I understand that college admissions officers try to look for themes in your extra curriculars and connect them to you major. For example, if you want to major in something science and math related, they look at your ECs to see if you have any math/science related ECs. In my case, I want to major in science and I do have a few science oriented ECs but most of my ECs and major accomplishments are service oriented. I have huge leadership in service clubs as well as a lot of activity in them. I’m afraid that if i put my major as that of science, colleges will be like “why does this guy want i go into science if all his ECs are service oriented???” Is this true? How important is it to have ECs relevent to your major?
Lol, you’re allowed to have multiple, different interests. It’s good to see that instead of devoting all of your time to your passion, you’re also aware of and involved in your community.
Not important. My D is a science/math kid whose HS EC activities included community service, theater, and music. It did not seem to be an issue at all as she got into her top choice college (and is a science major who is still involved with community service, theater, and plays in the college orchestra – she still finds these activities to be great releases from her academic work).
I would argue it’s better to see someone with a well-rounded set of interests. Plus, some majors have no obvious accompanying EC to demonstrate your passion. While it’s obvious that if you’re going into animal science you can work at an animal shelter or if you’re going into government you can volunteer for a political campaign, not all majors are easy to demonstrate passion for. What can you do if you’re going to major in archaeology or statistics? (Okay I’m sure there is something you can do but it is not immediately obvious and probably not accessible for everyone, especially those in rural areas)
Anyway, my point is that admissions officers know that it isn’t always possible to display passion solely for your intended major. If you’re going into a science field and have a couple science ECs, I’d say you’re golden in that department. Feel free to have other interests. That’s what being human is.
Any EC in which you have a genuine interest and sustained effort is good. If you are able to accomplish things and develop leadership, that is better. If it relates to what you want to do then relate it, but if it doesn’t, that’s not critical. I’m sure adcoms will find your community and service focus refreshing.
And I would argue that it is often said by admission officers and college counselors that this is exactly the wrong thing to do, that colleges assemble a well-rounded class composed of kids that were able to identify a few interests and pursue them intently.
I think there is a difference between being well-rounded to the point of sacrificing depth, and being multi-dimensional. Having a STEM focus and a lot of community service ECs doesn’t make the OP well-rounded or lacking in depth, but it does give him an added dimension that would be lacking if all he did was STEM-related activities.
Many if not most STEM majors have interests outside of STEM. That doesn’t mean they are all over the map checking boxes - a sport, an instrument, some community service here, a club president there, a competition on the side…It means they have a couple of things they really enjoy and, hopefully, have engaged in sufficiently long enough and in enough depth to add some skills, meet some interesting people, and broaden their outlook on life. So no worries - do what you love.
@mikemac yes let me clarify. I agree with you and that was not the point I was trying to convey. As posts #6 and #7 said, students shouldn’t aim to have an endless list of a wide variety of ECs. By “well-rounded” I did not mean someone who tries to do everything. I meant someone with an interest in science who also enjoys writing, or someone intending to major in history who is also a musician. I just meant that it’s good to have varying interests (and that it’s okay if your hobbies don’t match your intended major) – NOT that students should try to join every club offered.