<p>Not that I am a totally academic person, but my school (outside the us) does not have enough clubs/activities I could participate in. I've done what I could though with substantial amount of community service/voluntary work.</p>
<p>However, my ec's and all don't match up with the average applicant here at cc.
I would like suggestions on colleges (1st tier/upper 2nd tier) that care more about grades, SATs, recs than ec's and the like.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>State schools are generally your best bet if you're looking for places that focus on numbers.</p>
<p>As an American who went to high school in Mexico and did not have access to all the clubs, teams, etc. that other kids have (simply because academics are considered more important in Mexico), I can tell you NOT to drop your standards when applying because of your 'lack' of ECs. I was accepted to two private schools (Northwestern and USC) as well as three excellent state schools. I think what got me in were my decent SAT scores and grades and my essays, which I worked long and hard on. The only ECs I had to my name were community service and a couple small things like one year on the basketball team and one year in the theater club. Hell, I didn't even have a job through high school! </p>
<p>Don't worry, you'll be fine. But definitely add some state schools (albeit good ones) to your list because I believe they do care a bit more about numbers.</p>
<p>big schools since they don't have time to look through all your stuff. think penn state or other state schools.</p>
<p>my situation is similar to lilybbloom's. but with ordinary ec's, my SAT scores aren't too high either (2140: 760m, 710wr, 670cr). english is my 2nd language btw.
i've lots of community service. and 'little things' like i'm in the school's soccer team; member, soccer club; prez, computer club; high school play; model united nations; some voluntary work exp. tht's about it...
can't apply to state schools as they don't provide finaid to intls, i guess.</p>
<p>This is a list of top schools students with little to no ECs at my school were accepted to:</p>
<p>USC
Northwestern
Johns Hopkins
Duke
Vanderbilt
Pomona
Carleton
Middlebury
Emory
Washington University in St. Louis</p>
<p>Don't worry about the amount of EC's of those on this website, because members here definitely have more than the average student or applicant. My EC's aren't near what some of them have, and I am still going to my first choice school.</p>
<p>I second that.</p>
<p>Use College Board's college search function or Princeton Review's, and you will see how individual colleges consider ECs. Example: NU: <a href="http://apps.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=4099&profileId=1%5B/url%5D">http://apps.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=4099&profileId=1</a>
caltech <a href="http://apps.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=4214&profileId=1%5B/url%5D">http://apps.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=4214&profileId=1</a></p>
<p>Thanks a lot. And one more thing: Can't volunteering double as work experience? I've volunteered to teach computer to spinal injury patients, give presentations at schools, for data entry at some office etc..</p>
<p>shrek,
I am surprised to see Pomona on your list as they value EC's a lot from our experience and according to their talks. They will reject a 1500 all A student for someone with good stats but who has done something interesting or out of the ordinary. Teaching computers to spinal chord patients is a definite plus to any school!</p>
<p>EC's can be more a matter of packaging/marketing. Think about what you are doing in your spare time. If it isn't all video games, then turn it into an EC. It sounds like you are doing volunteering and working with computers. You can use self-study of a subject as an EC. Except at the large public schools where they just don't have the time to read all of the material, EC's are important at any selective school. After you qualify for admission based upon difficulty of curriculum, gpa/rank, and standardardized test scores, then you need to stand out from the crowd based upon the EC's, essays, and recommendations. Adcoms want to see "passion" in one or two EC's. Showcase what you do in your spare time in your essay, and the EC list backs up the essay. Adcoms like to have two words to describe a candiate. Your might be "volunteering" "computer-guy".</p>
<p>oh thanks a lot. i guess i need to build on what I already have. Though I don't take computer at school, I like to do computer-stuff in my spare time and yea, i love volunteering. also we don't get a job so easily around here so volunteering is about the only thing.
But I hope it doesn't matter that computer science is not my major. actually i want to go into mechanical engineering and I don't seem to have any experience along that line...I'm tryin to get an internship somewhere though...not successful yet!</p>
<p>Computers is close enough to Mech Eng. It's like Calc; engineers need computers.</p>
<p>It's funny that you mentioned mech eng on this thread about the importance of EC's. Getting accepted into an engineering program is different than other types of admittances. First, the actual professors are much more involved rather primarily the adcom members. Second, they are more numbers oriented and so a lack of EC's would not hurt you as much. Third, they put more emphasis on SAT I Math and the SAT II Math IC/IIC tests.</p>
<p>You can apply to an engineering college/university or the engineering dept within a large public university. All types of engineers take a common curriculum for the first two years. You will take Calc, Chemistry, Physics, and Computers all at the same time. I will warn you to look out freshman year. In most majors, the faculty is nurturing the freshman. In engineering, the faculty is trying to thin the head and move the less motivated students into other majors. Often it is harder to survive freshman year than it is to get accepted in the first place.</p>
<p>It does sound as if you have been doing good stuff in your free time. It's just a question of marketing.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice. I'll certainly keep the marketing part in mind when i put together my app.
I am planning to apply ED to the engg dept of UPenn. I'm still undecided though. If I get in, I know I can make it through those 4 years. I just need to GET IN!
Thanks</p>
<p>Aaron, if you are going to apply ED, be sure it is to a school that can match your financial needs. Penn usually doesn't.</p>
<p>caltech, mit</p>
<p>Yes, to just elaborate on what Alexandre said: When you apply ED, the college agrees to meet your financial need or else you don't have to enroll as agreed. However, financial aid comes in three forms: scholarships/grants, loans, and part-time work. Scholarships/grants don't have to be paid back, but loans do. One college may satisfy your financial need by giving you a big grant and another college may give you a big loan. If you apply RD, then you can compare the grant/loan ratio between different colleges. If you apply ED, then you have to take whatever that college gives you. Applying ED gives you an admissions advantage, but it isn't usually a good idea if you also plan to apply for financial aid.</p>
<p>BTW, in my previous post I said "thin the head". That should have been "thin the herd" so that it would make sense.</p>
<p>Caltech and MIT as schools that don't care about ECs? Mmm, not so much.</p>
<p>Oh!! I'm so intent on improving my admission chances that I want to apply ED somewhere. Caltech, MIT would be far reaches but maybe I'd have a shot at Cornell. But Cornell doesn't have ED for intls seeking aid.
ED would put me at a significant advantage than if I applied RD right? They are not going to admit me unless they can give me the amount of aid I need I guess. So why not ED?</p>