What if you don't have ''Outstanding'' EC's?

[mayradio0508]

<p>So before I came on this site I thought colleges liked to see sports, volunteering, playing musical instruments, clubs, etc. But I've read so many threads about how none of that stands out and to have a chance at a top school you have to do something incredible like publish a research paper, be involved in a national leadership position, have had many internships with large corporations, create a world-renowned organization, etc. </p>

<p>To be honest I had no idea teenagers could even accomplish such things. Does it really hurt your chances at a top school if you don't do something incredible like some of these students?</p>

[Petersuu]

<p>lol I didn’t do anything (serious)</p>

<p>I put on my common app that i played video games for like ~1700 hours (don’t remember exact # because i think i just said like 15 hours a week for 3 and a half years).</p>

<p>And that was about it.</p>

<p>I think it might also depend on where your from. I’d like to think that the reason I didn’t do a lot of ECs was because there weren’t that many EC opportunities in my region relative to areas like the northeastern seaboard. But i’m probably just lazy.</p>

[mikemac]

<p>

Does it really hurt your chances at a top school if you don’t do something incredible like some of these students?

You exaggerate what others have done, setting up a strawman argument that can be readily dismissed. Unfortunately your posited alternative, the notion that all top colleges want is “member of this, took part in that” is not going to be very competitive at the top colleges that can easily pick someone with the good grades/scores/recs and strong ECs. The truth is between your 2 extremes.</p>

<p>The question about impressive EC’s comes up regularly on the forum. There is a thread with several posts 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&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>As you will see from that link, at the most selective colleges they are looking for depth more than just participation. Stanford, for example, says

Students often assume our primary concern is the number of activities in which one participates. In fact, an exceptional depth of experience in one or two activities may demonstrate your passion more than minimal participation in five or six clubs. We want to see the impact you have had on that club, in your school, or in the larger community, and we want to learn of the impact that experience has had on you.

</p>