<p>How could I stand out with my EC's?
My school offers two clubs. A friend and I are proposing two more clubs: one for latin as well as one for mission work.
For volunteer work.. that's hard to find around here. I'm thinking of volunteering at the pet shelter and the senior center.
- I am also focusing a lot on cross country and running. Although right now my time is not the best, I am working as hard as I can on that, and am planning to hopefully continue into college.
-I have done web design stuff for companies (my main focus is computer science for my major, and I don't think being a girl who likes computer science helps either because there is a lot of competition in the girl application pool as well.)
.. I mean the above is barely anything compared to my competition? I also understand that ECs aren't everything, but I am not sure how to stand out in that department.
Any suggestions?
Idk if this is of any help. A kid from our school made it into Yale (he had no ECs) But he didn't go there. Idk what he was on.</p>
<p>After my experience with the admissions process I think colleges are looking for you to follow your passion(s) rather than having a really impressive list of ECs. I think you have a much better shot at being competitive if you consistently and actively participate (with some leadership, awards, etc.) in 1-3 activities than if you had this amazing list of scattered ECs with moderate participation. you know?
just show passion in something and i don't think your ECs will hurt you too terribly much.</p>
<p>Well, what are you shooting for??? Ivies? State? Other Privates?</p>
<p>You could help by specifying the hours of commitment on each EC and for track whether you are in JV or V. You probably have many more minor ECs too, such as a school award or such. Feel free to list anything you might have so we could have a better picture.</p>
<p>Well for cross country, our school had it for one year. I'm self-training myself on a program at the gym. Dedicated to it 4 times a week(total of 8 hours per week) year round! haha
I have gotten second place in Bio regionals. I'm hoping to get into nationals for Bio and Math next year.
Aim: Well, I'd really like to go to Cornell. I love the atmosphere and the way it has appealed to me. I like Stanford as well, but it seems like you have to find the cure for cancer to go there. I have wanted to try MIT and my teacher had suggested it, but I just don't think I'm "good enough" for it. But, I have also considered GA Tech, Carnegie Mellon, NYU.. oh CAL tech.. I really LOVE the small class sizes and the helpful atmosphere.
Cross country is for varsity technically I guess.
Other than the Bio regional award, I don't have major awards.. our school is so small that it doesn't have a math league or math olympics..etc.. I mean I have gotten headmasters, van til (highest average in school for a certain subject).. stuff like that.
Outside of school on my own, I enjoy doing a lot of things.. but i don't think that' be considered EC. haha
umm. Well, my main focus right now is Cross Country, Latin club(if it gets passed. I'm really going to put in my effort as being co-pres/pres),Web design for other companies.
I hope I listed enough to get the picture(?)
<em>EDIT</em>
Forgot to mention I play soccer, but then, I am not going pro in that. haha</p>
<p>What impresses the relatively few colleges that assess ECs a great deal as part of their admissions process is not the length of your EC list, but what you accomplished in your EC: awards, money raised, people helped, etc.</p>
<p>anyone else?</p>
<p>Your ECs should have focus. It doesn't have to be a lot of them, but a few related to one area is generally better than a page of random stuff. </p>
<p>Even if your school offers limited opportunities, you can find opportunities in the community and online. </p>
<p>For instance, want to be a writer? </p>
<p>Volunteer at your local library.
Start a writing club.
Enter contests/competitions.
Go to writer's conferences.
Create a website devoted to writing.</p>
<p>Get the idea?</p>
<p>^ Yeah. Do you think it would be a good idea to create a website for web design? I have always wanted to do that and since I actually have requests, I believe that I can make a portfolio.
Library: No volunteering there.. they said they didn't have any. lol</p>
<p>everything you mentioned for your EXC are not particularly strong or amazing but very typical of what every other applicant has. Having something that stands out and makes you unique is important. Why? Alot of schools pack the applications that have roughly the same gpa and sat together. if your EXC are typical of those of every other applicant, how will you stad out. </p>
<p>Although EXC are important though, GPA and SAT are the 2 most critical things and the college essay is also very heavily weighed in making decisions now. I had a post recently about how my friend from Harvard worked at admissions and really got an inside look at what they did.</p>
<p>NSM is an alumni interviewer for an Ivy college, and posted a list of what are considered impressive ECs a while back. Since you ask how you compare to your competition, see <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=210497%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=210497</a></p>
<p>bump (1o char)</p>
<p>At certain schools I think CS for a girl will help you out quite a bit. Apply at schools that have a low percentage of females. Places like Rose Hulman, Renssalaer, Case Western, CMU.</p>
<p>Thanks ricegal, but the thing is.. I mean I understand everyone's post about raising a thousand for charity or having a FOCUS on something..but it's hard to FIND any EC that FOCUSES on COMPUTER SCIENCE.
I'm thinking of participating in USACO this year/next school year as well as USABO.. should I even try?
o-O</p>
<p>well, you can create a web club at your school that helps set lay outs for the school's website provided it has one or create a website for the school.</p>
<p>miragemage: what do you mean by web club?</p>
<p>computer club at school
create a website
start a business creating websites for others
build a computer from scratch as a hobby
look into professional organizations that are intended for working adults that you could also join as a student
volunteer to help at a senior center where seniors are learning to use basic computer programs.
find out about recycling programs of old computers and see if you can volunteer to help on collection day (some cities do this once or twice a year because computer parts can be hazardous if just "dumped".)
If you are a scout, you could develop a computer curriculum to help younger scouts earn a merit badge (this could even be used to earn a girl scout gold award or boy scout eagle scout award)
try to find an internship or parttime job at a local computer store or software company.</p>
<p>Put on your thinking cap - there are always things that you can do if you really look into it.</p>
<p>Thanks for the ideas you guys!</p>
<p>For USACO, make sure you do the training pages, since they help a LOT in doing well during the regular contests.</p>