions

Sports if any

Work

It may help you see the “focus” pattern more clearly!

6

@seal16 I just didn’t think it was an “EC,” per se.

7

@a20171 I thought I was a somewhat science focus too, but I really like writing (like the school newspaper) so I was wondering if that scatters it a bit. And enviro club is considered science… Hmm…

8

It is fine to have a wide range of activities, just try to group them together (ex. science, quiz teams, writing, community service). My D had a wide range of activities/interests and presented that as a positive in her application.

9

bump