@ucbalumnus Your are completely correct…MIT consideris ECs and volunteering higher then work experience. and Stanford but alot more weight on ECs then working. but in the 2nd post OP said she isn’t from califronia. Thats why I used it as a source… along with the others. And schools that only “consider” working do just that. Consider it. Their are alot of full time working students who apply and they consider it, but that doesn’t make up for a blank application. .
1, true normally, #2 great essay topic! No argument. #3 I'm not sure about unique (you have thousands of kids applying the odds of most being rich non-working majorities are unlikely with so many immigrants and lower class people trying to reach for success) but it would be unique to over come the time constraint of working with any club. Because think about it, on common apps about 2/3rds of his/her application will be blank with no ECs, no awards, and no volunteering ... that's never a good sign. Because places like Harvard review everything about their applicants... (and having the high old sat score may not make up for a blank application)
The fact is w/ the new SAT out and OP applying in 2 years after when the old SAT will be out dated, it makes sense that a more current test may be wanted from the elite schools (like MIT and Stanford who only use the SAT to compare you to other students). Remember the SAT isn’t like a smartness test, alot of colleges just to other students applying. Their is know way to know in 2 years i they will even accept the old SAT is my concern. I’m only saying that because some colleges ** already ** don’t let you use the old SAT scores for the class of 2017, so their is a chance that in 2 years elite schools may do the same.
I just wanted to point out that she needs time to study for the new sat / act. And she needs to make sure that she has enough time to study for those.
PS A lot of low income high achieving people apply to places like MIT for the 100 financial need met. A lot just don’t get in.
PSS It doesn’t even need to be a club that mets or anything, you help your teacher grade once or maybe contribute to some school function. Something that shows you are involved in your school to a degree.