<p>^Those look great. If your grades and SATs are up there, you're a strong applicant for any super-competitive university.</p>
<p>Question: how much do mediocre, spread-out ECs hurt you if every other part of your application is near-perfect (esays, GPA, SATs, etc). I don't really know where I stand because the objective parts of my application are higher than the averages in every school I'm applying to, but my ECs are nothing special. (I'm not talking about ivies, but other competitive schools like Duke, Northwestern etc.) Will they see that I participated in some ECs and community service, or just overlook my app if haven't won a national competition?</p>
<p>Someone at the beginning of this post said they don't understand why people retake the SATs to go from a 750 to an 800, instead of starting charitable foundations and such. hmmm 3 hours bubbling in simple reasoning problems... or spending every day after school competing in contests and training and trying to raise money. I chose the former and I'm glad because I still have time to see friends and read and be a regular high schooler.</p>
<p>I'm a Nobel Prize Winner, discovered the cure for AIDS, and enjoy saving dying African babies on the weekend. Are my ECs good enough?</p>
<p>Seriously. I know this whole site is dedicated to overachievers, but in all honesty your kind of destroying the point of ECs by turning this whole process into some kind of mindless game. I'm not trying to be idealistic; but just do what you like and if you get rejected, thats life. This has seriously turned into some disgusting game. Just stop and think. </p>
<p>Please just do what you love. If you haven't found something in high school, it's not too late. </p>
<p>I didn't bother reading the thread, so if you're going to bash me, have fun. Wait! Maybe you could put that on your resume too!</p>
<p>P.S. this is not directed towards anybody in particular</p>
<p>^agree wholeheartedly with the above poster. Even looking at Northstarmom's post a lot earlier, I can't help but feel that admissions has turned into a stupid game. And I can't help but wondering (and there're a couple of kids like this in my school) that found like a billion service stuff, like supposedly spearheading an "international organization." Seriously, are those kids really that great? No, they're often kids with sucky grades, SAT's.
Seriously, don't say you're founder of like a million things. Colleges know you probably do it for admissions anyways.
Seriously, some overachievers on this site make me sick. If you don't agree with me, whatever.</p>
<p>^I actually agree. I suspect a lot of times, parents are very involved in these extra curriculars. Even something as simple as 'internships' are not easy to attain for high schoolers. They come about mostly with parental connections.</p>
<p>My only real EC is Debate, it's something that I know I love and I can see that I can get somewhere with it if I'm lucky. Even if I don't go to nationals in debate but still dedicate a lot of time to it and let everyone know that it is my passion, how will this be reflected to adcoms? I also do key club and am hoping to get more involved with my community by running for a board position. Seeing as how debate and key club are my only "real" EC's that I'm dedicated too, how well is this reflected on my applications to college? Hopefully I'll pick up another EC that I enjoy doing...Thanks.</p>
<p>What if you have a lot of EC's that you really like, but do not have lots of leadership positions? I'm just a soph so I still have some time, I guess, but it would help. I'm in about five EC's in-school, and I like all of them. Would it be worth putting on the app even if I don't have an amazing position? IE: B-team Science Bowl</p>
<p>Within my Church:
Made a speech about my experience on pilgrimage to Israel/Palestine in front of 1,200 people and the head of the episcopal church this december.
I am now a member of a search and nominating committee for 2 new bishops within my diocese.
I am the Acolyte director at my church and I am a member of the bishop's committee (deals with the parish finances).</p>
<p>Sports:
I have played water polo and swam all 3 years of high school so far.</p>
<p>Journalism/Publications:
I am also an editor on the school paper, and will probably be editor-in-chief next year.
I am an editor on our student lit magazine and will probably be editor-in-chief in this as well.</p>
<p>Politics:
I was a ground pounder and GOTV super-precinct captain for a congressional campaign in 2006.
Am a member of Model UN at my school, and look to taking an officer position next year</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Swimming for a club since age of 10, and for HS varsity team , 4 year lettered, 15-20 hrs /day, one summer swimming camp, , state HS championship finalst for 4 years, offering private lessons for kids to make money , and use this money to pay my guitor instructor, lifeguard as community service (also got money), etc, most likely will be captain</p></li>
<li><p>Enjoy debating a lot, because I will major in business/economics/political science, went summer one camp for public speaking, will go to Dartmouth summer debating camp this summer, won state novice policy debating 3th place, and other local awards, is captain of HS debating club in Jr. year, most likely will be president next year</p></li>
</ol>
<p>That's all I do. enough, I can not do more, 5% ranking now, PSAT 220, SAT II 780,800, 760,
My SAT should be above 2200. GPA 3.8 (most are AP and H level)</p>
<p>Honestly, this thread is a bunch of bullocks. Honestly, I don't think there are any right and wrong extra curriculars, and this thread is full of a bunch of resume whores looking for things to add onto their laundry list, and then people who think that what they have isn't enough.</p>
<p>This goes in line with Poseidenj.
ECs are all about finding what suits you best and you can find interest in. Does this thread actually have people list their ECs and others can see them to: 1. Compare? 2. Influence them? It shouldn't be either, so this thread is what I find best avoided.</p>
<p>Here's two EC profiles, both kids applying to ivies. I want you guys to compare them. Which profile is more impressive?<br>
(SAT/Grades are similar)</p>
<p>Person 1.
Academic Games (kinda like Math/science olympiad): 9-10; 9th @ National tournament
Orchestra: 11-12 Concertmaster for 12th
Scouts: 9-12 (Almost Eagle) Various leadership positions for 9-12
Freshman/JV Lacrosse: 9-11
NHS: 12
Spanish NHS: 12
Interact Club: 12</p>
<p>Person 2.
Boys State: Treasurer
Key Club: 9-12
NHS: 12
Interact Club: 12
Crew: 10-12
Yearbook: 12
Political Science: 11
Track: 9
Math League: 11</p>
<p>IMO, what's "good" on CC is what others would consider "great".</p>
<p>Shocker: not everyone can be class president, a varsity athlete in 3 sports, president of 5 clubs, and do 10 hours of community service every weekend.
Personally, I like to see people who choose one activity and really dedicate time to it. Passion holds more weight than diverse, so-so ECs.</p>
<p>Would a good EC be that I picked up a stick (played Lacrosse) only a year ago to rise to become the starting varsity goalie within a year? I out performed goalies who were goalies since they started. So, would that be a good EC?</p>