Questions on ECs

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
1

<p>hey, guys</p>

<p>I was just wondering how many and what kinds of ECs are decent and can help you kinda stand out?</p>

<p>Here is my situation, I with my family immigrated to Canada last year.
and during last year, i didn't do any volunteer work or participate in any activities, for i always considerd applying to canadian univs before. i really think getting into canadian univs is pretty easy and the admission procedure is quite simple which only requires the marks of 4~5 core courses, so i simply did nothing for that.</p>

<p>but several months ago, sth happend and i changed my mind. Now, i am desperately hoping that i can go to US Univs. But my problem is that i really lack ECs right now...</p>

<p>I started doing volunteer work last week, and I am aiming for 100+ hours by the end of this year. I plan to get involved in 2~3 school clubs next school year(Sep), and I am playing violin for my school band next year. </p>

<p>so here is what i want to ask:
1) I palyed violin for 10 years, and i think i can play it quite well. so will it be helpful if I take part in some activities or clubs related to violin outside school?for instance, paticiplating in a music festival, or sth like that?
2)I am also considering do some sports (tae kwon do???), for maybe that will make me look all-round. But I am not sure if it will help...
3) what kinds of ECs do you guys recommend doing?</p>

<p>Really thank you for reading the whole thing. and i will appreciate if you can give your opinions here.</p>

<p>thanks in advance.</p>

2

<p>There are plenty of schools in the US that will accept you for just having a high GPA and good SAT/ACT scores. Stanford, however, isn't one of them...</p>

<p>Volunteering for 100 hrs or playing violin at school will not get you into Stanford. You don't have to be "well-rounded", but you have to be exceptionally good at something (on top of having close to perfect grades and scores) to get into a school like Stanford.</p>

3

<p>Found a club for leadership.</p>

<p>Do your best.</p>

<p>Stanford is a crap shot for a lot of us.</p>

4

<p>yeah, I do know that.</p>

<p>just assume i can get perfect grades or scores at school. and pretty good SAT scores and brilliant essays.</p>

<p>and will it help if I become the leader of my school band next year?</p>

5

<p>thank you guys</p>

<p>and anyone else?</p>

6

<p>Any leadership helps, but don't start some random club at school hoping to be the "founder."</p>

7

<p>thanks yahooo</p>

<p>ok, i kind of know what i need to do in next few months</p>