<p>I was recently approached by my vice principal, my former English teacher, about my lack of involvement in Extracurricular activities, and I was told that if I didn't join anything, it would really hurt my chances of getting scholarships and being accepted to higher ranked colleges. I find this very dishearting, given the fact that there are no extracurricular activities I am interested in besides Media Arts, which I quit last year, because of the terrible execution of the class. Another reason I left is because I wanted to focus on language learning, something I really enjoy doing. That counts as something right? I mean, for the past year or so I have really worked hard to get my Korean to where it is now, a solid intermediate, and I am thinking about taking a proficiency test for it sometime next year. I also started Russian a few weeks ago, and I have gained a more or less decent Upper Beginner level(A2) of German through very passive and casual study over the past five months.
Coupled with that, I also get mostly A's(all high B's, except for one 80 in Algebra/Trig Honors for one marking period, but never C's and below). I am a sophmore, going to be a junior next year, and I will be taking two AP classes(History, Literature), along with Language Arts Honors III[I'm literally not going to have a life next year lol...], and AP Calculus course during my senior. And top of that, I'm hoping that I will also be able to participate in a program that my school offers, which allows seniors to leave school after the first half of the day to work, since my family is struggling financially, and a little extra money would be nice. With all of that being said, are my chances of getting in a good college with a scholarship or even a few scholarships really that bad?</p>
<p>What do you mean by a good school? Like HYPS or like a top state school, a good school is relative to the student so you need to be a little bit more specific</p>
<p>Colleges like Middlebury.</p>
<p>^ Colleges want you to demonstrate passion.
So, if your passions are media arts and languages, you can start a media arts club that works, a fanzine, a blog, contact the art teachers to see if an art and literary magazine could be published, whether you can organize a “cineclub” showing older/B&W/international films, etc;
and for languages: tutor in those languages, create culture clubs, convince your administration and school cafeteria to have an international food day at the cafeteria with authentic recipes provided by international students and world language teachers/advanced students, network with the international students at your school and create a “buddy system” for their welcoming and adaptation to the school especially when they arrive and don’t understand much, create a multilingual mini encyclopedia of the school (“the caf” = cafeteria = where we eat lunch…, maps “cafeteria seatings”, tricky problems and their solutions…)
In short: if the clubs that interest you don’t exist, create them and get involved in them (“club founder, president” will look very good on those college applications, regardless of the club, provided you did <em>something</em> :p).
Having a job many hours a week for more than a year, including working full-time and taking care of siblings also “count” as ECs for top college as long as you’ve shown commitment and responsibility through them (ie., that you didn’t have a string of jobs because you kept getting fired…:p)</p>
<p>Now, some schools won’t care and will admit you purely based on rank or (most often) a combination of test scores X GPA. But the schools that give the best financial aid (link below) require proof that you’re more than a good student, but also someone they want to have on campus, who’ll contribute to class discussions, bring something no one else can. All the colleges below are very to most selective. Those that may be the easiest to get into are in bold, plus Franklin&Marshall and St Olaf (plus perhaps Mount Holyoke, if you’re a girl).
<a href=“List of Colleges That Meet 100% of Financial Need”>http://www.thecollegesolution.com/list-of-colleges-that-meet-100-of-financial-need/</a></p>
<p>You don’t mention SAT/ACT scores: if you are a very good student, prepare during the summer so that you’re ready when you take the PSAT in the Fall. If you score very high, there’s scholarship money and full rides at the end. Even if you don’t get the NMSF/NMF scholarships, having a high score can help you get merit scholarships on top of your need-based financial aid.
What colleges were you thinking of?
Run the Net Price Calculators on all of them, as well as the colleges
You can prepare with free tools such as Khan Academy (for math), number2.com (it tracks your mistakes so that you work on improving until you get it right), from your public library you can borrow books such as Cracking the ACT or other prep books, follow Xiggi’s and Silverturtle’s free guide from this website (on the “Test” forum), and practice, practice, practice, using books like “Real ACTs” or “Real SATs”’ (respectively called “red book” and “'blue book”).</p>
<p>Without ECs, the top 25 liberal arts colleges (Especially Middlebury) are probably gonna be a no.</p>
<p>What about Rutgers University? Is that more realistic? Or no?</p>
<p>You seem to have a passive attitude towards ECs, so in that sense the EC screen at top colleges like Middlebury will do exactly what they want by screening you out. You appear to have adopted the attitude that ECs are something provided by your school or some other group, and if nothing piques your interest then too bad for them. </p>
<p>Top colleges look for students with inner drive. ECs are a way to show it as you discover your own interests and figure a way to pursue them. The ones that really stand out aren’t just signing up for some group on campus, but showing a level of accomplishment or leadership in the area(s) you choose. Perfect? No. Kids with savvy parents or counselors are steered into some ECs with an eye towards the colleges. Your teacher gave you some advice along these lines, but I guess you don’t really feel like taking it. </p>
<p>2 very interesting articles about ECs that stand out and how to get them (same author, different examples) are at [How</a> to Be Impressive](<a href=“http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/05/28/the-art-of-activity-innovation-how-to-be-impressive-without-an-impressive-amount-of-work/]How”>The Art of Activity Innovation: How to Be Impressive Without an Impressive Amount of Work - Cal Newport) and [Save</a> This Grind?](<a href=“http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/09/12/case-study-how-could-we-save-this-ridiculously-overloaded-grind/]Save”>Case Study: How Could We Save This Ridiculously Overloaded Grind? - Cal Newport) I don’t buy into his underlying explanation of why they are impressive, but take a look at these 2 articles and I think you’ll get some ideas should you decide its in your best interests to do something.</p>
<p>What state do you live in?
