<p>I'm a rising high school senior with excellent grades and test scores. I've joined a few clubs at my school, including Odyssey of the Mind, NHS, and my school's literary and art magazine, where I'm pretty sure I'll be elected editor next year. However, I honestly feel that the place where I've gained the greatest sense of responsibility, community, and leadership throughout high school has been through my paid work experience. I work 18-20 hours a week at a local store, alone and in long shifts. I work extensively with people there and actually have a role in the overall operations of the store. I also have been seriously babysitting for three years for a few local families, not just casually but enough that I'm actually providing the families with child care that they depend on. I've learned more about leadership from watching 5 kids for 6 hours than I will as editor of the magazine, and people sincerely depend on me enough that I have a lot of trouble taking time off for family vacations, ie. I've sacrificed a lot to hold these positions. However, I like them and find my achievements there incredibly rewarding. The problem is that none of them count as much as if I were sports captain, student council vice president, or founder of some little club. Besides through my admissions essay, how can I show not only the value of my paid work experience, but the level of commitment I've put in and responsibility riding on my shoulders? I almost feel embarrassed to put child care on my applications because I can't convey in one line that I'm not just a casual Saturday night sitter. Advice or thoughts?</p>
<p>brm- I’ll try to address your questions from the perspective of a parent with the last of 3 kids finally finished the college admissions process (class of '17) as well as a hirer of young folks like you.</p>
<p>1st, you should be darned proud of your experience, commitment, and especially the life lessons you’ve learned (and articulated above) by working. A few of my kids had similar experiences and as a hirer I look for such experiences (and importantly a recognition of what those experiences mean.) Indeed, what you’ve learned is about as important and valuable as it gets in my book.</p>
<p>Due to your obvious passion here (which is likewise great), I believe you should, as you are thinking, stress your work experience in your application. An essay is an obvious spot to hightlight some of what you talked about above. As I am sure you have read or heard, passion brings out a genuineness that any evaluator can pick up on, to understand you better. And the college process is all about fit. Some admissions counselors may respond less favorably than others, but some will likely appreciate the kind of person you are as expressed through those work experiences. And that’s OK, because you will end up in a spot better suited for you.</p>
<p>Beside the essay(s), make sure you list these “ECs” and note the large commitments of time made. You’ve got a line or so to list achievements and the like, per EC…use that space creatively. Don’t worry about being corny- if its what you truly feel, say it. If you’ve got something more to say that you can’t succinctly express in the EC section or essay, consider attaching an extra sheet in the additional info upload section, but do that sparingly…its got to be really important to you and the readers.</p>
<p>Final thought…for those schools that will take an extra recommendation, consider having your employer(s) write one & send straight to each college. [Some schools do not want extras, you will have to check.] But make sure those recommenders (1) will give you a glowing write-up and (2) reflect the ideals you engender; that is, you may wish to discuss with them why these jobs have been important to you, better yet show them a draft of your essay…so they can reinforce your ideas.</p>
<p>Most importantly, have faith that what you have expressed above really does matter, and that what you’ve learned (and will continue to learn) truly does have real world import. Some colleges will really appreciate it, some may not…but again, that’s what the college admissions process is about. Hats off to you.</p>
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You and I will have to disagree. Holding a job (and multiple jobs) is every bit the EC as being on student council or a club.</p>
<p>Sites like collegeboard and princeton review offer colleges the opportunity to rank what they feel is very important, fairly important, and only considered in the application process. 9 times out of 10, ECs are listed as important or very important, work experience considered. Many colleges literally tell you your experiences are worth less and that’s frustrating.</p>
<p>Erin’s Dad is dead on IMHO. Don’t be fazed by what you cited, as there are colleges that recognize the value of real world work experience, and you will ultimately be a better fit (happier too) at such institutions. Be true to yourself, and go “all in” with what you believe is important.</p>
<p>Wow, your Extracurricular activities are super impressive! I can relate to your passion as I love helping children. As the future generation, it is amazing what any one can do to influence their lives positively.
I agree with previous contributors that your work experience reveals your leadership and responsibility. Just express your compassion in your essay just as you did in your post! 
As an incoming junior, I hope to achieve a job as a Rec Leader but I am still debating on whether to take the job as it takes a lot of time after school. Hopefully, I can balance it as well as you did! Good luck in your studies!</p>
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This is totally wrong. The VAST majority of colleges don’t give one whit for ECs. Only those that use holistic admissions (which do happen to be the most competitive). And in those GPA, class rank or scores are usually weighted more.</p>
<p>Although I feel playing soccer with school has grown me more as a person than working 2 years at a grocery store, its far and away second place. Being part of student council or something doesn’t compare to working (and holding) a job.</p>