<p>I want to go on to study particle physics, but I'm not sure what extra curricular activities to do for it. I'm currently doing some ECs which aren't related to physics, such as: DoE, violin, and volunteering. In middle school, I was in a science club, but there isn't one at my high school, and there's not much based around physics.</p>
<p>Would activities such as owning a physics-help website, helping high school kids with physics, be considered as an extra curricular activity? Or attending physics seminars or lectures? Those wouldn't really count for 'extra-curricular activities' per se, but would they count for something?</p>
<p>Do what you love. The activities you participate in during high school shouldn’t be all about getting into college. It should be about what you are interested in and enjoy doing. If that is physics and there isn’t a physics club in your school, try starting one. Its the “doing” that is impressive to admissions committees - not necessarily the “what”. If you are passionate about something it will shine through on your application.</p>
<p>and yeah - owning a physics help website and volunteering to tutor other students in physics would definitely be show intiative and dedictation - two admirable traits.</p>
<p>Assuming you’re aiming at the most selective colleges, your EC’s don’t have to be related to physics. In fact it is typically more impressive to have some activities outside of it such as accomplishment in music or art. MIT can fill its entering class with science geniuses 3X over; they want something else to help build an interesting class. A counter-example showing the power of science activities, BTW, would be state or national recognition in science such as winning the Intel contest.</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. 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>Thanks for the replies and advice. And thanks for the articles, Mikemac. They’re great!</p>
<p>I’m not sure if these would count towards anything, but I’ve been in French Immersion since grade six, and as a result, I known a second language. I’m also in full IB, and plan on getting my IB Diploma. I’ve been a straight-A student all my life, since elementary school. In middle school I was in drama, and science club, and participated in speech competitions. In high school, I’m part of a volunteer club, but I also volunteer outside of the club, at events around the school/city.</p>
<p>Would doing something I really love help? Most of these things I’m not doing just to get into college/university, but because I love them! If I didn’t like being part of the volunteer club, I wouldn’t be in it.</p>
<p>I’m interesting in physics, and want to become a physicist, but I also like linguistics. Would learning a third language I love count towards anything, such as Latin? I’ve always wanted to learn Latin, but haven’t found the time to dedicate myself to it yet. It would help with taking linguistic classes, and it would have benefits such as improving my English, and understanding scientific terms better. I’m going to learn it to use it in my future, but I’m wondering if there are any extra benefits to learning it now.</p>
<p>Again, thank you for your replies!</p>
<p>Also, I’m in Canada, so I’m not sure if I have the same opportunities for activities and competitions that were spoken about, either in the your post, Mikemac, or the one you linked to.</p>
<p>My school does, however, hire student-tutors and pays them so it’s something I’ll think about. :)</p>