I’m getting ready to apply to prep schools this fall and I was poking around on Gateway to Prep because the schools I’m using Gateway to apply to already posted their applications (St. Paul’s and Andover). I was filling out the Candidate Profile and I noticed the Interests and Achievements section is REALLY vague. I’ve played flute for about 4 years, but I was a part of the Cincinnati Youth Wind Ensemble Jr. (in 7th grade) before moving to Princeton, NJ and now I’m a part of the Youth Orchestra of Central Jersey and I feel like the ensembles I participated in reveal more about my extracurricular than just mentioning that I’ve played for 4 years. I’ve also been a part of my school’s environmental club for 2 years and I also volunteer at a local watershed. I started an initiative at my school to install motion sensors that shut off the lights when the classrooms are not in use. I build my extracurriculars around my passions (mainly flute and the environment) and I feel like there really isn’t a clear way I can articulate that on my Gateway application. I would greatly appreciate any help or advice from someone who has used the Gateway application in the past because I really am not a fan of Gateway. Thanks!
these are things you will be able to explore in greater detail in your essays. Most (all?) schools give you the opportunity to submit an extra written essay/submission concerning anything else you want them to know.
What @Korab1 said… + your interviews. I would list everything you do as extracurricular in gateway (even if it feels restrictive and dry) and elaborate/emphasize via essays and the interview.