Agree with all. If you want to get an eye roll from an admission officer, start a nonprofit. Vast majority are done for the exactly the reasons you describe, abandoned on college acceptance, and will actually hurt your kids application. If they want to make a difference, choose an issue in their community and get involved at a high level with a lot of service hours and contribution. Much more impressive. And it’s even better if that aligns with their interests or passions.
And EC’s don’t have to involve service either. What are they actually interested in? Of course, an 8th and a 9th grader may explore a lot of interests in the next few years. It is good for them to not get locked in to a non-profit activity that might interfere with their more natural explorations.
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You say they believe in the cause. So support them.
College admissions should not play a part. You can flip burgers or play tennis and go Ivy.
You don’t need to reinvent the world to go Ivy.
Frankly they need great grades and rigor…but not rigor above their capabilities, test score, essays and more.
To have the discussion in middle school and first year of hs is years premature. For all you know your kids will struggle academically.
And doing things for appearance of a college resume is apt to bring extreme disappointment in four years.
College admissions should not play a part in the decision to follow their desire. Perhaps there’s already a similar cause they can contribute to without the need to be a founder. Either way, support your kids and disconnect college from it.
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I think if you just work in the confines of the existing clubs in the school and achieve some leadership position, that is also well regarded. Because leading a well regarded club at school is highly competitive and you wouldn’t get the leadership position unless you put serious work into that role. And get a ref from the faculty person chaperoning that club.
Founding a random non profit is not verifiable. You can claim whatever you want. Hence you need to work extra hard to gain credibility that you did everything that you claimed you did.
I note the poster made this 1st post and has not been back.
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Yes, but it’s been a day and this is a weekend. Not everyone lives and breathes CC. Some of us have things to do in real life.
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