"Will This Look Good ... ?" [What did you do for the sake of applications (ONLY)?]

Applying to College
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<p>“This thread is really making me start to regret starting the NHS chapter at my school, I started it so that people who wanted to volunteer (every other day) at the local homeless shelter had a way to do so, and now it’s being demeaned because it’s only an application padder? Do people really think the NHS is that hollow?”</p>

<p>As is the case with all organizations, some NHS chapters do next to nothing and attract only resume padders, others do major activities.</p>

<p>One of the activities that my son learned the most from in high school was co-organizing a fundraiser with the help of NHS. It was the first time in recent memory that there had been a school-wide fundraiser at his school. S wasn’t trying to pad his resume. He had been very touched by reports of a disaster, and looked for a way of raising funds to help the victims. It was the first time that he ever had attempted to implement one of his ideas, and he learned a great deal by doing this, including learning that by speaking up about his ideas, he could make a difference.</p>

<p>Some students/parents erroneously think that NHS is going to be the ticket to getting top college admissions, and they also think that not being in NHS is the kiss of death. Neither is true. Virtually all applicants to top colleges would qualify for NHS if their schools had it or if membership in their school NHS wasn’t very political. While there are some second and third tier colleges that give small merit scholarships for NHS members, NHS membership isn’t going to cause someone to get into top colleges.</p>

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<p>I signed up for one summer camp of my own volition, but when I went, it was sort of for colleges. When it was almost time to go, I decided I didn’t want to. It was probably just that I had become lazy by that point in the summer, used to waking late, messing around on the internet, reading 'till 3 in the morning. Nonetheless, the idea that the camp would help make it look like I had done something worthwhile, outside of reading, during the summer helped convince me that I should go. It was a pay-to-go one-week camp, so I obviously knew that it wouldn’t impress colleges the way that summer programs like RSI, TASP, and MITES (all of which rejected me) do, but I had had a really stressful summer the year before, so I guess I wanted to relax.</p>

<p>I considered quitting orchestra for one year, either when I was a senior or junior. When I was a junior, it was going to be to take two science classes, since two take up three bells and I could fit it if I removed one class but otherwise I’d have a study hall. When I thought about it senior year, it was to fit two histories, but I ended up self studying one and I’m currently hating the one I’m taking. It would have been a really hard decision to make, because I love orchestra and it brightens my day. Thinking that it would look bad to suddenly quit an instrument instead of taking it for a full 6 years was a consideration, but I really doubt that I ever would have dropped orchestra.</p>

<p>My school doesn’t have NHS, though we do have Cum Laude Society. However, you’re only admitted to it at the end of your senior year, way too late to alert colleges unless you were waitlisted. It is pretty much only for really smart kids and not like, say, NHS at my friend’s school where half the class is in. But her school is really smart and competitive.</p>

<p>I removed most of the clubs that looked like resume padding from my resume. I didn’t really think they would make colleges think I just did it to get in, because the clubs were pretty fun. In one, we cook and eat once a week. It was actually pretty time consuming when I chose to make more challenging dishes, like French bread, Indian Bhuna Gosht, or Chinese dumplings, so maybe if I had kept my involvement up to the original level I would have listed it. In another club, we eat French food once a week. But I wanted to stress my bigger ECs. So I only included one “just for fun” activity: Ski Club :).</p>

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<p>I am a parent in suburban NY and wonder if adcoms are hip to the kids who spend the summer in Hawaii working at the local animal shelter or other thinly disguised community service activities. We sometimes joke that some village in Peru gets a new firehouse every year, when in June, they knock down the previous one and await the new batch of community service kids to build another one! If I were an adcom, I’d give demerit points for that stuff!</p>

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<p>I created a charity with my sisters, but definitely not for the purpose of “resume padding”. It was in memory of a friend.</p>

<p>I never joined any clubs for that reason either, though I will admit that I ran for authoritative positions so that I could show my leadership and active participation in the clubs, knowing that I would be putting that on my resume.</p>

<p>I think a lot of people who “pad” their resumes are kind of obvious about it. They have laundry lists of activities. If you love a subject or a club, be an active member and enjoy it. The colleges will likely favor that more than a person who is president of every club at his or her school.</p>

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<p>At my daughter’s school, they had a day when the people with EC’s got to put out tables to get other’s to join. She edited the school Lit journal for two years with just one co-editor. She told me the GC was pounding her table and saying it is a good EC for college resume! But no one ever joined.</p>

<p>The journal wasn’t a really big deal or anything. But in some ways it was important, in that she was able to publish anon writing and poems and people trusted her with that info. The booklets were decent. Lots of work too.</p>

