<p>Hi guys. I'm a Vietnamese freshman. So summer's around the corner but I still haven't decided on what I should be doing to put on my college app. Internships are really hard to find here, volunteer opportunities are mostly offered to sophomores and older students, the number of clubs here is zero(no NHS,no keyclub,no debate team). Thus,while my GPA is pretty high,my ECs would definitely reduce my chance of getting into college(especially ivies). I'm going abroad to the US next year so more ECs(yay) but I'd still be missing a year worth of stuffs I can do. Any advice?</p>
<p>I would honestly suggest that you do what you like. Don’t do ECs for the sake of college admissions, find something you love doing and just do it. Imagine you get rejected from all your top choices. Wouldn’t those 4 years you spent doing ECs you didn’t hate, but didn’t like either, seem like a waste? People say it a lot here, and despite that, a lot of high school students don’t listen, but colleges appreciate passion in applicants. </p>
<p>what EC’s would you likely start at your new high school? Look for things you’re interested in and get involved in that, out of school, to prepare for next year. For example, if you’re hoping to join the school volleyball team, participate in a neighborhood volleyball club. If you hope to join the French club, try to create one at your current school. If you want to join the debate team, join IDEA
(<a href=“http://www.presdebates.idebate.org/about/debate/formats”>http://www.presdebates.idebate.org/about/debate/formats</a>)
Colleges, especially elite ones, don’t want 15 different EC’s. They want a few of them, done in depth and with great success.</p>
<p>You can also try some independent stuff. Write a blog? Learn to play an instrument? Make your own website? Design a hiking route? Most of my ECs are independent stuff because my school also pays zero attention to ECs. And you can always start your own club. :)</p>