<p>I've been reading a lot of the Ivy posts and many many people say that ECs must be focused, have "depth" and somehow be an example of who you are. That kinda worries me because my ECs are pretty scattered due to utter uncertainty about what I wanted to do out of high school. The three areas I concentrated on were medical, political science and writing. Anyway, here are my ECs as of now...do you think they are too broad/college prep-y/etc? Would they still have a negative impact even though I am sincerely dedicated to and enjoy each one? I didn't think about how they would look to colleges when I decided to become involved with these activities ><.</p>
<p>WORK EXPERIENCE:
Summer 2005 Intern for Senator Elaine Alquist
Winter 2004 Salesperson at Crystal Land</p>
<p>OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL ACTIVITIES:
Treasurer (2 terms) for Youth Advisory Council
Education Chair and Social Chair for March of Dimes Chain Reaction Leadership Council (yah long name)
Volunteer and Team Captain for Good Samaritan Hospital
Advanced piano (haha who cares though right?)
Art with awards in several competitions</p>
<p>ONCAMPUS:
Staff writer, NonFiction Editor and Editor-in-Chief for high school literary magazine
Member, Activities Coordinator and President of California Scholarship Federation
Member, PR committee, Executive Assistant and Secretary of Key Club
FBLA placing in Bay Section and State competitions.
Communications committee for ASB - produced and wrote schoolwide newsletters.</p>
<p>haha that's it. Not very impressive but oh well - they do define who I am. Is it okay to be as eclectic as this? Thanks (veryvery much) to anyone who takes the time to respond!</p>
<ul>
<li>saM</li>
</ul>
<p>Leadership positions and a variety of EC's which you have dedicated time to...stop worrying. I think you are somewhat of a perfectionist. Instead of worrying, use this energy for something more useful.</p>
<p>All you really need is one EC where you "shine." What Columbia really wants to see is passion. It's tough to say you have a passion for something when you scatter your EC involvements all over the place. Pick one thing and really focus on it (especially newspaper, government, music, athletics). Being in Teens Against Tabacco Use, or whatever, no matter how committed, probably isn't the way to go.</p>
<p>I had really bad ECs and got in. I don't consider myself a very EC-involved student and I didn't many ECs my senior year really because of a family death. However, "good ECs" to me would be like stuff that isn't a laundry list of clubs where you are just some random member. I think clubs outside of school and such make better ECs.</p>
<p>An admissions officer at Columbia told me that they look for "egg-shaped" students. Students who do well in all facets, but who focus in one area or another. I think if you've focused your EC's in those areas, then you should be good, and your EC's are not bad at all--mine were much worse, and I'll be Columbia College '09.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies guys..for those who did not have very good ECs but got in, was it because your test scores/grades were exceptional?</p>
<p>I doubt it, at least for me anyways. Tests scores and grades can only go so high, and a 1600 and a 4.0 don't set you that much apart in the Columbia applicant pool. I had a 4.0 and an SAT in the 1500's, but I think what got me in was the letter I wrote to the admissions officers (I got in off the waitlist). You should sincerley convey how much you want to go to Columbia, I think that's how I got in.</p>
<p>I had good scores (everything above 750) and I was valedictorian of my class (but with shared rank), but to be honest I have no idea why I was taken in. I had great recs though and I had some weird ECs (ie. Rubik's Cube etc)</p>