<p>See I'm nervous because I have 8 ECs, none of which are outstanding and I'm thinking about trimming down so I can have 5-6. But my problem is with the ECs I'm doing:
1) Debating
2) Model UN
3) Writing a newspaper article for the biggest national newspaper in PNG. The article is about my passions: economics, world affairs and politics.
4)Tutoring - Free for charge for disadvantaged kids and professionally
5) Going to India every summer from now 'till senior for teaching kids English and other stuff like that
6) Doing some simple youth counciling in PNG
7) Trying to get an internship with a investment banking or politician(trying to get relatives to help with that, feel guilty though)
8) Piano like 100s of others and play very badly but improving.
9) Other charities through school and school days - very small constant contributions basically</p>
<p>You see 3-4 charities, 2 clubs, a newspaper article and a job. But the width is there and maybe more then necessary. But do I have the depth to get into HYPSM?</p>
<p>I'm in like frekaing 8 activities. but i'm the president of like 7 of them, and I've done all of these clubs/sports for all 4 years. would it be bad to put them all in? i mean i have them in like 3 areas, music/sports/math and science</p>
<p>I have
Detroit Symphony Youth Orchestra
Section Leader of Marching Band
President of Future Problem Solving Club
President of Biology Competitions Club
President of Math Club
President of Science Olympiad
Vice President of Voluteer Club
Captain of Track
4 years of Swimming</p>
<p>wow. which should i get rid of.. i mean the sports and the music ones take up the most time, so should i leave those in?</p>
<p>the application says the MAIN acitivities..i think you should put in the ones you really ahve spent hours and dedicated time into it..i trimmed down mine as well because and i didn't add some clubs i was in..if you write every single one of them down, it might appear as if you're trying to show off with you solid intrest in one subject..but this is just my perspective and what i've heard from people..</p>
<p>Scott523: The Common App has 7 slots for your principal ECs, personal and volunteer activities. I think you should fill them all up! There might be places in the several long/short and really short essay questions on the Stanford Supplement to the Common App to talk about the others.</p>
<p>My S used all 7 slots and got in. He talked about other interests in the essays. I think you should be proud of the quality and number of your ECs. Who knows what might catch the eye of the adcoms and push your application into the acceptance pile.</p>
<p>Your ECs show variety, leadership and commitment. Way to go!</p>
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<p>List as many ECs as you truly are actively involved in.<<</p>
</blockquote>
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<p>Agree here. Remember that a LONG list of activities will act as a cover up for those activities you really want to focus on in your application.</p>
<p>gladmom: if i list my 7 principal activities first, then should i possibly list the others on a resume that i intend to attach? are resume's even suggested?</p>
<p>Include a resume if the activities your adding you spend just as much time on as your principal ones or to elaborate on ECs that may not be clear by the title. </p>
<p>I've also read that schools discourage resumes if you're just going to list more ECs or things that hold little sway. </p>
<p>In 'A is for Admissions' a dartmouth admissions officer said that many times in the initial reading at selective schools, they omit any ECs that were not uncommon or they did not hold a leadership position in. </p>
<p>It also says that applications like Scott's that have "president" positions in 5 activities indicate somebody with a lack of focus or dedication, as it is not possible to do all of those exceptionally well, especially when those clubs look as though they were founded for leadership positions :/</p>
<p>Scott: In answer to your question regarding adding a resume -- Stanford uses the common app, and in the "EC, personal, volunteer activities" section, it says "To allow us to focus on the highlights of your activities, please complete this section even if you plan to attach a resume." I think you have to submit the common app online, and I don't see a way to attach a resume. I also think you should give them what they ask for and NO more.</p>
<p>Some schools, like U of Chicago, will take whatever you want to send them in addition to the application materials that are required. Other schools actively don't want anything extra. </p>
<p>As a person who is looking at your list of ECs and does not know any details about them, I'd recommend dropping the President of Problem Solving Club and VP of Volunteer Club from your list of 9. Looking at what's left, I do wonder how you would have time to successfully do it all. </p>
<p>I think that when the adcom is sifting through piles of similarly qualified applicants, the essays are what can make your application stand out. Stanford's essay questions include the long and short on the common app and the 3 short and 10 2-liners on the common app supplement. Here is where you can make a case for things that are special about you.</p>
<p>Khsstitches, I get what you mean about looking like you're padding your application if you start everything JR. or SR. year, but do you guys think it would be ok to add one new EC sophmore year? I am going to start a Model UN club at my school next year but I don't want it to look like a lack of committment. Opinions, anyone?</p>
<p>I was also wondering for the section on the common app. if you could like. generalize and combine two things into one. such as instead of having symphony orchestra then marching band, would it be suitable to combine the two and just simply say "Saxophone"? opinions?</p>
<p>and also. on that ec/volunteer/personal activity section, would you also add summer programs that you attended?</p>
<p>scott: The common app "EC, Personal and Volunteer Activities" section has "(Including Summer)" after it. So, yes, summer activities go there, too.</p>
<p>You could say "Saxophone" for one slot, however in the common app you only get about 14 words to describe "Positions held, honors won or letters earned".</p>
<p>I suggest that you wait until you actually have the applications in front of you so that you can see exactly how much space you have for what you want to say.</p>
<p>kitty: My S dropped two of his ECs junior year, one senior year and added one sophomore year. At our HS you couldn't even do Model UN as a frosh or soph. The colleges want to see that you are interested in something outside of academics. I recommend that you do what you want to do without worrying about what the colleges will think. It worked for my S.</p>
<p>Its funny you mentioned this. I was talking to an ex-professor of American University today. He says that National Honor Societys ranking up there on top of the list over and above the clubs you are involved in. He says they rank it above the SATs!!!!!!</p>
<p>I would definitely recommend highlighting the activities you are passionate about and show a strong commitment to, but keep in mind that extra-curriculars are never as important as your grades so when you are thinking about taking on three leadership positions, plus your sports teams, plus band, church commitments, volunteering, and that part-time job...make sure you don't sacrifice your grades as a result. It is always better to see strong grades and a commitment to a few activities than tons of activities and mediocre grades.</p>
<p>ok so im trying really hard to narrow down my list of leadership positions...would adcoms consider 1st chair in the school band a leadership position? (im also not in the marching band).</p>