<p>When universities say that they like extra-curricular activities that stand out, what exactly do they mean?
I'm just wondering what someone is supposed to do to make themselves look unique?</p>
<p>Try crew or fencing if looking for a sport. Playing an obscure instrument, like bassoon or harp helps. Or start a unique group, like human trafficking awareness club, or Germanic languages appreciation club</p>
<p>Sent from my Desire HD using CC</p>
<p>I’ve always heard that its better to be in a few groups as a leader/president than a random member in lots of clubs</p>
<p>Something that leads to a major award is best, of course. </p>
<p>Barring that, something that shows both dedication and proficiency over a number of years is good. Something like Eagle Scout (or the GS equivalent). All County (all state is better) in an instrument, etc.</p>
<p>I forgot the thread name but I know that there is an intensive thread on this. Usually good ECs are something like being named as part of published research or doing renowned lab work. It may also be something like starting a business or a small charity. Overall, good ECs make the admissions officer think about how in the world said applicant did something. If an applicant is the president of four clubs, the admissions officer can just make the assumption that this person is either very popular or just knows how to manage time effectively. The admissions officer can establish a path of how said applicant accomplished being in 4 clubs (or in a varsity sport- maybe hard work?). On the other hand, an applicant that started a charity or business or had articles/research/a book published really amazes an admissions officer. If an applicant managed to write a really amazing book or publish research on cardiology or even start a business/charity, admissions officers have a hard time establishing a path said applicant took to make this happen. They just think WOW. It’s easy to explain how someone is the president of a bunch of clubs, it’s harder to explain how a student started a business etc. In other words, the admissions officer can easily establish a path that a student could take to become the president of several clubs, but its much harder to establish a mental path that a student could take to start a business etc. ECs that have that wow factor are what really stand out. It doesn’t just have to be what I mentioned though. You could, for example, put down starting a regional debate competetion (something I am currently working on) as a good ECs as it has the same wow factor as getting research published etc. I lucked out with my ECs as my amazing Uncle is at Northwestern and let me work with him (on small things) but still put my name as a co-member with some of the research he did and also let me help him with the charity he started. Once again, look for that wow factor and you know that you have a good EC on your hands. I know I read most of this somewhere before (I think at some website about a “zen” valedictorian) but it is still pretty accurate. Best of luck to you!</p>
<p>They don’t have to be strange or a global breakthrough, but they do need to show IMPRESSIVE accomplishment and dedication though. Volunteering 500 hours at a hospital is just not the same as doing research at a famous laboratory and having those results published.</p>
<p>Yes a sharp focus in what few things you do is the key. Try do something with decent competitions. Outside of sports and music something related to your major is always good eg. Ed wants to be a chemist Does and wins the chem Olympiad. Doesn’t have to be so picture perfect but something along those lines is good.</p>
<p>It’s not really the activity itself, but it is what you make of it and how you present it. i.e, you could be a tutor for local students. The best thing for you to do if you want it to be “ivy” material is to turn it into a business, get others involved, call it a leadership position, and have it help underprivileged kids in another city. Then when it comes time to write an essay, you will be (hopefully) so passionate about the idea that the writing flows naturally, and adcoms can tell that you care about it thoroughly.</p>
<p>Anything that you enjoy and have a passion for. You have to show that passion in some way.</p>
<p>Get involved in things you like, but don’t ever pretend to be someone you’re not. That’s the best advice anyone can give you regarding extracurriculars.</p>
<p>The key to making yourself unique is being you. You ARE already unique. You just have to show it by pursuing things that define you. Do you like arguing? Join the debate team. Then, you will be naturally motivated by the fun of arguing to do well and win tournaments to show for your achievements. Do you like robotics? Join the robotics team and you will be naturally motivated by your love for robotics to propel your team to victory, which will show as achievement on your application. It is really all about you being proactive and pursuing what interests you. In my experience, the hardest part about all this is really digging deep to find what interests you. If you are early in high school, I would recommend just shotgunning extracurriculars. Join a bunch of different clubs that you have a remote interest, and then leave the ones that you don’t like. I did this and I ended up having really only two main extracurriculars, debate team and tennis team. Also, if you stand out as a student, sometimes you may get lucky. I didn’t win an officer position in a popular club in my school. My teacher asked me what I would do now. I said that even though I am not president, I can still contribute to the club more than anyone else. After all, the titles don’t matter, it is what you do. She was impressed by this and invited me to a secret meeting and now I am a co-founder of and vice president of the new National Social Studies Honors Society that my school is opening up next month.
All in all, be yourself and don’t be afraid to try what you want to. And please, oh please, don’t be pressured by what you see on threads in college confidential. A lot of these peoples with a million awards and honors lead very sad lives as workhorses driven by their strict parents from birth to be an ivy league successor. The ivy league after all still is biased and old-money-centric. I’ve realized by now that getting rejected from a top college doesn’t mean you won’t be successful in life, it just means that the college wasn’t entirely convinced you would be a very powerful figure in society in the future so as to continue to fuel the misconception that ivy league schools turn out excellent students (that’s not true, they admit students that are already extremely accomplished) so as to retain their oligopoly position in the world of higher education.</p>
<p>Curing cancer</p>
<p>They want to see leadership and excellence through your EC’s.</p>
<p>"I’m just wondering what someone is supposed to do to make themselves look unique? "</p>
<p>By being unique. By not going along with the herd. Do what interests you – it’s been repeated before. But even if this isn’t unique and doesn’t capture the attn of future college application readers, at least you won’t be a phony or a phony-wannabee.</p>
<p>My ECs? I washed dishes and was heavily involved in my JROTC unit – while cranking on my academics. Got only acceptances incl multiple Ivies. Matriculated at an HYP.</p>
<p>Recently or decades ago?</p>