<p>Can a person still get into a top-tier college if he or she does not(or minimally) do any community service and join a club or team?</p>
<p>Probably...but academic record better be stellar. The thing about ec's....they just make you seem like a well rounded person, which is what colleges look for. They will definitely make your application look much sharper and will raise your chances for any school.</p>
<p>Well it would definently catch their attention, and hence they wouldn't be like the "normal" applicant. He or she would stand out. :)</p>
<p>I might be wrong, but doing no ECs because you don't like them are much better than doing ECs for just for college. But I'm sure it's extremely rare to not like any ECs at school unless it's a small school, IMO.</p>
<p>Well, with a lot of highly qualified applicants the main thing that sets people apart in their passions (most often about EC). If you can pull off sounding passionate without EC then you may have a chance.</p>
<p>Another note...Why did you choose not to do any EC? Try to spin this in your favor. Did you have to work 30+ hours a week to support family? etc. (But be truthful).</p>
<p>no sports?
C'mon, u can let it out: the school football tm's sux... atleast that's the reason why I don't play football.</p>
<p>Actually, I view it as something that you can lay back on incase your academics need to be made up for... (i.e. if ur g.p.a. or test scores are below the 50% mark of accepted applicants,etc.)</p>
<p>Don't do anything just because you think a college would like to see it on your application! They will catch on to it if you do, and all you will have done is wasted your own time and made yourself miserable. Do things because YOU WANT to do them, not because you think colleges do!</p>
<p>Think outside of school, if the school ec's are not for you, go into the real world. School Ec's are a dime a dozen, real world experience takes effort and time. Saying the stuff at your school is bad is no excuse to do nothing. Find a passion and follow it. Why would a school take someone with no interests? Doing something just to look good is not right, but do you truly have no interests? And in my opinion it is better lets say as a freshman to try different ec's until you find the ones that work. Not doing anything at all is pretty lazy unless you are working, taking care of your family, or something with your time. Just doing school work shows lack of initiative.</p>