What’s your unweighted GPA?
What’s the norm wrt to AP’s at your school?</p>
<p>Look at these different colleges’ websites (and fill out the “request information” form no matter what):
Bryn Mawr
Goucher
Quinnipiac
Towson
UMaryland-College Park
St Mary’s of Maryland
Loyola U Maryland
TCNJ
Rutgers
Dickinson
Arcadia
Eastern
Muhlenberg
Susquehanna
Rowan
Skidmore
Franklin&Marshall</p>
<p>Which ones do you like best? Why?
Which ones don’t seem that interesting to you? Why?
Which ones seem difficult to get into? Which ones seem easy to get into? Why?</p>
<p>Now, for each college you liked, run the Net Price Calculator.
What are the different costs for each?</p>
<p>Post back here with your answers and we’ll help you more. :)</p>
<p>This thread looks like it may go in circles. Maybe I should just say, the colleges want people who can engage. </p>
<p>And we should skip the word “passion.” if someone is passionate about oh, say, collecting marbles or painting designs on their toenails, you think that says something about them that the colleges will care about? </p>
<p>Some colleges don’t care about ECs. For those that do, I agree with mikemac. I’d add, leadership isn’t the same as collecting titles. It’s how you find responsibilities, put in the effort over time and have some impact. Ie, impact college adcoms can appreciate. Read up on the colleges you are interested in, see what they say about what they seek. </p>
<p>Look, you’re a kid. You sound like an ordinary sophomore who likes to do stuff he or she likes to do and who’s aware that a few of your classmates might like to achieve to a degree their classmates don’t. That means, without my knowledge of your stats, that you’re going to get into one of 3400 colleges in the U.S. and get a fantastic education that you’ll treasure the rest of your life. If you don’t get into a top 100 school, you’ll probably be happier than if you do. At one of the 3400, you’ll learn to challenge yourself and drive the car in increments. You’ll grow into being an adult at your pace, and you might be happier than if you tried to fit yourself in to a Top 100 template. You can still be a superstar at or after college even if you don’t go to a superstar college. Be a kid and don’t worry about it. Study as hard as you want, and then a little more each semester; you’ll do great.</p>
<p>^Actually, collecting marbles, if the student is coherent and convincing about it, yes, colleges will care. Painting toenails? It would depend on 1° quality and originality of the painting (vs. “using nail polish”), 2° whether it’s just their own toenails or if it’s a business or an art project involving lots of toenails.</p>
<p>An “EC” doesn’t have to fit in a format. In fact, selective/holistic colleges <em>love</em> it when the activity is out of the ordinary.</p>
<p>Says who?<br>
Really, how does one know how “passion” figures- and from a hs kid, no less? </p>
<p>If we go back to the OP, it looks like this is a kid who has teachers who are looking out for them, trying to tell them that they need to do X so they can achieve their potential, but OP is determined to not take their advice, and is trying to alter reality to fit their preferred worldview. So, you can either take their advice, which comes after years of experience, and you can get into a place like Middlebury, or you can refuse to conform, which comes with a price, likely no Middlebury.</p>
<p>Either way is a valid way to live, but don’t expect the world to change for you and then act disappointed when it doesn’t. Colleges are looking for people who want to change the world and set out to do that - and that can start right now by creating something you think worthy of your time as an EC, but it has to involve more than just you. Take the above advice and create an EC with like minded students. That’s the sort of thing that will get you into Middlebury if everything else like grades and test scores come together.</p>
<p>“passion” is unfortunately at times well-known to adolescents 
- adulthood would certainly make passion less likely, as we are more reasonable, even-tempered, etc, than our adolescent selves, and thus less prone to passionate attachments to peculiar subjects, activities, people, etc.
What colleges want to know is: if you’re really, really into something and give your 100%, what’s the end result? What are you capable of, preferably on your own or with your own impetus? Can you be creative, can you organize, can you mobilize…? Do you have skills beyond those revealed by your grades? Have you done the best with what you had? What distinguishes you from all other applicants?
