<p>I am sorry if this has been posted before but I would like to get this clarified because from the other threads I have visited so far, it seems as though my definition of an extra-curricular activity differs from the admission counselor's definition.</p>
<p>To me, an extra curricular activity is anything beyond the scope of academics in school. For example, I spend a majority of my time doing computer graphics and 3d animation. I consider this to be an extra-curricular activity.</p>
<p>But it seems to me that colleges view only those that involve interaction with people as extra curricular activities:i.e. volunteer services, sports... This confuses me. Will my months and months of pure work on computer graphics go to waste in terms of college admissions because there is really no interaction with people in this activity? Or will colleges look at it as a valid EC? Any help or clarification is appreciated!</p>
<p>I'm sure what you’re doing is an EC, but how your doing it isn't the best in terms of college admission. It won't be highly (fully) valued by colleges unless its in the form of some organized group, such as if you were doing as apart of some club, or taking a computers course at a local college for it, or if you were being paid to do it, it would be a job. But to invest so much time into an activity you do just for enjoyment and on your own, gives the activity little validation.</p>
<p>sevitagen...that's interesting. So Colleges generally like it more if you are involved with people, even if it is an activity like art. I guess I am not part of a club (well I interact with online community members) but I have had work experience, and have taken online courses. So I guess it's not going to go to waste.</p>
<p>I agree with sevitagen. When it comes to ECs, colleges are looking for people who will enrich their campus life in some way or will add to the life of the community that the campus is in. Someone who does completely solitary ECs like you wouldn't be considered an asset in that way.</p>
<p>If you were being paid for what you were doing, had founded a club of people doing similar things, were teaching disadvantaged kids to do computer animation -- those would count as ECs that could impress colleges.</p>
<p>However, this may not matter at all in terms of your college chances. Most colleges do not factor ECs (except those of recruited athletes) into admission, they select students based on grades, scores, coursework. For most colleges, if ECs count at all, it's for consideration for merit aid.</p>
<p>The few colleges that do factor ECs into admission are extremely competitive places like HPYS, which most college students aren't applying to anyway.</p>