<p>Okay, this post is going to seem a bit counter-intuitive. I realize that EC should be centered around something you are passionate about. </p>
<p>I think one of the biggest problems for me when I apply to college next year will be my EC. I am interested in medicine, but I don't really have any EC centered around that except volunteering at the hospital. These are my EC so far:</p>
<p>Varsity Swimming 9-10
Club Swimming 10-11
JV X-Country 9
Band 9
Marching Band 9
Model UN (Leadership Position) 11
NHS 11
Volunteer Work (130 Hours)</p>
<p>I will definitely continue volunteering. I am doing several volunteer things, such as hospital work, tutoring underprivileged children, working with the elderly, etc.</p>
<p>I haven't had a lot time to do many EC during school due to swimming. As shown above, I did varsity swimming for two years. I also swim year round. I also swam varsity junior year, but stopped mid-season. The reason I did so was because my grades were suffering and I wasn't improving in swimming. I was swimming so badly it was embarrassing. I figured I might as well try to salvage my grades, so I stopped swimming. I do not think I will return to swimming.</p>
<p>So as I said before, I have virtually no EC. My main question is: What kinds of EC do you suggest I do during the summer? I am already doing lots of volunteering, but what are other good things for students interested in science/medicine to do? I will definitely join some activities this upcoming school year in lieu of swimming, but I really, really need to build my EC. How should I approach this task? Lastly, will it look very bad if I am doing all of these things going into senior year, rather than earlier on (I guess I don't have a choice...)?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance. Also, I'm not looking to be taunted...I just need some advice. If you don't have something constructive to say, please don't say it.</p>
<p>Well, I'm interested in medicine, as well. And I'm thinking that I might find some way to spend some time with a doctor. My parents are doctors and have offered to ask their friends if they would be willing.</p>
<p>Or, like one of my friends did, you could try to find ways to watch a surgery or some other such medical procedure. </p>
<p>But I think those are things that would give you personal benefits as opposed to boosting your application, unless you chose to write essays about them.</p>
<p>Just my two cents, not really an expert opinion.</p>
<p>Colleges are looking for depth, not breadth when it comes to ECs. Colleges also know that most students end up changing their majors and career goals once they get to college, so except for things like the 6 year MD programs, colleges aren't expecting that one's ECs reflect one's career plans.</p>
<p>Colleges also know that athletics take a great deal of time.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, however, top colleges (which really are the only ones that care that much about ECs) want students who are busy doing something during the summer beside playing video games. And doing some productive activities also helps all students learn about themselves and the world and be more prepared for college and life in general.</p>
<p>So, doing something productive over the summer would be to your benefit. If you're interested in medicine, taking a Red Cross course, learning CPR, first aid, getting disaster team training, volunteering at a hospital or hospice -- all could help you learn about your proposed field.</p>
<p>If you don't want to do those things, getting a job (any job, even fast food) would teach you things about the world.</p>
<p>Since you swim, have you considered getting lifeguard training and getting a job doing that or teaching swimming lessons?</p>
<p>Well, I got certified as a lifeguard last summer and worked for about a month. I am certified in CPR/first aid. It's a time consuming job and because I'm taking three online classes and studying for standardized tests, I chose not to pursue a lifeguarding job this year.</p>
<p>i noticed, you mentioned about take some training. I've done training, but is there a way to include that into you application? I was looking at the JHU application and it doesn't seem to fit anywhere.</p>