And they also want to know: will you be an interesting person for our campus? Will you fill an institutional need? Will you bring a personal/unique perspective to class discussions? Will you enrich the lives of your peers?
So, the motivation behind ECs at “holistic”, very selective colleges, is double: to select the “best” individuals broadly defined, and to “craft” a class.</p>
<p>I expect that your vice principal thinks that you would be an asset in some of the clubs at your high school, and for that reason would like you to be more active there. But if you don’t want to, it really is OK. An extracurricular does not have to be a club at your school, or a project you do at your school. It can be something that interests you (like your independent language study) or something that you need to do (like hold down a part time job to help support your family). If you can write good essays about these interests and/or needs, and how they have helped you grow as a person, the institutions that care about what you do when you aren’t in class will be able to evaluate them along with the school-based ECs that some students enjoy.</p>
<p>Stop worrying about this.</p>
<p>Since money is a real issue for your family, ask them to help you run the Net Price Calculators at the websites of several of the colleges and universities currently on your list. Figure out if it is likely that some of them could be affordable. If none of them are, and none are an absolute slam-dunk for admissions based on your grades and test scores alone, go read through the threads on automatic merit-based aid in the Financial Aid Forum, and find someplace that will admit you with your grades and scores, and that will be affordable for you.</p>
<p>To the OP, I actually do think you have some ECs. Independent language study IS an EC, and a pretty interesting one at that. Unfortunately, you will need to do more for a school like Middlebury. Middlebury receives many, many applications from highly qualified students each year, and one of the ways they weed people out is through EC involvement. One of the problems with not having a lot of ECs is that Middlebury doesn’t really know what you’re doing with your time, and if they don’t know, they assume it’s something “unproductive” like video games or TV. The suggestions offered above are really great ones, and with a little initiative on your part (and a supportive school staff behind you), I think they are doable. If you choose to not “jump through the hoops,” still apply to Midd, maybe write about that choice in your essay, but you should know that your application will probably be weaker for it. </p>
<p>A school like Rutgers, especially if you are in-state and have knock-out grades and SAT scores, will probably take you even with limited EC involvement. State schools, generally speaking, are more numbers oriented, a fact which could work in your favor. </p>
<p>For financial aid, run some NPCs and also figure out what your family will pay. If there is a discrepancy between these two, you will need to consider merit scholarships. If you are NMF, Alabama offers a fantastic scholarship, but if you just have high scores, you may still qualify for their full tuition scholarship. Here is a link to some competitive merit scholarships: <a href=“Competitive Full Tuition / Full Ride Scholarships - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1461983-competitive-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-p1.html</a> </p>
<p>So I talked to my older brother, who is already in college, and did some research on what is considered an extracurricukar activity, and I think I might actually have more. Just looking for confirmation, blogging, sewing and tutoring would be considered ec’s, right? Would it still look less appealing to colleges that I am not in any school sponsored clubs? I am not really too hung up on the idea if going to Middlebury, I was just curious if I could stand a chance applying to a college like that(my top choice for now is Stevens University if that helps). As for my stats, so far I have a 3.9 GPA and my class rank is 3rd. I haven’t taken the SAT’s yet, but I am thinking about taking practice tests to help prepare myself.
@MYOS1634 Thanks for the list of colleges, I am still in the process of looking at all of them. I’ll post with answers soon.</p>
<p>Well, blogging is common, but what matters isn’t just logging on and writing something. Sewing for yourself? More a hobby. I know someone will say, “if you are passionate about it, blah, blah.” But this is your college app- ask yourself if adcoms at those colleges will find it relevant when reviewing you for admission. Tutoring, yes. (How much and what circumstances?) </p>
<p>Stevens in MO? Learn everything you can about them and finaid and see if you fit. Looks like they accept about 70%. They may like the language studies, will like the rigor and the job. (The job can go under ECs, for all schools.)</p>
<p>Keep thinking about what you have done- sometimes helps to make a list of everything, rather than thinking just through the college app lens. Then you can work with it, fine tune, make some decisions. Find something to do at your hs- this isn’t all about “clubs,” could be some other role. Volunteer in the community or through school for some project that helps the needy. Hands on is good. And does some good. You are a junior- use your time during the next year wisely. Starting now. Nothing to be lost from that.</p>
<p>Are you learning Korean on your own outside of school? That’s an impressive extra-curricular.</p>
<p>You could apply for this scholarship for next summer:
<a href=“http://www.nsliforyouth.org/”>http://www.nsliforyouth.org/</a></p>
<p>The U.S. State Department provides an all-expenses paid summer trip to develop language skills in Korean and 6 other languages. If you demonstrate that level of commitment to your studies, it will more than make up for not participating in school-sponsored extra-curricular activities. </p>
<p>Taken to a certain level, sewing is certainly a possible EC. But we’re talking about designing and making your own clothes or award-winning quilts level to be impressive, not needlepoint pillows from pre-existing patterns for grandma’s couch.</p>