<p>Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Someone on this forum posted a great list of "excellent" and "very good" extracurricular activities, and I can't find it. I wish it were stickied.</p>
<p>It was posted probably 2 years ago...</p>
<p>But you assume that someone else’s generated list has validity. The best EC is the one you best enjoy and will devote yourself towards – there’s no “Master Checklist” at admissions offices whereby kids who have these magical ECs are automatically better than kids who don’t.</p>
<p>Join the Spanish club and plan lots of events. Get a job bagging groceries at Walmart. Try out for cheer squad. Canvas for your local political group/candidate. Inherently, none is superior to the other.</p>
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<p>Quoting this for emphasis. Do what you like to do; not what others deem as good.</p>
<p>^ Although I agree that this is true, you would be fooling yourself if you thought that colleges didn’t see some ECs as more worthy than others.</p>
<p>As an extreme let’s say your hobby is playing video games. Even if it’s your undying passion, it is going to be hard to sell this to Adcoms.</p>
<p>Overall, what you accomplish in your out of school activities is far more important than what activities you pursue.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/82799-how-impress-adcoms-your-extracurriculars.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/82799-how-impress-adcoms-your-extracurriculars.html</a></p>
<p>The thing is, a lot of it is out of your control. A college might have enough pianists or gymnasts, etc. from around your area. If you happen to like a really uncommon activity, this will most likely help your chances. It’s not true that colleges just want to see you doing something you love and devoting yourself to it; try to stand out in some way</p>
<p>Guys, I am already in college (you can check my other posts if you’d like). Believe me, I know all about the “do what your heart desires” routine, but thanks for the advice anyway I guess. I just wanted to find that list to show people who ask “what are some examples of really good extracurricular activities.”</p>
<p>T26E4, that’s just wrong. USAMO, RSI, science research with publication, TASP, published written work in well recognized literary outlets, olympic level athletics, eagle scout, major leadership roles in large and/or significant organizations - these are all far superior than bagging groceries at Walmart, and a huge boost on any application to HYPS. </p>
<p>There was a great list, if only I could find it…</p>
<p>^Is Eagle Scout actually still a big deal to colleges? From the few Boy Scouts I know it’s pretty easy to get.
I’d disagree that T26E4 is just plain wrong. While the activities you listed are certainly more well respected than the run of the mill ones, they’re not going to happen for most of applicants to any college, including HYP+. For most applicants, s/he gave the best advice, since the best ECs they’ll attain are the ones that they like best.</p>
<p>I think the list you’re looking for is here - <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/210497-those-ecs-weak-so-whats-good.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/210497-those-ecs-weak-so-whats-good.html</a>, third post (actually written by Northstarmom).</p>
<p>I certainly don’t think the list NSM gives in the thread she linked is by any means exhaustive, but I do think the buzzword “passion” is thrown around a bit too much on CC. While you should do things that interest you to some extent, passion is less important to colleges than is accomplishment. This isn’t to say that someone who accomplishes a lot but resents their activities will get into top schools (as I imagine their disdain will come across through lackluster recs or essays), but that passion in and of itself is not what schools are looking for. They need diverse, talented student bodies, not just in theory (“I love X!”) but in actuality (“I won this/was published in that/spent the summer researching [obscure science topic]!”).</p>
<p>THAT’S ITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT THANKS SHRAVAS.</p>
<p>And, what do you know, it was written by Northstarmom!</p>