Son only has one EC -- deathknell?

<p>Despite my finest efforts (nagging, begging, arguing logically) my son dropped debate this, his junior year, despite the fact that he was doing really well in tournaments. His only EC all involves his passion for Latin. He founded his school's JCL (junior classical league) chapter, has organized and run the chapter for three years now, taking them to a half dozen events so far. He was elected to state office for this organization and has gone to three national conventions, where he does okay (ribbons) but not outstanding. He was ranked first in the state in his level of Latin last year (as he was a couple years ago). He'll also be running some fundraising activities to send the squad to convention this year (since it's out of our area and will cost more $$). I'm sure his essay will be about how JCL saved his life, has given his life purpose and direction, etc. But, while the depth of his passion is obvious -- it's so narrow!!! I need someone who isn't his mom to tell him that with just Latin stuff, he'll lose out to the kids who play clarinet, adopt foster children and play lacrosse!!</p>

<p>No, he won't. Colleges like to see commitment, focus and passion in ECs, not a smorgasbord of activities. I think he's fine.</p>

<p>BurnThis, actually my S is only really involved with one EC too (athletic). BUT, it is SO time consuming and he devotes nearly the entire school year AND summer to it. If they are not playing games or practicing they are doing fundraising, building/maintaining the field and equipment, etc. in the off-season as well! The only thing really well-funded is football, so all other sports are on their own (although football makes a huge amt of $$$ in ticket sales where the other sports don't). </p>

<p>I would think that given the extent of his commitment and leadership to Latin, it would not be seen as a negative that it's his only EC.<br>
Of course what do I know....my S hasn't been accepted yet ;)</p>

<p>Agree with the above. Not to worry. He will still list the Debate activity on the EC/work chart on his app, showing that he stayed with debate a couple of years. The fact that he focused his time on the Classics items is a plus, not a minus. By the way, even his JCL may show on his list as more than one activity: eg, JCL 10,11,12. Founder, President. State JCL officer 11, 12 (or whatever). If he has had summer jobs, or activities, they go on the chart as well.</p>

<p>The prevailing wisdom at the moment is that colleges are looking for well-rounded classes, not well-rounded kids. They make up these well-rounded classes from among kids with singular passions. </p>

<p>Is he a junior or senior? If a junior, he may want to think about how he spends the upcoming summer. I am NOT an advocate that he should design his summer to please colleges. Not knowing how he's spent his summers, I don't want to assume he's just been vegging out (sounds highly unlikely ;) ) But if he has another interest, he could spend some time on it this summer - a summer job or any activity which interests HIM.</p>

<p>One other thought (although I could be totally incorrect here):
I wonder sometimes when kids post their stats on this forum just how ummm, "accurate" they are ;) . Some of them seem to have so many that you have to wonder if it's even physically possible to do all those things.</p>

<p>Your son's EC is outstanding, far beyond most students' ECs. It's a big deal to found a viable organization that really does things, and isn't just resume dressing. That your son did this and also holds a state office in JCL is very impressive. Adcoms know how much time it takes to have a major role in organizing an EC, so they would be far more impressed by what your S has done than what the students do who have long lists of activities, but whose efforts have resulted in little impact.</p>

<p>Similarly, adcoms know how time consuming athletics can be.</p>

<p>If it helps, I also worried about my daughter's EC's (or lack thereof) in comparsion to some of the amazing things kids here on CC seem to do. Yet, when it came time for her to fill out her applications this year, she was able to put together a very nice little resume focusing in on her core (mostly non-school related) activites and write great essays about two of them. Both the teacher writing her recommendation and her guidance counselor also both found it easy to write about these EC's because they are so much a part of who she is as a person. Like DrDrewsMom, I don't know yet how this will affect her admissions chances, but I suspect she's going to do just fine.</p>

<p>It's easy to forget that it's not quantity that counts, but quality. And, it is also important to remember that passion shows through.</p>

<p>Still haven't learned to quote: JMMOM asked: Is he a junior or senior? If a junior, he may want to think about how he spends the upcoming summer. I am NOT an advocate that he should design his summer to please colleges. Not knowing how he's spent his summers, I don't want to assume he's just been vegging out (sounds highly unlikely ) But if he has another interest, he could spend some time on it this summer - a summer job or any activity which interests HIM.</p>

<p>He is a junior, and his summers have been spent studying for and the attending the National JCL convention, and traveling to Rome and England to see Ancient Roman ruins. The summer before 8th grade he took a class at UCLA on Introduction to Ancient Rome (regular undergraduate class, not something for middle or high schoolers) and got an A-. During 9th grade he took a continuing education class on the Rassias method of teaching Latin, and got CLE credit from Loyola University. This summer he's planning on an internship with a local candidate (since he does enjoy politics) and more JCL studying -- he was 3rd in the Nation in Latin Literature last year, and the other two boys graduated, lol! So first is in sight.</p>

<p>Also, this raises that same old question about how much we want to shape our kids into the perfect applicant for colleges. I will admit to nagging both kids about the need to focus on a few in depth, but I was also adamant that S1 should apply to schools who were interested in him the way he is. I didn't want him to think that he had to shape his whole life to meet some perceived expectation of what colleges are looking for.</p>

