<p>After reading a considerable amount of "Chance Me" posts and seeing many stats and list of ECs, I realize that my extra curricular seem quite crappy in comparison. Luckily, I'm only an upcoming junior (oh yes, still pretty young, haha) so I still have time to get involved. As of now, here are the ECs I will be involved in FOR SURE by the end of senior year:
- Operation Smile 4 years (Secretary 10; Co-VP 11,12)
- Chinese Club 4 years (Historian 10; Co-Pres 11,12)
- Key Club 4 years (Historian 11,12)
- Track 3 years (10,11,12)
- Science Olympiad 2 years (11,12)
- CSF (California Scholarship Federation)
- 200+ hours of community service hopefully. (half way there! :D)
* I am extremely involved in Key Club (DCMs, banquets, charity dinners, etc.) and Chinese Club (Lunar Show, San Fran trips, banquets, etc.) which requires a portion of my time. No significant awards for track however.</p>
<p>My friend and I are also launching a t-shirt business. We have backings from a dance crew, professional gamers, and I think the police department? On the side, I design sweaters and shirts for many clubs at school (and the class shirt) and also other Key Club districts in the area. </p>
<p>Do my ECs seems alright? I know many people travel countries to help out others and win state/national competitions so I feel pretty inferior, *cue nervous laughter. I hope to go to Berkeley! (UCLA too, but not as much) I have decent grades of course. Horrible SAT II but I didn't know my dad signed me up so they will improve drastically. :]</p>
<p>EC’s appear solid for Berkeley. Hopefully you can pull some awards/honors out of some of those ECs to list in your application.</p>
<p>These are by no means weak EC’s, rather they are quite solid. They aren’t extremely special or unique, but if your grades and test scores are strong, you should be able to get into Berkeley.</p>
<p>It seems like you have been dedicated to the ECs you are in, which is very important.</p>
<p>The question about impressive ECs comes up regularly on the forum. There is a thread with comments by Northstarmom, a Ivy alum interviewer, about what constitutes impressive ECs from the point of view of the most selective colleges. For the UC schools they will expect somewhat less. The post is at <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/210497-those-ecs-weak-so-what-s-good.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/210497-those-ecs-weak-so-what-s-good.html</a></p>
<p>2 very interesting articles about ECs that stand out and how to get them (same author, different examples) are at [How</a> to Be Impressive](<a href=“http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/05/28/the-art-of-activity-innovation-how-to-be-impressive-without-an-impressive-amount-of-work/]How”>The Art of Activity Innovation: How to Be Impressive Without an Impressive Amount of Work - Cal Newport) and [Save</a> This Grind?](<a href=“http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/09/12/case-study-how-could-we-save-this-ridiculously-overloaded-grind/]Save”>Case Study: How Could We Save This Ridiculously Overloaded Grind? - Cal Newport) While I don’t agree with everything in them, take a look at these 2 articles and I think you’ll get some original ideas.</p>
<p>I’ll definitely strive for some awards! (Does getting the ‘golden key’ count? --Probably not I’m assuming.) I agree that my ECs are very common and not that outstanding, but it’s reassuring to know it’s alright for Berkeley. I’ll check out the link later tonight mikemac! Thanks for the input guys!</p>