<p>so i've written down all the ECs I do, and so far, I have 5. I am dedicated to all of them, not extremely, but a good amount of hours are put into them. The problem is, when I fill out the common app, I'm going to take up 5 spaces, and thats it. Aren't the top colleges going to look down on me for not having most of the spaces filled up? Like UCSD, UCLA, UC Berkeley. Has anyone gotten into these schools, who is Asian and has a 100,000+salary and good test scores and grades and numbers and no hooks, with 5 things or less on the extracurricular list of their common app? I did do key club and interact events freshmen year, should i include them to pad my app? and should i join more clubs, even if i won't be guaranteed to get leadership positions in them? THANK YOU SO MUCH WHOEVER ANSWERS I NEED DIRECTION IN MY LIFE</p>
<p>Depending on how you define “good” test scores and grades, I think you’ll be fine for UCSD. Plenty of people with a similar profile to you end up at SD. I don’t know so much about the other schools, you may be very borderline for admission into LA and Cal.</p>
<p>You don’t submit the Common App for the UCs. The UCs have their own app, and there are only 5 spaces for extracurricular activities. (Unless you’re including volunteering activities in EC’s?) Look here for the categories you can fill out on the UC app (note, there are only 5 spaces for each category, so if you have more than 5, you have to choose the ones that are most meaningful to you or show your dedication/passion the most.) <a href=“University of California Counselors”>University of California Counselors;
<p>I don’t think it’s worth putting Key/Interact, if you only did it freshman year. It’s going to be obvious you’re just trying to “pad” your app, it doesn’t really show any dedication to those activities. Dedication to a few activities (preferably over a long period of time, or with leadership or achievements that show your dedication) > a large quantity of meaningless activities that you just did to pad your app.</p>
<p>Like @archaic said there are only 5 spaces for you to put EC’s. I know you only have 5 but definitely put the ones that you have been in the longest or the one’s that you have had leadership experience in. Colleges like leadership positions, but they are not necessary to get in. When people join a bunch of clubs senior year it is apparent to colleges (and many of your classmates) that you just want to beef up your resume for college. </p>
<p>Colleges want to see that you can stick to something and that you have leadership skills. Joining every club on campus will not help you. But it could make your senior year more fun and introduce you to new people/ ideas.</p>