"Those ECs are weak...."- So what's good?

<p>I've also noticed, that if you don't having as many ECs its harder to write an essay. Maybe not for everyone, but I had a few smart people in my class with not as many ECs tell me they struggled and got stumped.</p>

<p>I'm questioning how much volunteer work counts. All my volunteer work has to do with helping teach Chinese language and culture to students who otherwise would not have the chance(for example, adopted chinese children). By senior year, I'll have around 500 hours of related volunteer work. Will that count for anything (I have other significant extra curriculars too.. I'm just wondering if this would help at all).</p>

<p>Also, I don't think it's ECs that help write essays as much as experience is. ECs are definantly a great way to get experience with the world, but there are often other experiences that might be just as good, or better to write about.</p>

<p>My only hooking ec is interning for a congressman</p>

<p>Haha -- I read that too quickly - thought you said:</p>

<p>My only internship was hooking up w/ a congressman....</p>

<p>hehe.</p>

<p>Well, I have the standard Varsity sport, SGA VP, Model UN and musical group, and I'm a potential TASPer.</p>

<p>However, I'm a professional jeweler. That BETTER count for something.</p>

<p>And I seriously doubt that there are enough kids with the original EC list to fill the Ivys. I just seriously doubt that.</p>

<p>Erm. That list on the second page really intimidated me...</p>

<p>I was wondering if I'm going to have a "extra-curricular overload" though. I'm a freshman in high school and I just finished my first semester. Here's a plan of what I'm doing/planning to do in near future/planning to do later on.</p>

<p>Doing:
-Babysitting [Tuesdays & Thursdays - 3:30-6:00; pays]
-Lacrosse API (Training) - [Wednesdays - 2:45-4:00]
-Level II Adult Piano [Mondays - 3:00-4:00]
-"Real World" Club (Catholic Religious Group; school-based) - [every other Wednesday during school]</p>

<p>Planning to do in near future:
-FreshSoph/JV/Varisty Lacrosse [Aiming for JV; lacrosse is extremely competitive at school; practice everyday about 3:00-6:00; games varying whenever...]
-Writer for school newspaper [Dunno schedule]
-Junior Civitan [Dunno again]
-Rotary's [Most likely Mondays or Wednesdays during evenings]</p>

<p>Planning to do later on:
-Mock Trail [Dunno]
-Volunteer work at local veterinarian hospital [Probably weekends]</p>

<p>I'm starting to think that's way too much to the point of being stressful. And I still want to achieve good grades and keep my social life...</p>

<p>Thing is, as you get older and take more difficult courses, you're going to have less and less time for those extra curriculars. </p>

<p>I don't know, I don't like coming to this forum. I'm not dissatisfied with how I've spent the past four years of my life (I'm a high school senior). I involved myself in what interested me, and stayed with what I loved. I experimented with some things, and stayed committed to others. </p>

<p>I never went into anything thinking about pleasing admissions officers, and I don't think anyone should. I didn't study for my SATs (got a 2260), I don't take classes I don't enjoy (still valedictorian), and I live up to my expectations, and no one else's. If the University of Pennsylvania doesn't want someone with my attitude, then I probably wouldn't have been too happy there anyway. I can't stand people who are just out to stack their resume.</p>

<p>I'm not sure if anybody already said this (too lazy to read eh), but CC is my main extracurricular. :)</p>

<p>quark49-</p>

<p>do you honestly think that people that say that they are doing a certain activity to stack their resume really means it? I know I say it all the time, and I say it so I don't sound so nerdy to the rest of my class. If I gave your speech, I'd be laughed out of the house by everyone, so the cynical path of "I do it for the resume" I think is a cover for many. Furthermore, if you really d/n love something, I imagine it'd be hard to continue it for such a long period of time.</p>

<p>...what's wrong with being nerdy? </p>

<p>I dunno, I've met plenty of weasely people who don't actually enjoy sports/music etc and who are doing it because someone (parents, guidance counselor, or private college counselor, ick) told them to. It's annoying to work alongside those people. I know girls who have made All State choirs who don't care too much about music, and girls who have done track for four years who do nothing but slack off at practice. They detract from everyone else's experience, and it's saddening that they do so with college in mind.</p>

<p>I'll tell you what, my Calc BC class would be a hell of a lot smaller if the only students who took it were actually interested in calculus. And guess what, those people who aren't are doing poorly, and slowing the rest of us down... shocking. But Calc BC just looks <em>so</em> good on a transcript!</p>

