<p>Can you answer what your likely major or career will be? </p>
<p>Or, did I miss that?</p>
<p>I agree with the posters that these are good ECs. Enjoy them and learn from them! And, as you are a writer, start jotting down some things or journaling about them. Sometimes writing about something clarifies its meaning, and you will have something to start with for your essays. And, summer research is very significant. Maybe you could turn it into a project that you could parlay into a science fair, national history day, or other entry. Keep up the good work!</p>
<p>@raideraide, a girl at my school had a profile very similar to that–4th in the class (top 1%), stellar SATs, and…dance. It got her into Princeton and ultimately off Harvard’s waitlist, where she now attends. That dedication to dance may well have been more impressive than the kid with every club in the school on their resume. </p>
<p>That being said, OP, you hardly have no ECs. In fact, I’d say you have more than enough–what you lack is accomplishments. I recommend you focus on your two writing ECs and, if research interests you, science. Mere membership in a club isn’t particularly impressive, so consider dropping those ECs where you aren’t making much of an impact. This leaves you time to pursue writing at a higher level. Consider entering journalism contests, that sort of thing. </p>
<p>And summer research is great, except that you have nothing EC-wise that indicates an interest in science otherwise. However, if your science teachers love you, you can always play that up as a strength.</p>
<p>The key is to make your important ECs work for you. You are far from having “no ECs.”</p>
<p>mom2collegekids - I’m not sure what my likely major will be, but probably science-based.</p>
<p>glassesarechic - There are no science-related clubs/teams in my school. Would volunteering in something related to my science topic be a good idea?</p>
<p>@glassesarechic: it would be one thing if this girl was genuinely a good dancer, but it’s not really intense dance she does; it’s 1.5 hours twice a week and she got cut from my school’s dance team. I totally understand that dedication is really important, but this girl wasn’t really dedicated at all.</p>
<p>Start a science club at yor school!!! It shows initiative!!! Ur luck you dont have a science-related club at school!!!</p>
<p>Your ECs really aren’t bad. Just try to get some accomplishments (literary/journalism awards?) or leadership positions (editor-in-chief) and you’d have a good shot nearly anywhere.</p>
<p>You can go to Canada or England .They dont look at EC e.g McGill top 20 in world rankings gives weight only to academics.</p>
<p>You are in anywhere you apply. ECs are crap.</p>
<p>I agree with the posters who said anything below the top 15 or 20 schools. You’d probably get in at Rose-Hulman (check it out - great place!) & Case Western Reserve. Other sciency schools to look at (I don’t know anything about these) are Rochester Institute of Tech, Worcester Polytechnic, GA Tech, Rensselaer, and the honors programs of major state universities. In particular, University of Oklahoma and Arizona State University and Westminster (Utah) LOVE National Merit Finalists, if you’ve got that going.</p>
<p>Pick one thing you’ve done (nursing home or Editor of something or your hypothetical summer research) and say what you’ve learned from it / how you’ve contributed through it for your essay, and do a good job on that essay.</p>
<p>i agree with WesKid! this student has strong ECs. the top 20 is certainly not out of reach.</p>
<p>As much or more than ECs…look for LEADERSHIP positions.</p>
<p>Do lots and lots and lots of community service over the summer. It’s good for both you and others. Bonus points if you choose an area that inspires you to follow a particular career path.</p>
<p>LOL. </p>
<p>There is no problem with your ECs.</p>
<p>The Top 20 is definitely viable. Northwestern, UChicago, etc. are just outside the top 10 and I think you have great prospects at that level of school.</p>
<p>Perhaps Harvard is out of reach unless you are tippy-top of your class, but who cares about Harvard anyway? ;).</p>
<p>My DS is very much like you. He has 2360 SATs and a 92 UW GPA. He has some science/math ECs, but nothing exceptional. He’s done some summer programs including a very respected math program last summer. He wants to major in computer science.</p>
<p>His results so far: CalTech and MIT - rejections
Renesslaer - acceptance with very good financial aid package
SUNY Stony Brook - acceptance with full ride Presidential scholarship (room/board/tuition/fees) </p>
<p>Still to come: Carnegie Mellon - we’re very hopeful
UPenn - a maybe
Harvard and Yale - probably not, but as they say in the lottery “you gotta be in it to win it”.</p>
<p>OP - did you take a significant number of AP courses? Many colleges really want to see that you have challenged yourself academically. I think that definitely helped my kid - he will have taken 12 of them when he graduates in June (which will also give him a significant amount of college credits at many of the colleges on his list).</p>
<p>You should look at top public schools that place less emphasis on extracurriculars and more on academics. Some examples are: University of Virginia, UC Berkeley, UCLA, University of Michigan, University of North Carolina, William and Mary, and Georgia Tech.</p>
<p>I think you’d have a fair shot at some of the Ivy’s - Cornell and Penn come to mind.</p>
<p>Big universities. Small liberal arts colleges simply don’t have much room for pure academics because they need to field sports teams, choirs, orchestras, etc. Medium universities have more room but competition there is still fairly fierce.</p>
<p>And this is for a student with truly no ECs. With some ECs, I’d say that you can apply anywhere with a high enough SAT and GPA and do well, provided that you can write good essays that show that you do have a life outside school.</p>
<p>I have better academic stats than you but my EC’s are similar in quality and I got a likely letter from Dartmouth! </p>
<p>What grade are you in? If you can, start a club in your school related to your interests, become a president of something, start some programs, then write about how you benefited your community. Your EC’s are good but not great, so your essays will have to set you apart. Your grades throw you in the mix.</p>
<p>does anyone know if some schools weigh ec’s more than others?</p>