<p>I just realized there's honestly zero chance of me getting into the top UCs. I've done nothing at all to increase my probability of getting into a good school. Freshman year, the year that grades are not looked at, I got all A's. I did Key Club, Interact Club, and track. I didn't show up to any of the meetings for Key Club and Interact Club, so it's not like I can put that down on my application. I sucked at track. This year, the year grades are important, I'm getting mostly B's and a couple of A's. I'm taking honors English, honors chem, honors Spanish, theology, AP Euro, PE, and honors algebra II. It's the hardest schedule I can take. It's not so much the grades I'm worried about because I still have the rest of the sem to get them up. It's the ECs that I'm worried about. I do ABSOLUTELY nothing. I don't even want to do track anymore. I was thinking about doing softball. But I don't want to switch sports because I have to look like I have "dedication". I was absent the day we could sign up for clubs this year, so there's that. I have no passion except for houses, but what the hell can you do with a passion for houses? What am I gonna do? Please help a hopeless sophomore. My brother told me if you don't have ECs by sophomore year you're pretty much screwed. I hate my life.</p>
<p>Bump. Any advice is appreciated…</p>
<p>Habitat for humanity</p>
<p>Your brother isn’t telling you the truth. While it’s certainly helpful to have EC’s starting in freshman year, not having any (or very little) won’t ruin your chances.</p>
<p>You’re a sophomore, which means you have the next 2 and a half years to find what you are passionate about. I think a common myth is that you have to look like your dedicated. As most things in life, quality> quantity. Take the time you have now and especially the next two years to do something you really enjoy and find yourself content in doing. Whether that is softball, community service, joining certain clubs, writing books, whatever. Why do track if you don’t want to? Colleges want someone who is passionate about the extracurricular activities they do. </p>
<p>You aren’t “hopeless” by any means. You aren’t screwed, and please, hating yourself is foolish. You have good grades. Go join softball! Actually go to the clubs you signed up for. It looks like you joined them for the resume boost. Is community service your thing? If it isn’t, don’t do things you won’t commit to. There are most likely a lot of clubs in your school. In your community, there are a lot of things you can do (sports, service, projects, even internships). Join competitions, write essays, etc. Your options are limitless if you decide to look for opportunities.</p>
<p>I’m just going to be brutally honest here, because it’s posts like this that drive me insane. </p>
<p>If your primary goal is to get into a “good” school, like the ones you’ve evidently set up for yourself, then you need to suck up all of your unwillingness to participate in EC’s and just <em>do</em> it. Seek out clubs that seem the least painful and join, because it’s true - EC’s do tend to be very important for highly selective colleges, so yes, you do have to be involved in several. Just because you weren’t there on the day when everyone signed up for clubs does not mean it’s too late to join. You can seek out the people in charge of the clubs, email them, and figure out a way to join. Most likely than not, they’ll let you in and it will be alright. </p>
<p>On the other hand, if your primary goal is to enjoy your high school experience and pursue your passions, then forget the clubs and seek out ways to pursue what you enjoy in ways that are unique to you - you don’t have to be involved in a club to pursue your interests. </p>
<p>So there, figure out what your goal is and pick a plan. You’re by no means hopeless. You’re just undecided and somewhat undetermined.</p>
<p>You don’t have to be involved in clubs to end up with good extracurriculars either.</p>
<p>Let me just say, in clubs like Interact and Key Club, you can get volunteer hours. UCs love volunteer hours. It’s one of the things they use in their “point system” to assign merit to each applicant.</p>
<p>It really irks me that you don’t want to change sports because it’s not consistent. Do what you want and don’t let college admissions dominate your life.</p>
<p>Are there any ECs you WANT to do? Do them. If you don’t, don’t.</p>
<p>Please tell us more about your passion for houses. What about them? Any specific kind?</p>
<p>It will still look dedicated if you do something Soph-Senior year.</p>
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<p>Architecture stuff? That’s actually pretty interesting.</p>
<p>In what regard do you like “houses”? (Decorating, building, designing, etc.)</p>
<p>As someone else already mentioned, Habitat for Humanity is a great volunteer program where you can help paint and renovate a house in your area for a good cause. I believe you have to be 16 to participate, but last year (as a freshman) I went with a few upperclassmen and was able to observe and help out with errands as a member of the rotary club at my school. Definitely check if they have a project in your area! (:</p>
<p>UCs aren’t the only good schools in the world…</p>
<p>There are homeless Harvard grads and wealthy state school grads; just pick a school that’s right for you, and you’ll be fine.</p>
<p>If your passion is houses, get an internship somewhere or become an assistant somewhere pertaining to houses, such as Real Estate or Contracting, or Constructing or whatever that may be.</p>
<p>That’s pathetic that you’re doing all this for a name of a school that will matter for about 4 years of your life.</p>
<p>You won’t get in with this attitude.
You are a robot.
So basic, colleges will see right through you.</p>
<p>Your pathetic if you think colleges care that much about a r</p>
<p>Ouch, my feelings</p>
<p>I nearly laughed out loud when I read, “hopeless Sophomore”.<br>
In my sophomore year, I wasn’t even considering college. Do what you like, but self pity isn’t going to get you anywhere. If you like houses, do thongs with houses. Colleges will like that you’re pursuing what you actually care about.</p>
<p>Guys, while most of you are correct with what you are saying, you don’t have to be so mean to her. Gosh.</p>