<p>I didn't do much of anything Freshman and Sophomore Year, besides being a member of 2-3 clubs and getting about 100 hours of community service. I hear a lot about colleges looking down on applicants who get a lot more stuff Junior and Senior year. How true is this?</p>
<p>Yeah, if you join loads of stuff junior year it can look like application-padding. I suggest you either really commit to the activities you're already in, or just join a couple new clubs and really devote yourself to them. That'll show that you're legitimately interested in your EC's and not joining things just for the sake of joining.</p>
<p>ugh I have the same problem but I have no ECs those two years(in school), freshman because i was still in junior high and i only was in mathletes the other ecs didn't catch my interest, and sophomore cause i became kind of anti-social when the size of my school tripled... does this mean if i get involved with a lot of clubs this year it will look bad? I'm only joining clubs I have an interest in. I plan on joining 7 or 8 ECs in junior and maybe add one more (student council) for senior</p>
<p>It would seem as though adcoms should realize that an upswing in activities could simply be the result of students being able to drive themselves to and from. Especially in spread out semi-rural/semi-suburban districts, transportation can be an issue if both parents are working. </p>
<p>But who knows.</p>
<p>so what would you guys recommend me do? do the 7/8 ecs to make up for lost time or just 3 or 4?</p>
<p>If you go from no EC's to 8 EC's junior year, it will look suspicious. Believe me, it's near impossible to be committed to 8 different activities. Think about which 3 or so most interest you, join those, and dedicate yourself to succeeding in them. Try to get leadership positions whenever possible.</p>
<p>my school only has leadership positions in student council. and I have EC's they're just not in school. I started, organized, managed and played guitar/vocals in a band, I draw, played guitar for 6 or 7 years, and played tennis for 4. I only have one in school EC from grade 9(mathletes, came first in regionals didn' win provincials).
my list for next year:
badminton
start current events type club
write for school newspaper
debate team
robotics
principal advisory comity</p>
<p>That's good that you have some EC's out of school already. I'd still be hesitant to join so many things junior year - you might be spreading yourself too thin. What areas really interest you? If you're not a science type, cut Robotics from the list, and so on.</p>
<p>the thing is, I like all subjects in school. im both a science/math type, and a humanities/artsy type. I like trying new things. badminton is just there because I want to get active and I only enjoy racket sports and badminton is the only one my school has. will this seem like I don't have a passion? because these are the clubs which i am really interested in. I had a list of 20 or so clubs of normal interest status but i cut it down to there which i am highly interested in. sorry for my rant, my ECs are my biggest insecurity atm</p>
<p>I wouldn't worry too much about it - but even if you join 7-8 things, make sure you commit yourself to 2-3. Anyone can join a club, but not everyone can win awards or qualify to certain levels in those clubs. To make yourself stand out, you have to be dedicated.</p>
<p>k out of those 6 above i will be committed to the CE club i will start, debate, robotics and newspaper</p>
<p>PAC is only once a month so its not very commit-able
and badminton is just fun</p>
<p>out of school I'm committed to guitar (7 years) and drawing/painting(my whole life)</p>
<p>would I count as committed to tennis if I haven't won anything and I just love to play it?</p>
<p>There's no saying who "counts" as being committed and who doesn't, it's just a matter of involving yourself in the things you love and doing well in them. Don't worry about it so much - if the clubs you join really interest you, you should find yourself becoming immersed in them as a natural next step. Try to think of your ECs as activities, not just lines on your college application, and you'll be less stressed out about the whole ordeal. :)</p>
<p>Okay, that's good. My plan was just to keep building on those 3 clubs [along with a 4th, Key Club, but that's more community service than anything], not sign up for new ones.</p>
<p>I can't find the post right now but a very prolific poster here wrote on a similar thread a few months back on how you SHOULD NOT care too much that some of your activities were started 11th or 12th grades. Basically to paraphrase - colleges can't expect you to have your interests down pat when you first enter high school. People change careers in their 30's, decide to live in a completely different place by the time they retire - finding new things you enjoy is part of human nature.</p>
<p>Go out and do things you like. </p>
<p>Disclaimer: Obviously joining SO many things to the point it becomes excessive does not look good. So that's the extreme</p>
<p>k thnx for all your help guys :D</p>