"weaak" e.c.'s??

Applying to College
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<p>I'm looking to try to get into an ivy-league/top 15 school, specifically MIT [dream school, super high reach] Brown, Columbia, and Duke. My stats are satisfying enough for this i think (GPA:3.95, top 5,6%, SAT:2240 1st time). I am an asian male.</p>

<p>But I am really concerned about my e.c.'s and I have been for a very long time. Can you put any input on your opinions of my e.c.'s and if it's good enough for an ivy league??</p>

<p>1) Math Team (placed 8th in nation at Mu Alpha Theta). Junior-Class President. I placed 14th in statistics and 9th in theta gemini at nationals. numerous state awards as well (3rd in alpha S+S, etc.). President of math team next year. (this is my main e.c.)</p>

<p>2) Officer of Federal Way Youth Ecology, a volunteering and activity program.</p>

<p>3) Vice-Chair of Federal Way Youth Commissioner, a program of starting projects in the community (adopt a family, trailblazers, etc.)</p>

<p>4) 3 Seasons as Boys and Girls Club Basketball Coach, plus other volunteering stuff with Boys and Girls Club.</p>

<p>5) 3 years National Honor Society (probably secretary as a senior)</p>

<p>6) Key Club (senior class director)</p>

<p>That's pretty much in order of importance. I am looking to major in engineering, and my math IIC score will be a 780+, and my chem/bio will most likely be 750ish. So is my e.c. (math team) good enough?? I think my e.c.'s are weak, personally, but other opinions will be greatly appreciated :)</p>

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<p>Hi NWdivisionchamps! </p>

<p>Those are some very competitive schools you’re looking to apply to. They’re very hard to predict in terms of chances, but I’ll give you the best advice I can with what I know. Just understand that even the most “ideal” ECs will not get you into those schools alone. The key is that you need to do things that you love and have passion for … the quantity of ECs alone are not impressive … the depth (how much time you put into them and how involved you are) is. </p>

<p>That said, most of the ECs that you’ve listed are pretty standard … in fact, Math Team is a little stereotypical for the average applicant for the top schools, especially MIT. Though, the “Federal Way Youth Commissioner” seems a little less conventional — you should spend some time talking about it in your essays especially if you like it. </p>

<p>On paper, those aren’t weak ECs. Some people may have laundry lists of ECs, but those people sometimes are just “there” to put it on their app. What matters is how much enjoy being a part of something and how involved you are in it. </p>

<p>That said, continue doing what you love, and good luck!</p>

1 Like
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<p>Thanks! more opinions please??</p>

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<p>^You’re welcome!</p>

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<p>You want to major in engineering? BUILD SOMETHING.</p>

<p>I’m into engineering as well, you know what I build? Mother f^*king LASERS.</p>

<p>You do have a solid application though. Try doing some research, or get a grant from the government so you can buy supplies for a cool new “toy” to donate to your school.
I’m working on a TEA Nitrogen laser, and I also plan on building a laser light show to donate to my school for prom.</p>

<p>Just some ideas to toss out there.</p>

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<p>bumppp help please</p>

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<p>those are really WEAK ECs considering that ur Asian and where you want to go
If you want to go to those schools you need something that you won in bigger competition, such as qualifying for USAMO or Physics Olympiad, etc
and I don’t know if you just didn’t put it, but u need volunteering too.</p>

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<p>Oh yeah, I have a LOT of volunteering. FWYE and Key Club provide about 50 hours each per year, plus my boys and girls club basketball is volunteering. I also throw in some other community service events and it adds up to about 200+ hours a year. I took the AMC 12 this year… and I got a 94.5 T__T, so I didn’t qualify unfortunately. I am expecting to place in nationals in at least two events this year at MAO (S+S, trigonometry). But overall I don’t think I have the capabilities to obtain all those super awards… :(</p>

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<p>Can i get more opinions on this? maruhan2 is kind of scaring me, especially since some of these e.c.'s are time consuming. I know its not the best, but would it really hurt me that much?</p>

<p>P.S.= I am planning on doin an internship this summer, probably in accounting or engineering. Also working this summer, math team nationals, IB summer class, etc.</p>

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<p>buumpp…</p>

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<p>quite making affirmation topics.</p>

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<p>get 800’s on math II, chem, and bio and that raises your chances significantly.<br>
Don’t settle for 750’s.</p>

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<p>marahan is not accurate i mean cmon those ec’s are good. just do what you do and a lot of people on CC really overexaggerate what ec’s are good or bad.</p>

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<p>They’re decent but not incredible. MIt will be a reach but they won’t kill your chances at other schools though.</p>

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<p>Thanks! I never really concentrated on my e.c.'s until junior year, thus they do not look too impressive. However, I am hoping my passion in math team will be a benefit to engineering schools.</p>

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<p>bumppppppp</p>