<p>Ok, so I have quite a few ECs that I do, and I am afraid that if I put them down, colleges will literally just think I am full of bs. The reality is, I am just a busy kid, and I don't sleep much, but they may think otherwise. I spend at least 1.5-2 hours per week per EC. What should I do? Here goes-</p>
<p>Human Rights Club- 1.5-2 hours per week
Octagon Club (philanthropy club at my school)- 5-7 hours per week
Science Club- 1.5-2 hours per week
Investment club- 1.5-2 hours per week
Table tennis club-1.5-2 hours per week
Mathletes team -1.5-2 hours per week
Chess club-1.5-2 hours per week
Tennis outside of school-5-7 hours per week (more during summer)
Chinese martial arts outside of school- 3-4 hours per week.
Volunteering during summer-300-400 hours by app time
Job during summer-3 (maybe 4 if I work next year) summers by app time
According to what I just posted, I am spending 28-30 hours on ECs each week,
which is 4-4.5 hours per day. However, this is true, because I am involved outside of the classroom, and I have 2-4 hours of hw each day, so I am usually asleep around 11-1. Whenever I have down time, I try to do some work for an EC outside of the actual EC. Should I just not put some of these things down on my app for fear of looking like I am just lying? Any input would be great.</p>
<p>It doesn’t matter if it looks like you’re lying as long as you’re not. If they check and you’re telling the truth, you’re fine; if they don’t check, you’re fine.</p>
<p>You should put those down in order of importance to you until you run out of slots on the common app. I wouldn’t add any of them beyond what fits in the Activities section.</p>
<p>But even though I am not lying, is it possible that they think I just lack depth in my ECs? I mean, if I am president of 6-7 clubs, won’t that raise a red flag, or just convey to colleges that my sponsors/club members like me?</p>
<p>If your “tennis outside of school” is basic recreational, non-club or school-related tennis (since you didn’t list jv or varsity), I wouldn’t list it. To me, it doesn’t really enhance your application and looks like you are just padding your resume. Just my opinion…</p>
<p>If the descriptions reflect what you did with those positions, that will demonstrate the depth. Listing “president” does nothing. Informing the reader of your responsibilities and accomplishments is what actually matters with leadership positions. Most club leadership positions are pointless and just exist as resume items; you need to demonstrate that this is not the case.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Since when do sports have to be done through your school? Clearly the OP cares about tennis enough to play 5-7 hours per week during the school year. This is a shoo-in for being listed, probably in a prominent position.</p>
<p>I’m an equestrian, but my school didn’t have an equestrian team. By your logic, I shouldn’t have listed it, but it’s probably one of my more compelling ECs, especially since it set me apart from most of the male pre-law community.</p>
<p>No, tennis is one of the most important things in my life. I made varsity as a sophomore, and our school got 2nd in state. I would say I am at the very least a pretty good tennis player. The 5-7 outside of season is what I use to get better, and every tennis player does it.</p>
<p>I think you are right to be worried about this issue. From the names of the clubs alone, an outsider will be skeptical about the amount of time you are reporting as a weekly commitment. If this time report is accurate, you may want to have your GC confirm that fact in the school’s rec letter.</p>
<p>Which names are alarming to you, siliconvalleymom? Thank you, by the way, RedSeven. I am sorry I was so quick to judge you before on the other forum.</p>
<p>Not the names themselves, but judging solely by the names, the type of involvement that would be normally expected for a philanthropy club or an investment club is far less than you are reporting.</p>
<p>I am the founder and president of the Octagon Club, and have helped raise over 1000 dollars for charities to date and have volunteered at several places. How is 7 hours per week not enough for a philanthropy club? Anything more and I am working a job. As for Investment club, why would i need more than 2 hours per week? We invest money and seek out speakers to help us/teach us about investing.</p>
<p>There’s a difference between people who join clubs just to attend the weekly meetings when they don’t conflict with the other 20 clubs they’ve joined and people who actually do something with the clubs they join.</p>
<p>I don’t think there’s any cause for concern. If there is a question as to your honesty, it should be easily resolved by the school contacting the guidance counselor. I see no reason to assume that schools will think the OP is lying.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I think siliconvalleymom was trying to argue that nobody spends 7 hrs/week with philanthropy clubs, probably because she’s had too much exposure to people who don’t actually get involved with their clubs. I fail to understand how 7 hrs/week is unreasonably high for a philanthropy club. A one-hour meeting each week is unlikely to significantly help people. By nature of the work, a time investment is required.</p>
<p>Same thing for the investment club argument; “normal” people apparently wouldn’t dream of putting that much time into an investment club.</p>
<p>@Siliconvalleymom, where are you coming up with your figures as to what’s “normally expected” for these clubs?</p>