<p>I asked about this a couple of days ago on the "how to impress adcoms with your extracurriculars" and didn't really get any helpful info so I'm posting it again here. This is it:
Ok, so I'm looking to transfer for Fall 2010 and I have a question about EC's. I recently started to get really into cake decorating. I started doing it because I had to take this semester off because of medical reasons and wanted to do something to feel productive. I've never taken any cake decorating classes but I'm actually pretty good with fondant (not so much with a pastry bag). I've made some cool cakes (one that looked like a present, a tshirt cake, carved the jonas tv show logo out of cake, etc), and I usually do them for free because they are either for a friend's birthday, a family member or a Leo Club activity or just make them for fun and donate them to a local homeless shelter. My question is do I put it under activities or under work (even though I rarely charge)? I wouldn't know how to calculate the hours for it if I put it under activities cos it's not something I do every week, it depends on the orders I get. I don't really want to put in the additional info section cos there's already a bunch of stuff I have to explain there (junior year of high school to now have been very difficult years for me; illnesses, deaths, etc.)</p>
<p>Honestly, EC’s don’t matter when it comes to transferring–especially an EC that is not directly related to your major. Acceptance/rejection is based on GPA, professor recommendations, and the courses taken at the college. In addition, if you’re transferring after only one year at a college, they’ll want your SAT/ACT scores and a high school transcript to review.</p>
<p>Thanks! That is both reassuring and little bit depressing, but helpful. It’s reassuring cos my current college doesn’t have many clubs or organizations (part of why I’m transferring) so my EC’s are currently lacking, but it’s a bit depressing cos I was hoping that the few EC’s that I’m doing during my medical leave would help me stand out. My grades are fine (3.8 gpa my freshman year at Fordham) but I’m planning on applying to some really selective schools and I know that that alone isn’t going to be enough.</p>
<p>Don’t think of it as depressing. It’s just the way it is. You were accepted to Fordham and your grades were very good when you were there. When considering transfer schools after only one year, choose a school with the selectivity of the schools that offered you acceptances as a freshman. If transferring after 2 full years of college, then you can consider transferring up in the selectivity rating. When transferring after one year of college, they will still consider your high school transcript and SAT/ACT when reviewing your transfer application. When transferring during or after your 2nd year of college, they will place less emphasis on your HS record and SAT/ACT scores, and more on your college academic record (and professor recommendations).</p>