<p>I'm wondering if you count your ECs before high school in your college applications. For example, I have been playing in the band for nine years and going, but do I have to limit it to the four years in high school?</p>
<p>Generally, colleges don't care about what you did before high school, unless it's something really extraordinary (the classic example is winning the national spelling bee). So, don't mention that you were on the basketball team in 7th grade or anything like that. However, the fact that you've demonstrated a decade-long commitment to a particular EC, and continue to do so, is pretty impressive. It'd be a good thing to mention in the "letters/positions/awards" section or on a resume if you plan to attach one.</p>
<p>what if you placed like top 3 in state multiple times before HS? can u include that</p>
<p>^ (10 chars)</p>
<p>what if you competed at a state level in an academic program?</p>