Question about "Extra cirriculars"

Applying to College
1

<p>I'd like to start by saying I know a bunch of kids at my school who are the type to do something just to put it on their college resume, essentially it seems like they don't care at all what they do, as long as colleges like it. In addition I've seem some D-bags on "yahoo answers" who ask "what looks best on a college application, club A or club B?", instead of choosing whichever they actually prefer. I detest the type who do things purely for some ulterior motive, and I am 100% enthusiastic about all my activities.</p>

<p>So, currently I am a sophmore in Highschool, and all I can think about is college lately. I've read before that "you shouldn't be all over the place with your extra cirricular activities" (concentration), for instance someone who is president of their school HOSA/volunteers at a hospital, and interns with a physician, versus someone who works in a bakery, president of Key-club, and volunteers at an animal shelter. Here is what I do in highschool right now.</p>

<p>Sports- I do competitive kendo, and hope to compete in competitions soon. Track: I don't do varsity, but I do track because it's fun and I enjoy it. Recreational soccer every year since I was 5 if that counts too.</p>

<p>Clubs: Key club (web designer), Junior Statesmen of America (we don't have a large group, and essentially I'm guarenteed to be president next year), FBLA (no position right now, but I am going to state). I also hope to start a club of my own, for kids interested in medical field jobs. Also, my Beginning Marketing class is associated with DECA, which I hope to attain a leadership position next year when I am in advanced marketing.</p>

<p>Other: Boyscouts (I hope to become an eagle soon), and I hope to get a "permenent" volunteer position at a hospital.</p>

<p>I can't say I am 100% sure, but I am interested in jobs/internships as well, maybe over the summer since I'll be using it for some additional classes anyway. </p>

<p>But as you can see, not all of my clubs "connect" really, Key club is volunteering, JSA is debate, FBLA/DECA are together, and the medical-club connects to hospital volunteering. And then boyscouts technically connects to it all.</p>

<p>So, I don't plan on quitting any of these, but how do colleges see "overinvolved students"?</p>

2

<p>The activities don't need to connect, but I'm sure that if you think hard enough you can find some reason why you enjoy doing what you do. You seem to know the answer to your own question: colleges want students to be active outside of academics, but not do extracurricular activities to impress the colleges. Is that what you mean by 'overinvolved'? There's nothing wrong with being very involved with activities you enoy.</p>

3

<p>It's fine if they don't connect. Don't worry about it...</p>

4

<p>You definitely do not need to package yourself into them. If you do things you're interested in, you'll have a shot, and after that, it's up to your fortune! I approve of what you're doing, as long as you don't compromise doing what you love to guess at what might please colleges, because very likely random resume-padding will fail to gain you acceptance at schools anyway. That much, I'll hand schools.</p>

5

<p>not to be a grammar nazi, but it's spelled 'extracurriculars'</p>

<p>:) just so you know and don't spell it incorrectly on anything important!</p>

6

<p>by "over involved" I mean people who are so spread out and seemingly in tons of groups and clubs, with or without leadership positions.</p>

7

<p>Doesn't really matter I think, otherwise they wouldn't want to hear about all of them. When you write about them, they just want to hear about what the activity means to you mostly to give them insight on the type of person you are. If you're too over-involved in things that you haven't participated in for a long time, then they just think its to impress colleges (come on, give them more credit than to think that they just fawn over how many EC's someone has). Again, tell them the activities importance to you and its link to your personality.</p>

8

<p>I guess it all comes down to how committed you are to the EC. In my opinion, ECs like holding a position of your class (such as President, etc.) are only a popularity contest. Somebody that is into something, such as tutoring others at school, is much more valuable and makes you stand out as an applicant.</p>