<p>Edit to add:</p>

<p>So, if people pad resumes, why not join anything, like Lit club?</p>

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<p>Hunt wrote, “I think you have to distinguish between padding a resume and building a resume. In my mind, padding a resume is doing some fairly bogus activity and trying to make it sound impressive. Building a resume, on the other hand, is seeking out additional credentials that are relevant and really make you more desirable to a college. For example, if you are interested in creative writing, taking an online course in story writing, or attending a writer’s conference, might be a way to build your skills–and your resume. This is no different from what you might do in the working world if you want a better resume.”</p>

<p>This is wonderful clarification; thank you so much. </p>

<p>In my household, EC’s were studiously avoided because they were all perceived to be high school’s answer to resume padding. If anyone even hinted that an activity should be done to look good on college app’s, it was the kiss of death for that activity! Had I been able to clarify like you did here, Hunt, it might have helped them try some things and gain some valuable experience DESPITE the fact that it could have been perceived as padding by some people.</p>

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<p>My son, who is now a college freshman, originally joined one particular service organization, because an older friend told him it would look good on his applications. Once he got involved, however, he found that he loved it. Eventually he had leadership positions in the organization the final two years of high school. But volunteering or give back, as he puts it, is something he really enjoys and continues to do so in college. </p>

<p>I do agree that many students do pad their resumes with that “laundry list.” I also believe that college admissions can spot those people. My youngest son has different interests than his brother, so we will encourage him to pursue them, because he loves those activities, not because they look good to some school.</p>

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<p>Hm, it was not so much that I picked ECs for college admissions, but I definately made sure everything was down and glowing even if “Book Club,” something I genuinely cared about, was not something extremely important or presitigous. However, I think it showed character. Club wise, I was part of Latin Club, Book Club, and Improv/Drama club, but then again, I am a top Latin Student whose teacher and club sponsor wrote an amazing rec, an aspiring writer and typical book-lover, and have been in 13 plays and a couple of improv shows, so really, I did things I actually cared about.</p>

<p>NHS on the other hand I applied to JUST so that I could get the little additional thing for graudation. I mean, why not? I had the grades and it was only a couple short answers.</p>

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<p>The funny thing is that the students who do things to pursue their own interests are the ones who win. They win skills, experiences, hobbies, friends, and a perspective that will help them lead fulfilling lives for the rest of their lives. They also get what employers seek and what colleges of all kinds appreciate.</p>

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<p>Hi all, </p>

<p>I have a slight question about how to distinguish resume padding from building. Although I did music and debate for interest and self-improvement respectively, I am rather worried about how colleges are going to look at my resume. After all, what others perceive of you can be quite different from who you really are. Please help to judge:</p>

<p>I started learning a musical instrument when i was in grade4 when the music touched me. I have achieved a diploma in that instrument and have done several solo performances. But ever since I entered HS and heard about resumes for colleges, I took part in competitions related to this instrument so that my resume can appeal more. Is this considered padding or building?</p>

<p>In addition, I am in my school’s debate club. I joined because I was shy and couldn’t express myself well, and saw debate as the opportunity to improve on these areas. It has helped a lot and I have been awarded best debater a few times. However, this has only been an 1 year commitment. Will this be seen as padding?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

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<p>Interesting topic–as I was noting to my husband and student all of the “clubs” and causes that were suddenly being championed by jrs and ambitious sophmores for the padding…
when many handn’t done a thing beyond school work for the last few years…
and some really overstate what they do and the time involved…</p>

<p>While I suspect AdComms can sniff that out…I know a particular student or two who are quite crafty…</p>

<p>our student is too busy to add fluff and we tell our student to stick with real passions and enjoy those</p>

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<p>This isn’t a story personally but I’m on the robotics team at my school. I joined last year for the fun of it and didn’t actually start looking at colleges until this year(Junior year) and noticed it might look good. After my first year I was hooked, I LOVE my robotics team. This year we had about 10+ new sophomores and new Juniors/Seniors to. The first question the leaders asked is Okay who is here for fun “All the older people/veterans rose their hand” and then she asked “Who is just doing this for college or your parents forced you to” the rest of the people raised their hand. I was puzzled, they’re going to be spending 21 hours a week come build season. If they don’t enjoy it they’re going to go through hell. That’s changed now that we’ve gotten serious and it is fun. Those who haven’t converted have dropped it. I can’t imagine doing an EC that I didn’t enjoy. There would be no passion to do it. But one thing is that if you do do something that is good for college you may end up enjoying it.</p>

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<p>My definition of passionate activities is definitely one that someone has dedicated a lot of time and excelled in (awards, recognition, etc.). And, hopefully, one that requires a lot of skill to get good at because that’s the only way to prove that you’re passionate about it. Who can last 4 years working really hard at an activity, win a state championship or regionals, if they have no passion? I know a lot of people say they hate piano but still get good at it, but, think about it, do they really hate it THAT much? Don’t think so… I used to play piano and I disliked it with passion and my parents almost killed me for quitting it. I didn’t care. I did get whipped like twice on the back but seriously I do NOT believe that people can last for years doing something they hate.</p>

