<p>So I will be applying to colleges this year without any extracurriculars. I have nothing I can put down in that section. I have done community service but it's a requirement for graduation at my school. I'm worried that it will affect my application. My schedules have been rigorous and my grades have been good. My SAT score is a 2100 and my ACT right now is a 30 but I'll be retaking that. </p>
<p>I do have a reason for not joining clubs or getting a job and that's because I have five younger siblings who have needed me at home after school while my parents worked. I plan on explaining that in my essay but I'm worried that I might get rejected because family issues prevented me from having an outstanding application. I will also be a first generation applicant and I'm an URM (Pacific Islander). If the school allows an Art Supplement, I'll be turning it in with some of my artwork.</p>
<p>Would my lack of extracurriculars hurt my chances at Ivy Leagues, particularly Princeton and UPenn, and schools like Georgetown and UMichigan? Should I even bother looking at schools like those?</p>
<p>The vast majority of colleges do not care about ECs. However, the Ivies are not in that majority. Look up the Common Data Set for each school, section C7, to see what they use in admissions. That being said, caring for a family is a good EC by itself, but you may have to really sell it in your essay.</p>
<p>If you’re creating art, you do have an extracurricular. They don’t all have to be official clubs and organizations. Simply playing the guitar or sculpting in your free time counts as an EC. And caring for 5 younger siblings is an EC, just like any job would be, whether paid or not. Make sure the teachers who write your recs know about your work at home, and definitely come up with some interesting stories about your family for your essays.</p>
<p>Colleges don’t want a laundry list of stuff you did; they just want to know whether you are an interesting person.</p>
<p>In college admissions sessions I’ve heard from very selective colleges, many have said that unavoidable family responsibilities such as yours count as an extracurricular activity. Write a very good essay about your situation. Even if you aren’t part of a club, being an artist counts as an extracurricular. Your community service is also important. Are there an clubs that meet during the school day you could be part of during your senior year?</p>
<p>my friend had a 4.2 and a 2340 on his SATs and applied to every ivy and got rejected from EVERY SINGLE ONE. his essay was fantastic along with his recommendations, but he had no EC, he ended up only getting into northwestern and georgetown…
i go to a public school in NY that is in the 1 percent for top schools</p>
<p>Your caring for your family should be listed, you time doing art on your own and your community service. Since you had to care for your siblings, the school will understand that it is a responsibility you carry out and that your family depends upon you for it. Make sure the time commitment per week is clear and they will give you credit for it. What do you do on the weekends?</p>
<p>If your grades are in range, then you should apply where you are interested. You never know until you apply. Just be sure to do a mix of reach match and safety and be sure to look for financial safety.</p>
<p>Of course, 1st gen URM will give you a tip many places.</p>
<p>Unfortunately my school doesn’t have clubs during the day. It would’ve been difficult for me to do that anyways with my schedule. During the weekends was when I would do my community service. If I could get into Georgetown or Northwestern I would be happy with that, I just don’t want to waste money applying somewhere where I would have no chance.</p>
<p>"The term “extracurricular activities” covers an enormous amount of ground. We are interested in whatever a student does: in addition to school extracurricular activities and athletics, students can tell us of significant community, employment, or family commitments. There are many who spend a great deal of time helping to run their household, preparing meals and caring for siblings or making money with a part-time job to help the household meet expenses.</p>
<p>Unfortunately many schools have had to curtail or eliminate extracurricular activities and athletics, or they charge fees for participation. In addition, many students cannot afford expensive musical instruments or athletic equipment — or have families without the resources to pay for lessons, summer programs and the transportation networks necessary to support such activities.</p>
<p>Admissions Committees keep these factors in mind as they review applications, and are concerned most of all to know how well students used the resources available to them. Extracurricular activities need not be exotic — most are not — and substance is far more important. A student who has made the most of opportunities day-to-day during secondary school is much more likely to do so during college and beyond. This applies to academic life as well as extracurricular activities."</p>