<p>This sounds terrible (and a bit exploitive), but would the fact that I’m low-income make up for the fact that I’m not all that special in ECs? I’ve received some mails for summer internships and programmes at renowned universities (and some fishy for-profit organisations as well), but they all cost thousands of dollars. My college counsellor told me these programmes are essentially money-makers for colleges and add very little to my transcript. As for all the other unique ECs (creating a business, do research papers, etc.) I don’t really have an excuse there with the exception that it costs money to do these things. I’ve decided to forego tennis this year and get some job experience instead.</p>
<p>AmbiD77, I think that’s what my entire application’s going to come down to. I think I have a somewhat unique story, being a first-generation immigrant, college applicant, and English being my second language. When I applied to the QB College Prep Scholarship I wrote about my struggles identifying with both my native country and America and feeling the need to “pick a side”. My English teacher probably wrote an exhilarating recommendation, judging from her essay she wrote about me in an awards ceremony this year. I’ll just go along with what I have already done.</p>
<p>Thanks for everyone’s informative input so far!</p>