<p>Hello I'm JJoy15. Recently I've been wondering about what actitvities/clubs would make me look "unique" to MIT. I've been asking the question "What clubs/activities would get me the closest to MIT?" Often I have heard the response: Your passions. Aside from this and Olympiad Medals, is there anything else that would make me look like a great candidate?</p>
<p>I request that members do not post about community service as I have already accumulated over 500 hours.</p>
<p>making USAMO, ISEF finalist</p>
<p>I should have posted this but do not add any major competitions like USAMO and ISEF finalist. I already have the caliber to make USAMO now that i’m reading and studying AoPS. </p>
<p>Is there anything else???</p>
<p>The ones that you have a passion in. The ones that leadership come naturally to you. The ones in which you are thrilled to do, and have no problem branching off to similarly related activities. When you submit your application, the admissions officers want to see YOU. Not a collection of what the people in the CC community believe is the best to be. They get too much of that. </p>
<p>In fact, the things that some people on the CC community may recommend may not make you stand out whatsoever. That is simply because what they recommend are nationally recognized, and any top university could fill their class many times over with people in Mu Alpha Theta, Science Olympiad, and similarly related things. </p>
<p>If these activities define you and truly peak your interests, then all power to you to follow it. But I recommend that you take no recommendations. Try a bit of everything one year, figure out what you like the best, and follow that with a deep, burning passion. It’s always great to have things on the side, but don’t create a laundry list of activities. You can’t spread yourself so thin and truly show your devotion to an activity. No one here can decide what you will enjoy, and you should not let them.</p>
<p>So basically what your saying is I should follow my passions (Mu Alpha Theta and Science Club) and try to follow them to the best of my ability. I already knew this but I am just wondering what else could make my application look stronger/ or the strongest possible (bar ISEF, USAMO, International Olympiad Medals, AIME.)</p>
<p>There are countless ways to make your application stand out, and there is no one way that is superior to another. However, since you said that you enjoy science and math, I would just recommend to pursue research opportunities if available, attempt to get any internship if possible, join and excel in STEM clubs and competitions, and participate in the international competitions that you said we’re already recommended to you. The important part of having your passion is demonstrating it in your application. Do everything and anything that will showcase how much you love Mu Alpha Theta and Science Club (or just STEM in general). It will come natural to you, and it will come natural to the admissions officers in understanding.</p>
<p>But now my question is that out of the countless ways to make my application stand out, which of those will make it stand out the most (aside from International Medals and USAMO and AIME and such) ? I truly do love science and math but I really want to know how can I make my application as strong and as versatile as possible?</p>
<p>Cure cancer. Boom. Uniqueness.</p>
<p>Thanks for the sarcastic and useless advice TheKongo. I wanted to make my application as strongg and versatile as possible, not make a major scientific/medical breakthrough.</p>
<p>Any other suggestions?</p>
<p>I really want to know how can I make my application as strong and as versatile as possible?</p>
<p>Do what you like to do. Chances are you won’t get in, so don’t waste 4 years of your life doing something to don’t really like. </p>
<p>Also transcript + test scores > ECs.</p>
<p>What more can we tell you, JJoy15? You reiterated the same question in multiple threads, and have consequently been told just about every trick in the book. The only way you can really show your passion in math of science is through winning awards in the aforementioned competitions or publishing research papers. To ask the same question over and over and over again is simply ridiculous. Think about some of the advice you have been told before blindly firing away.</p>
<p>There is no single EC better for any school. If so, there will be many applicants trying to do the same thing and making it not a hot EC anymore. Just be yourself and show you passion on something. The only exceptions would be getting national awards of something. That would be difficult for anybody to put on their CV.</p>
<p>Be sincere - as has been said countless times, follow your passions. You obviously don’t want to hear this, but that’s what they and all the elite schools are looking for. If you are passionate in your activities, it will shine through in your application. If you are participating only to make your application look stronger, that will shine through too!</p>
<p>This my last question since I’ve seemed to annyo all of you (I apologize for that 
)</p>
<p>Are there any other tricks that I still haven’t been told in the book? I want to know everything before applying. (This question is directed to everybody.)</p>
<p>(TheKongo: Chances are that I might not won’t get in.)</p>
<p>Are there any other tricks that I still haven’t been told in the book? I want to know everything before applying. This question is directed to everybody.)</p>
<p>Are there any other tricks that I still haven’t been told in the book? I want to know everything before applying.</p>
<p>JJoy15-
First of all, relax. Asking the same question every half hour isn’t going to improve the quality of the responses.</p>
<p>I think too many kids ask the wrong question-“What should I do to get into X college?” instead of asking, “What should I do to investigate what I might want to do with my life?” The best ECs are responses to the second question. Poke around CC and you’ll find a lot of answers to the question(s) you’re asking. One of the consistent responses is that you shouldn’t simply pursue an activity because you think it will look good on paper.</p>
<p>FWIW, not everyone has a passion. The great thing about high school is that it’s a time when you don’t have to specialize. Look around, try some things you think you might like. Chances are, you’ll find something you find really rewarding and/or fun. That’s the thing you’ll want to pursue in depth.</p>
<p>Is that the only thing I can do in the moment? Is there anything else I can do to get closer to MIT or is that it?</p>
<p>Is that the only thing I can do in the moment? Is there anything else I can do to get closer to MIT or is that it?</p>