<p>SO far I have this:</p>
<p>(I'm a junior by the way)</p>
<p>Tutoring- 10,11 and soon 12
3 Clubs which I joined this year and will be involved in next year (Not President, or anything like that though)
I will be volunteering at a hospital soon.</p>
<p>I should get more than enough volunteer hours by November. This summer I'm just going to be studying/working/volunteering.</p>
<p>Any suggestions?</p>
<p>High school is a great time to try out things that you're interested in. If there are other activities that attract you, go for it even if you may not be that good at them.</p>
<p>If your real question is what can you do that will impress colleges, first, most colleges make admissions decisions overwhelmingly based on your stats. At most, ECs will help you get merit aid at the colleges that offer merit aid.</p>
<p>Public universities especially make decisions virtually strictly by the numbers and whether or not a person is a state resident. </p>
<p>It's only the very top colleges -- places like HPYS -- that factor ECs strongly into admission. They can do that because they have an overabundance of applicants with sky high stats, so can afford to select students based on creating a well rounded class.</p>
<p>That being said, if there's anything else that you're interested in, pursue those activities -- for yourself, not for college. </p>
<p>If you plan to apply to the most competitive colleges that do factor in ECs in admissions decisions, what counts with them is depth -- leadership, impact, awards -- not breadth of activities. Laundry lists of activities don't impress them.</p>
<p>Thanks, I'm applying to NYU next year. I actually enjoy volunteering but my lack of ECs right now is probably going to hurt me in the long run. =( </p>
<p>Does anyone else have any suggestions?</p>
<p>NYU values anything that shows a student can be self-sufficient, organized and adventurous with good judgement, because their students have to keep that balance between doing academics while living in the dazzling center of NYC where there are always crowds, new challenges, different people.</p>
<p>How can you develop and demonstrate some spunk, initiative, independence? </p>
<p>Also think of EC activities that urban NYC people would relate to. FOr example, you might try participating in a school play -- not necessarily acting, but backstage or crew work. It's fun, and relevant to NYC life.
Or, anything related to diversity: participate in your school's Black History Month or Cinqo de Maio, even if that's not your ethnicity. Get into some fun, group activities like that, which shows you reaching out into your community to meet/learn from others' experiences. That's very New York.</p>
<p>Volunteering will be respected at NYU; I notice they emphasize community service on their website.</p>
<p>See if there's an opportunity to do something where you take a risk or put yourself out there for judgment...for example, if you write, then publish a poem in your school's literary magazine. If you photograph, see about entering a photo in a community competition. Don't "hide" in otherwords, deep within clubs as your ONLY approach to EC's; rather, sometime next year, seize a chance to show yourself to be an individual, perhaps even a leader. </p>
<p>Or, if what I say sounds "not like you" and you're much more reflective than all that, that's fine too. Perhaps you can keep a journal of your volunteer experiences, recording experiences and thoughts as you develop your skills within the volunteer environment (hospital, or whatever). THen, when it's time to write essays and short answers, you might even be able to quote from it..or at least refer to the fact that you DECIDED to keep a journal (tho not asked or required to). Do you see how that gives the reader a great feeling about you...he thinks about what he does; he reflects; he improves; he's self-motivated.</p>
<p>Of course, you will also be applying to other places, not just NYU, right?Hope so. Everybody needs a list b/c you can't guarantee admission anywhere! Talk to your GC or look in CC here about what is a "reach, match, and safety" so you have perhaps 2 of each on your list.
If admission fees are a huge burden on your family, there's a way to get these waived for financial need; again, talk to your Guidance Counselor (GC) about that.</p>
<p>Thank you so much! That really helped me =) I have some safety schools,I won't be only applying at NYU.</p>
<p>Great!
And I had a post-script thought about your EC's. Since you didn't mention which areas of academics interest you in your OP, I forgot to mention that if your EC's develop or deepen your authentic academic interests, then it also holds together. Plus, you'd like it and be good at it.
As an example, if you love Math and have tutored in h.s., you might take it out into the community and tutor once weekly at a boys/girls club for the underpriveleged, or go and play chess with a cool senior guy at a nursing home and make his week great.
If you like History, then see if your community has a history museum about how it all began there. They are usually crusty old folks but might have a project for you to research, or an exhibit to give tours for (you'd study up first).
Sometimes I think that the EC's that take students outside of their high schools stand out a bit more, if they connect to what the student already loves academically. Sometimes, though, transportatioin makes it hard. Perhaps on weekends, if your folks can get you to someplace. Again, this demonstrates initiative and spunk...just a bit moreso than doing something at high school.
Good luck. I hope your dreams come true!</p>
<p>Fortunately, your time working will be understood as necessary and can help explain if your EC hours are a bit light.</p>
<p>I'd love to hear this confirmed by an ADCOM reading this post, but don't they expect fewer EC hours from students who work afterschool or summer jobs?</p>
<p>One more:
fade-to-black, have you read through the thread called
"Those ECs are weak...."- So what's good?"</p>
<p>It's very long, so I haven't. But you might find some ideas in there. </p>
<p>I know the thread began related to uber-competitive IVY applications, but probably it meanders during the thread to many other places and ideas.</p>
<p>well what i was told was show colleges that you not only gave back to the community (i.e. volunteering at hospital, tutoring) but also you pursued something in your major (i.e. business major, intern for a business company).</p>
<p>I take it you have a required minimum hours of volunteer time? I work in a hospital and the vast majority of our teen volunteers hide in the lounge on the computer or watch TV with their friends. They still get their hours in, but I can say there's some resentment there at this point that we feel like we're babysitting them. Do yourself a favor and get the most out of your experience by being visible and offering to help. Don't be shy, the staff really wants you to be a part of things, but they're not going to spend their time finding you if you're hiding. Volunteering is a great opportunity to expand your horizons, do your best to make it more than just about the hours. Good luck.</p>
<p>Thank you so much payingtuitions! I'm not sure what I want to major in, I was thinking maybe medicine (which is why I want to volunteer at the hospital.) I originally wanted to major in business management but I don't think I want to anymore. I would like an answer to that question to..I'll try to get more EC hours though</p>
<p>flong: I don't know what I want to major in.. </p>
<p>MomOFour- I don't have a required amount of volunteer hours. And I'm defintely not like one of those teens, actually when I start volunteering at the hospital, I'm going to ask if I can work in the pediatric department (they need a playroom assistant) =) I just hope I'm old enough..</p>
<p>Do things you are strongly interested in, not things you think will look good. There is a simple reason: if you pursue something just because it looks good, you will burn out quickly, and it will be obvious what you did. I am not, of course, saying that you are looking to do that: just a note that while we can recommend things, don't do something you are not interested in just because it looks good. :)</p>
<p>Yes, I understand, I'm just looking for some ideas :) and I want to push myself out of my limits</p>