<p>Recently I was considering applying to Brown or Yale (kind of late to just start considering, I know), but I feel like my ECs may be so lacking that it might not even be worth applying. I'm solid academically, 3.9 UW GPA, 35 ACT, top 2.5% class rank, rigorous schedule, etc, but my EC's and awards are not impressive at all. Here they are:
-I am a member of Key Club and NHS, and because of those, I have amassed around 70 hours of community service.
-Started volunteering at a health clinic this year.
-Selected to interview for a chance to attend Buckeye</a> Boys State . I then went through the interview process and was selected to attend this past summer.
-I've had a job since the summer before sophomore year, but in all honesty, I hardly ever work at all.
-All the standard GPA and honor roll awards.
-Won an award from my school's science department (they gave out probably 5-10 science awards to the whole sophomore, junior and senior class combined). I probably could have won more department awards, but they just started giving them out this year.</p>
<p>With these crappy EC's, is it even worth applying? How significantly does this lower my chances. I know nobody's chances are good to get admitted to either of these schools, but if this significantly lowers my chances, then I really don't want to shell out the money to apply to these schools; $130 is a lot of money.</p>
<p>How you spin your EC’s is just as important as what they are. Assuming you are a boy, lots of us (and girls, too, but mostly boys in my opinion) go through a rebellious stage and don’t really begin to bloom into responsible adults until it’s “too late” for the college game (late 16 to 18 years old). Volunteering at a health clinic is a good way to show you are moving in the right direction. Try to play it off like that.</p>
<p>You are solid candidate for any school, however, you won’t know unless you apply and there will be thousands of others with similar stats, stand apart with your essays and roll the dice. Good luck!</p>
<p>What do you have to lose by applying, besides a little money, a little time, and a little ego-bruising if you’re rejected? On the other hand, you should be able to find less selective schools with some of the same attractive characteristics. Other than prestige, what do you like most about these two?</p>
<p>It’s worth the shot. Babysit, in 10 or 15 hours you’ll have the money. Better than always wondering what if!</p>
<p>You have better stats than my kid who did get in, but she did have good EC’s esp one killer good one. And a fantastic essay. Waitlisted at Yale, in everywhere else. You definately have a chance, no one can tell you if you will be selected. There are other factors at work in the process.</p>
<p>What do you have to lose…apply and find out. :)</p>
<p>As long as you have some matches and some financial safety schools that you like, you’ll be fine no matter what happens.</p>
<p>Thanks for the encouragement guys, I’ll try to spin my EC’s in a positive way like DoinSchool said and I’ll make sure to write an awesome essay :)</p>