<p>Is being an attorney for Mock Trial a good EC? Does it matter if your team wins county, state, nationals, etc?</p>

<p>I second quark's comment(s)s</p>

<p>Post 249 by quark reminds me of regretting to take AP Bio.
I've never been fond of science, though I checked off AP Bio to have another AP class in my transcript. I should have not done it. I got a C in my first sem. of Jr year, and I really regret taking Bio. Most of the kids in my class aren't really interested in science either. I think it is a very good idea to not be lured by the amount of AP classes one takes, but to strongly pursue one's passion.</p>

<p>Actually, Laura, while there has not been extensive tennis coverage, there was a tennis article way back in June. Enjoy. <a href="http://thesportshookup.blogspot.com/2006/06/nadal-foils-rival-federer-continues.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://thesportshookup.blogspot.com/2006/06/nadal-foils-rival-federer-continues.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>basically, all the great schools expect you to have cured cancer. your already 17 years old, seriously now, you should have started a business or have become the top US something or other. clearly sarcasm intended.
it really is not fair especially since some parents have been grooming their kids for the ivies even before high school.<br>
I have just done what I have wanted during high school and that is it. i havent done anything amazing, but i should commitment, and that should be worth a lot</p>

<p>hey guys...im currently studying in the UK...ive been browsing these boards for quite a while and hope to apply
to US unis next year (provided i get AAAAAa in A-levels)..
in the UK we dont place a huge emphasis on ECs (in our application to UK unis we have 1 page to write about everything and most people mention only couple of sentances ;) :D)...anyway...from what i have read i have gathered that i would be judged from the European applicant pool (or even UK one?)...my question is..what constitutes as "Leadership ECs"? im not the president of any major society (i am a memember of ones that interest me though) but i do participate in various schemes where i help children from local schools to read and write etc. I was wondering whether helping to volunteer in things such as Cubs + Scouts would count? (ive seen some adverts being placed my area where they are asking for people to help them to run these "clubs")..</p>

<p>thanks.</p>

<p>ps does it matter what school you went to? In the UK many Universities discriminate against you if you went to a public school (which in USA i believe = private school ;)) rather than a state school (USA equiv of a public school teehee)..</p>

<p>oh and what are generally the SATs they expect from international students? im thinking of applying to Penn, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth College, Brown, Chicago and Duke...im aiming to atleast get 2100 plus (will have lots of time to prepare since ill be applying post gap year).</p>

<p>thanks.</p>

<p>I am curious if anyone could help me... </p>

<p>I am currently in a community college (with about a 3.5 GPA) and plan to transfer to USC (as well as their Thornton School Of Music as a Music Industry Major with an emphasis on technology/recording) in 2008. But there are some questions I have regarding EC's, as my situation is sort of unique... </p>

<p>From about 6th grade through my high school graduation, I was severely ill with one health problem after another. Suffice to say, I was home schooled throughout that entire time (there was a couple of times I tried returning to school, but only to get sick again). Finally, this year has been the first year I have been able to successfully return to school, (first year of college) with a clean slate of health. However, as you can guess, because of all the time I was home, I wasn't able to join any clubs or have anything on the EC side of things. </p>

<p>Some of the things I did while I was home during those years was teach myself musical instruments, teach myself how to produce albums and record songs on the computer (which I still do. although my mixing does leave a lot to be desired, but I know what the buttons do), worked with a lot of top recording softwares, and have perfect pitch (if that means anything to Thornton) etc., etc. So basically, my question is this: because my only EC's up to this point have been this, is this going to hurt me when I apply? I mean, I know there's the great debate about very few passionate EC's might mean more than a ton of trivial one's, but your help and advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!</p>

<p>I know that on the commom app there's a spot for work experience so my question is: is it very detrimental to my chances if I've never held a job?</p>

<p>Is there something that says that we all need to have job experiences in order to gain admissions to colleges? NO! People, relax. Do what you like and pursue your passionate activities. There's nothing better you can do but to follow your passions. Don't do activities because you think they will get you into college. Please, don't.</p>

<p>^^ No. If your family has the resources to support you in other interests, then you are really lucky and you should by all means take advantage of those resources: attend summer programs, learn how to play an instrement, take up an unpaid internship. If you don't have the money, then work at a job. </p>

<p>The point is to stay busy. If you just moped around all summer and you had resources to stay busy, then not having a job will hurt you.</p>