<p>I’d always like to use chess as an example (I LOVE it). I won the regionals and played at super stars invitational two years ago for my state and I gotta say I’ve read like 7 200+ page books in chess, practiced like crazy, dealt with anger in losing and spend tremendous time analyzing my games to find weaknesses and how to improve every single area of the game. Seeing how a lot of people hate academics, who would pick up 7 chess books to educate themselves about a game that requires a lot of memorization and comprehension and application and lots of practice? Might as well go read a math book than a chess book; more useful. </p>

<p>Same goes for musical instruments and sports and every other obscure activity. I only look at an activity as showing passion if the person won awards or recognition or set some good record on it.</p>
</i>

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<p>Interesting to read how different NHS is from school to school</p>

<p>at our student’s school, being tapped for NHS happens mid yr Jr yr–
the voting students in comes from the faculty
no one knows who is on the committee to prevent lobbying
standards are very high, high GPA, character, serious service record etc…</p>

<p>the kids who get in have a long track record even before they get in (service etc)</p>

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<p>I think it’s kind of a double edged sword. Like a lot of my friends in high school only started doing community service to pad their college resumes, but once they started they really became passionate about the activities they were doing. And while hectic schedules did tend to get scaled back once kids got into schools, at least many of them continued doing community service.</p>

<p>Or you could take this guys word for it: [BSAT</a> World : Blog - Gettin’ Extra-Curricular](<a href=“http://www.bsatworld.com/blogPost/45/Gettin%26%23039%3B-Extra-Curricular]BSAT”>http://www.bsatworld.com/blogPost/45/Gettin%26%23039%3B-Extra-Curricular)</p>

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<p>Our NHS chapter does some good work, but I find that the fundraisers that our IB program do are more… inspired, I guess? Like toy/food drives vs. a dodgeball tournament to buy mosquito nets, a fishing trip to promote oceanographic research, etc. However, in IB it’s expected that you’ll do these things, so I don’t think anyone uses them as resume padding.</p>

<p>I hate how “community service” is often seen as resume padding. I’ve been working at a nonprofit for the last four years, and I love the kids (it works with migrant farmworking families) and the entire community. I’ve not only improved my Spanish, but I’ve gained so much personally from interacting with people that I usually wouldn’t encounter. It irks me when people are like, “wow, what a good amount of hours” or something.</p>

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<p>No, my kids never did anything for the resume. (We lived in the south/midwest when they applied, so no pressure, really.) They only did a few activities each–and they ranged from boring/common (piano, working in restaurant) to more unusual/interesting. Now, my 3rd kid has NO activities. He’s quit everything. (I’m wondering if the variety of activities that he’s quit or not pursued would make a good essay topic. . .if he promises not to quit college! ;))</p>

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<p>I’ll be frank- without the resume-building aspects, I might not have bothered with NHS (at my school, not that selective- almost 1/3 of the school is in it, and we’re a non-magnet public), and I might not have searched as much for the volunteer work I eventually found at a local cat shelter (which I now enjoy). Also, I definitely wouldn’t have gone to some mediocre summer programs, which in hindsight probably weren’t impressive anyway.</p>

<p>Also, this is from a few pages back, but I just wanted to respond to this statement:

While I agree with the sentiment here (that overcommitment solely for resume building is bad, I disagree with this particular statement. For example, I ended up participating in my school Scholastic Bowl practice today for about twenty minutes (a time frowned upon by this post), because it didn’t go late and my school anime club meets on the same day. However, I truly enjoy both clubs, and would find it difficult to pick one to go to if I had to follow the statement above. Granted, doing so on a regular basis or solely for resume-building is not a great idea, one should try to not be over-committed, and one should work to prevent such club overlaps when possible. Still, sometimes attending a club for a short period of time is worth it, despite the resume-building potential.</p>

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<p>I actually had an opposite experience. I quit my primary activities right in the midst of the application process, shortly into my senior year in HS. I did it because of long-term frustrations with the teacher who led the organization. However, many of my friends and even my Mom suggested that admissions committees might get wind of this through some means or another, and decide that it was senioritis, or that I showed a lack of follow through, or whatever. It didn’t make any difference and I ended up getting into and going to my dream school.</p>

<p>Admissions officers are savvy; they know that you know that they know that you know, and so on. It isn’t a black box, despite how much writers, parents, and websites like this try to portray it as such.</p>

<p>Oh and actually, I did start volunteering at a community center in the summer before my senior year. To be frank, I did it because the admissions process made me realize the areas in which I was not well rounded, and I thought I should address that. You might say I did it “for” the admissions committees, but really it was more complicated. And to this day, I am committed to community service, so I guess everybody wins.</p>

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<p>esmee thats both the funniest and stupidest thing i’ve ever heard.</p>