What Do YOU Think is Missing?

Applying to College
1

<p>I posted a chance thread not too long ago (surprise surprise) and the most common feedback I got was that I was too spread out, and that my EC's seemed way too scattered.</p>

<p>At first I dismissed the idea, but I realized that it was indeed a correct evaluation. It's not that I wasn't truly interested, but that any onlooker (and more importantly, adcom) would probably just dismiss me as a college-resume whore.</p>

<p>I have a whole summer ahead of me to change that, so I was hoping for suggestions. Can you look over my prospective plans and tell me whether they sound okay? and do you have any specific suggestions about what I should change or pursue? I've grouped everything by category so that it's easier to see the different aspects of my EC's.</p>

<p>Math:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Captain of Math Team</p></li>
<li><p>School AMC 12 Winner (yeah yeah, I know its not much, but I'm really proud of it)</p></li>
<li><p>Organizer of community volunteer program, which largely serves middle school students struggling with Math. I personally tutor eight of the Algebra students myself.</p></li>
<li><p>Took AP Calc AB (am fairly confident about a 5) and senior year am scheduled for AP stats and BC</p></li>
<li><p>I <em>will</em> retake SAT II math 2, because I did horribly the first time because I just took it cold. I plan to study and am confident I can get an 800 if I work hard.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>History</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Took APUSH (2 years at my school) and am confident about a 5. Also self studied Comp.Gov. and am taking AP US gov and pol and AP Euro next year.</p></li>
<li><p>Will be doing some (very exciting!) research with one of the professors at the Rutgers. I'm really excited about it. It's unsure whether its going to be paid or not (she asked me what I wanted..I haven't replied yet) but either way, I'm really glad because I got it without any connections. </p></li>
<li><p>Taking History of Western Civ and History of East Asia at the local CC (yay!) </p></li>
<li><p>I started doing some research on two potential topic I want to further study... the plan is to write papers (on both, or either or? unsure) on them and submit them for publication. If anyone has any ideas of where to submit, please PM me! Nothing lame like Teen Ink, but I have a fairly decent one in mind that doesn't publish any old crap.</p></li>
<li><p>I took SAT II US (800) and I'm going to take SAT II World History in December (the last ever SAT date that colleges will accept! it's wierd...)</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Some other things I am doing over the summer...</p>

<ul>
<li><p>I participated in nanowrimo in November (idk if you guys know about that) and finished my book... but I want to polish it up and try and see if I can (hopefully!) get it published. It's not some chick-lit pseudo twilight garbage, so I think its okay to be hopeful. </p></li>
<li><p>Opening up my dance academy! I am starting to teach dance, which I myself have been learning for over 10 years.</p></li>
<li><p>Law internship... I was offered this during the school year, but I declined because I was too busy. They asked me again if I could come in during the summer...should I?</p></li>
<li><p>study for the SAT's and ACT and the other subject tests. </p></li>
<li><p>continue tutoring? idk about this. is it worthwhile? lol.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>So what do you think? Okay? Of the last few things I mentioned, do you think I should do them, or would it make things worse?</p>

2

<p>I have no idea what looks good to adcoms, but the activities that look most impressive to me are: maths tutoring, opening your own dance academy, writing a novel and doing serious historical research. I think you should expand on the commitment aspect of your dance initiative and find a way to showcase your interest in history. The other two also warrant a mention.</p>

<p>Your other ECs are good but not as distinctive. (The tutoring thing is not distinctive per se, but you don’t have to be original when you’re doing good.)</p>

3

<p>I would definitely do the law internship if you have time! Although come to think about it, it might not be that exciting. Honestly, I think your ECs are absolutely fine - they show dedication to the areas in which you’re interested, and they are somewhat unique. The research and the novel in particular are very interesting. I agree with Ghostt - if you expand on the commitment aspect of the dance academy, it could be very helpful for you.</p>

<p>As for tutoring, if you enjoy it and wish to continue, I would say to do it. I personally don’t think it would hurt you, and I think that tutoring in itself is really rewarding and fun.</p>

4

<p>You should narrow down your EC to atleast two or three which explicitly demonstrate who you are, your passion and abilities. You seem to have broad interests, which is great, however it doesn’t show you passions. Consider your interest in history or law as a passion, which can be further demonstrated in your tutoring> which can be english or history for example.</p>