<p>So here is my situation.
I'm hispanic, five people living in a 2 bedroom apartment. I share my room with my two sisters. I live in the ghettos. A black family at my left, a mexican family at my right. I take honors and AP classes. Studying at my house is almost impossible: ethier one of the four people I live with is making noise, my mexican neighbor was blasting his/her ranchy beats, or the black family blasting his/her rap. And sometimes, ALL AT THE SAME TIME. Since most of the time no one was available to take me to the library, what I decided to do was not get involved in any clubs. I would come straight home, and try to squeeze in my HWs in the small time my community would allow me to concentrate, sometimes I would even put earplugs on to study. Othertimes, when I was trying to do difficult HWs, and all the cacophony was going on, I would just quit, give up, get depressed and think "what's the point, I can't afford a good college anyways". Recently, however, I had a junior meeting with my concelour, and she said "your 'good' grades will not be enough to get into a good school, you neeed ECs", so I told myself, since this community never even lets me do my hw, let me just get involved. I began to get involved, and to my surprise, my grades began to flourish, I was able to block the noise off and concentrate better,and I felt better about myself. However, I believe that I realized the importance of ECs too late, as I am now a junior.
So my question to you is, if I write an essay on this subject, do you think it will make up for the super lack of ECs? Do you think I still have a chance at Harvard, UPenn, UVA and/or Cornell?</p>
<p>You should still find <em>something</em> to do for ECs. You certainly have the material for a great essay though. Apply to all four. You have a decent shot at all your picks, and while it is impossible to predict which one(s) will actually accept you, you will get in somewhere great.</p>
<p>Thank you for your input, of course now i have some ECs now, Hispanic Culture Club, (running for treasurer for next year) NHS, Spanish Honors Society, I got a job and I'm taking a math course over the summer.</p>
<p>oh yeah, community service :P</p>
<p>Here's what I see: a driven student from a difficult background who did everything in her ability to better herself. That's what the admissions committee will see too. So you were a little late with the ECs, so what? The you in ninth grade didn't participate in community activities, but the you in eleventh grade does. Which are they admitting? The latter one, of course.</p>
<p>Besides, it's a myth that you have to be "well-rounded" to be favored with the thick envelope come next April. They look for passion and potential. So show that you have both of those--don't worry about the number of years you did this or that.</p>
<p>Wow.. I really hope you're admitted to at least one of the four colleges you mentioned. It seems like you really deserve it.</p>
<p>why thanks, m_c, I hope so too.</p>