<p>Note: this entire post is going off the assumption that grad schools don't care about extra-curricular activities at the undergraduate level.</p>
<p>Okay, we all have experiences with ECs (pretty I'm pretty sure close to none of us were accepted just solely on test scores and GPA), some more extensive than others. But what are the benefits of joining clubs/groups/other on-campus coalitions once you're already in college? To pad your resume? To truly fulfill the need for a "complete college experience?" </p>
<p>I guess the only benefit of joining in activities (that I can come up with) at a university is the connections/networking that you do. Meeting new people really is priceless.</p>
<p>So, the question I pose for current undergrads is, does being involved with activities worth the sacrifice of good grades/study time for standardized tests/etc.?</p>
<p>I've asked that question already here like few weeks ago. All of people told me that for Grad. Schools all they care is 1) GPA, 2) Test Scores (like SATs, but for college-level students), 3) Involvment in research projects, 4) Recommendations from professors/teachers/etc.
EC play very little role</p>
<p>No, I understand how we can balance such things (I mean, hell, we did it in high school for four years). But, it still plays into "taking away" our time from hanging out with friends, partying, ect. (unless club members are your friends; never been the case with me).</p>
<p>club sports--to get a good workout and not gain 20 lbs</p>
<p>clubs in your major--to meet people with your interests and gain connections, have leadership roles to help you with people skills for your future job</p>
<p>volunteer groups--to feel good helping others and get community service hours for scholarships</p>
<p>Trust me, I've learned just as much about life in my leadership roles in groups on campus as I have in classes so far. Defintely helps with time management practice as well, the study/work/clubs/sleep balance</p>
<p>I've spent all of high school in REALLY close knit ECs- marching band for 2 years, film club (with my own production group), literary club, National Spanish Honors Society... all have given me incredibly close friendships. That's something I'm looking to replicate in college, especially since I'm going 1000 miles away from home and all of my friends are staying in state.</p>
<p>Why should you do an EC? For the fun of it and for your overall well being. I don't really care about padding the resume right now; they are just for fun and to meet people. If you don't do anything other than go to class, you will get reaaaally bored. Being involved with a group definitely does not take away time from schoolwork unless you've joined something demanding, like a sports team.</p>
<p>Yeah, I guess you're right. Maybe it's me; I don't feel like doing anything anymore. Class, work, clubs - I just feel really lazy right now. But yeah, I met so many people that do ECs just to make a list of it, and then you have to deal with them when you have to work on something. Ugh.</p>
<p>WELL if your interested in med school, you would def want to take up some ecs like volunteering. True, in that it doesnt play a dominant role in admissions, however at top level schools(most med schools are), everyone scores well with good gpas, mcats, bunch of research experience, good recs. Well sometimes, its the ec's that can divide up th applicants. A so called med school would perfer to accept someone who has had some prolonged expereince in a clinical environment then someone who hasnt. But then again there are essays and interviews and most of the time your ecs would be the best thing or best opportunity to talk about them. REAL INTEREST REQUIRES ACTION< GOOUT THERE AND DO SOMETHING!! haha thas only med school tho, dunno what others require. peace!</p>
<p>I don't know what the obsession with doing ECs to pad your college application is about. You should do ECs because you enjoy them, not because they'll look good on an application. In university, I'm going to participate in the ECs that I enjoy and will do them for the same reason I did in high school, fun.</p>
<p>I don't know what the obsession with doing ECs to pad your college application is about. You should do ECs because you enjoy them, not because they'll look good on an application. In university, I'm going to participate in the ECs that I enjoy and will do them for the same reason I did in high school, fun.</p>
<p>They're fun and they're social. I'm only at college so that I can make enough money to comfortably support my "EC's" which are horseback riding and photography. You shouldn't be doing EC's that you don't enjoy, and if you enjoy them then why wouldn't you do them??</p>