<p>Just to reiterate what carolyn mentioned - if a letter of rec or two mentions the Latin stuff it would be a good thing. When you think about it, this one EC encompasses academics, leadership, organizational skills - not like he's just attending attending meetings.</p>

<p>Well heck. Many parents would kill for a kid as into something as your kid is. And it's not even a role-playing video game....</p>

<p>I think the only question is there something else that would be good for HIM to do, for his growth. Obviously he has the leadership and group stuff handled:). When my D was in high school, her ballet was sufficiently advanced to check the "stellar accomplishment" box. But I did encourage her to get into journalism just because I knew she'd like it. She wound up editor, but the goal of the college resume was only part of why I got involved. I'd love to say I am pure and all that and college apps weren't on my mind at all....but that would be fibbing. It's was just that we could do two things at once.</p>

<p>For S, his time is taken up with soccer and sax. But when soccer season is over, because his alternate use of time is obsession with Worlds of Warcraft (not only playing but poring over sites devoted to the silly game) I am going to encourage him to get involved in something else at school. For the college app, well, yes, I confess, a little bit. However, for my S, a little public service would serve him well, he likes little kids, there is a program where you tutor middle schoolers in math and then coach them in soccer. See where my devious maternal mind is going with this?</p>

<p>The chain goes like this. Hmm, S has time on his hands. Hmmm, S wants to go to top college. Hmm, S cannot list WOW on application. Hmm, what else would be good for S's development and also look better than WOW on said application?</p>

<p>The goal is to help S grow, but I confess of course to some decal fever just for honesty's sake. The term noodge was invented for mothers.</p>

<p>I agree with everything here. We went to a Stanford admission session and someone raised a question about their child's one and only EC, which was music. The adcom said, an involvement in music could highlight several different features: such as learning, performing, community service (if putting on concerts and/or tutoring). The JCL involves many different activities as well and highlights different aspects of the applicant's personality, not the least of which are passion and organizational skills. Besides, colleges seem to love kids who love Latin.</p>

<p>I agree with Marite, if you are going to pick one ec, Latin is a good one, and it certainly seems that your son is developing many skills from the various aspects of his very in-depth involvement. Other kids would need many ec's to get what he is getting out of the ONE. I think it is great. </p>

<p>"And it is not even a role-playing video game" LOL Alumother. Any way I can I get my kids into neat EC like Latin? I would love it!</p>

<p>A major point of contention in our house was my wife's belief that our S should have as many EC's as possible for resume purposes, and my belief that you should never, I repeat never, do an EC solely for that purpose, but rather should do something that you actually want to do. EC's for the sake of resume padding seem to me somehow counterproductive, and just wrong, and I find it hard to believe that Admissions Officers are impressed by resumes that read like the Yellow Pages. For what its worth, my son took my approach, did his one EC, which was the high school theater group (and without a leadership position), and was accepted ED to a top notch university. So - no deathknell.</p>

<p>Well stated, Alumother. Honesty <em>is</em> the best policy ;). To the OP, the summer internship in politics is just the kind of thing I was thinking - for him to pursue another of his own interests. Alu makes a good point that we are wise to encourage our kids to explore different things for their own growth. The OP's son <em>might</em> want to spread his wings a bit when he gets to college. Or not. But as far as his college apps are concerned, I think we pretty much all agree: not to worry.</p>

<p>Yeah, you know what? I didn't read the OP second post carefully enough. My bad. Your kid is doing for himself what I was talking about. That political internship is spot on. Not to worry. Some kids have their own internal noodge.</p>

<p>BurnThis-- love the screenname!</p>

<p>You might poke around a bit and see which colleges 'need' classics kids... certain places have highfalutin' faculty who must be kept happy with enough new freshmen who love the subject. If the school has ~60% women it is an even bigger bonus.</p>

<p>BTW I urged my S to do basketball thinking NOT of colleges but of fitness. He came home after 1st practice saying, "I'd forgotten how much I like basketball... I could feel I'd lost conditioning doing nothing since the summer..." Believe me, basketball will NOT help him get into college.</p>

<p>Alum-- I think WOW counts as an EC when you get to the point that people are buying your skills on ebay, to get themselves to the next level. I read something about a kid doing that recently!</p>

<p>SBmom--same here. My daughter does cross country and swimming. She needs the physical activity. She does not do these activities at a level that will have any impact on college admissions. But can you trade well being for an EC that will impress a college? If you do, what are you doing, exactly?</p>

<p>Your son sounds so focused and mature to take on Latin like this. Many moons ago my husband was the star community high school leader at a large southern public high school. He ended up at Yale, a long,long road from where he came from. Now you couldn't hold a gun to him to be involved in a civic activity. Just thinking of it all tires him out. Is there a lesson in this, maybe? Young people have a whole life to stay on task with a passion. It's hard to go against one's temperament or maturity. Parents, didn't you know great people that bloomed late.</p>

<p>So I have a senior s who overextends himself, dabbles somes.The first in line to try something out even if he looks foolish in a musical.He stuck to football jv captain, varsity captain. The chips will fall where they may. Surely there must be people like my s out there I keep telling myself have faith.</p>

<p>I'm so glad I found this forum and posted this question. You've all made me feel so much better -- even if I have to admit that I was wrong, wrong, wrong!</p>