strange EC situation

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
1

<p>First of all, let me say that in regards to the activities I am about to detail, I was/am genuinely interested and motivated to pursue them; "looking good" for Cal or any other college was of quite minimal importance, believe it or not.</p>

<p>Ok, the first involves a political club I originally cofounded at my school in 10th grade. It was devoted to promoting political dissent and debate on campus. Things were all right that year, with it functioning as a conventional school club. However, once junior year came, most of the key members who were seniors were gone. We were unable to get enough signatures to get the club renewed by the student council, so it ceased to exist as far as the school was concerned. After 4 months or inactivity (we still met privately in a semistructured way), we decided that the club was really worthwhile; so, we redesigned the format of the club to be online and private, with anyone from school welcome to join. The thing is, it is not affiliated with the school at all; it exists entirely online. In any case takes a considerable amount of time to moderate and maintain. The discussions are quite robust as well, even surpassing the functionality of the original format.</p>

<p>So, can I put this on my application for 3 years (10-12) and would it look even remotely impressive? Either way, I'll continue to do it because it's actually a really worthwhile activity. I just wanted to ask if it's worth mentioning on my app.... </p>

<p>The second predicament is almost the exact same situation, except it involves a private charity organization I started with a friend. I am copresident as decided...well...by the total of 4 of us in the organzation haha. It is not a club; just four people trying to raise awareness for social ills. We have been approved and recognized by the California Secretary of State as a nonprofit coporation. Same situation though, online and non-school-affiliated. And this is a bit different in that it is a 2 year project, with junior year being a time to conceptualize, organize, and get approved by the state. This summer is when we really start solidifying the site and promotion. The whole time however has been devoted to raising awareness for the social issues we intended...just not on such a sophisticated of a site as is being used now and to a smaller extent.</p>

<p>So again, could/should I mention this private venture for 2 years, and would it seem even remotely impressive? </p>

<p>Again, keep in mind I am actually doing this because I care about the issues we are raising, not out of college-bent sangfroid (although maybe a little haha), so yeah...just need some more perspectives.</p>

2

<p>“Again, keep in mind I am actually doing this because I care about the issues we are raising”</p>

<p>That’s all that matters. You have a passion for something positive. Berkeley wants you.</p>

<p>Yes you can put this on your application. Are you proud of it and are you doing something meaningful instead of just holding a named position? Seems like you are so it doesn’t matter if you aren’t registered with your school or only have 4 members in your organization. </p>

<p>I would assume your essays would be about these activities, or at least they should be since the seem important to you.</p>

3

<p>Predicament is a strong word. This is no predicament.</p>

<p>Your extra-curriculars don’t have to be school affiliated/school approved. In fact, in many European high schools, most clubs/sports are OUTSIDE of school.</p>

<p>Colleges just want to know what you’ve been doing besides academics + how you’ve been pursuing your passions, if any.</p>

<p>It’s quality, not necessarily quantity, that matters.</p>

4

<p>Would any of this be on equal magnitude with, say, CSF/NHS president or something?</p>

5

<p>IIRC, in the app, there is a place for school clubs/ecs/sports and then a different place for just EC in general.
I don’t think your clubs/orgs would be seen as equal to CSF president or NHS (two pretty big organizations) but because you cofounded and did work for yours, you’re going to get “points” for that</p>

6

<p>^you’re right, it probably wouldn’t be equal, but I am “officially” co-president of one of them. But yeah, probably not equal.</p>

<p>And would the fact that it’s individual with no help or initial stucture from the school be a positive?</p>

7

<p>hmmmmmm, I think you’re overthinking this. I doubt the admission officer will scrutinize over the nature of your organization and whether you had any “initial structure” from the school. I mean just put down the years and hrs/week that you were involved. It won’t be as impressive as CSF president but it’s definitely worth putting on your application.</p>

8

<p>Don’t worry about it. People overestimate the importance of ECs. If you have been doing something, you’re fine. It’s your GPA/scores/essays (in that order) that will determine if you get in. If you’ve done something unusual (i.e. not CSF President), that might bump you up, and if you’ve done nothing, that might bump you down, but in most cases, it doesn’t matter.</p>

9

<p>Thanks for all of the input.</p>

<p>Ironically, CSF President is probably the easiest leadership position at our school. He or she does nothing but call attendance at “meetings”…not fair that something that inane inherently looks good on paper because of it’s statewide nature…</p>

<p>Oh well, nothing I can do about it except for complain…</p>

10

<p>lol trust me the whole application process isn’t fair. I know people who piggybacked onto a business that their parents started and took credit, got their names on patents that their parents made, did high level internships in their parents companies, and just made up like a dozen student organizations that sounded great but only met for a month with the same 5 members in each. Anyways I can go on…</p>

11

<p>^haha, just curious, but where did those people ending up getting in?</p>

12

<p>

Right.</p>

<p>A batch of them probably went to decent schools, another handful went to mediocre schools.</p>

13

<p>Lol what’s funny is what goes a round comes a round. I think one person missed the college application deadline for some good schools and ended up in some mid/lower ivies. Another person got into like Columbia but decided to go to USC. I think only one of those who BSed their app actually got into a top ivy. I know some of them are coming to Cal.</p>