Small School Challenges...Advice? :)

[mikemac]

<p>

Extracurricular options are limited, even though I’m involved in almost everything offered at the school!

This really is a case where the glass is half-full and not half-empty. The limited ECs offered by your school is a big advantage to you. See, most colleges don’t care about ECs in admission (although they might factor them into some scholarships). For those that do care, you seem to entertain the belief shared by a lot of HS students that having a lot of things listed on your app is what they’re looking for. Not at all!! Echoing what a previous poster wrote about ECs, Stanford says in its FAQ

Students often assume our primary concern is the number of activities in which one participates. In fact, an exceptional depth of experience in one or two activities may demonstrate your passion more than minimal participation in five or six clubs. We want to see the impact you have had on that club, in your school, or in the larger community, and we want to learn of the impact that experience has had on you.
[Application</a> Evaluation : Stanford University](<a href=“Page Not Found : Stanford University”>Page Not Found : Stanford University)

Now back to that half-full claim. Since you go to a school that doesn’t offer many ECs you’re going to have to come up with them on your own. There is no rule that says ECs must be something offered by your school, and often the most powerful ones (raising money or staffing a group that helps in the community, participating in community-based art or theater, running your own business, etc) are done completely independently. But the kicker is that in coming up with ECs outside of school you’re really going to employ the leadership and determination that they’re looking for – or else you won’t end up with anything to show. And that puts you steps ahead of the kids at larger schools that have just signed up this this club and that (maybe running for an officer in one of them) and thinking that shows the type of ECs colleges want to see. </p>

<p>As for what to do, the sky really is the limit. Spend some time thinking about what you really enjoy and how you could pursue it either to a level of distinction (entering contests, etc) or in order to help your school/community. Don’t try to be an adcom and think about what they want to see; figure out what YOU want to do and then you’ll have the energy and passion to see it thru to a level that will garner recognition. To get started, take a look at this post by a Harvard alum interviewer <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/210497-those-ecs-weak-so-whats-good.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/210497-those-ecs-weak-so-whats-good.html&lt;/a&gt; and see how many of them are outside of school. Don’t just pick something you see here, but use it to start those juices coming up with ideas.</p>

<p>Now maybe you’re not aiming at colleges with the rigor of admissions of a Stanford, so ECs will be less important than you think. But if you are aiming at the most selective colleges, what you have is a golden opportunity to shine!!</p>