Would climbing Kilimanjaro set me apart?

Applying to College
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<p>Basically was thinking of a way of setting myself apart from everyone else applying to uni in terms of extra curriculars. I have no particular special talent apart from being extremely determined. </p>

<p>I want to get into an ivy or a top uni and am already semi experienced in terms of hiking etc. Never climbed a mountain before, but I'm sure it could be done. </p>

<p>Do you think this could prove beneficial when applying to colleges? It sounds like wicked fun so am most likely going to do it anyway :p</p>

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<p>Everest…</p>

<p>But anyway, it could make for a good essay topic, or if this isn’t your first/last climb, a “mountain climbing” EC that you could write about in your short EC essay.</p>

<p>And yeah, it does sound really fun. Do it regardless of college; good luck!</p>

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<p>My brother climbed Kil in college and loved it. He wrote his essay for law school about it and it turned out really well. </p>

<p>When he was applying for jobs at top firms, he would always talk about the experience and his trip and it WAS something that set him apart, maybe not the deciding factor, but it’s a cool thing to have and talk about for the rest of your life!</p>

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<p>The enthusiasm your brother must have shown talking about an activity he loved must have come across in the interview and was compelling to the interviewer.</p>

<p>bob247 never before climbed a mountain and seems largely motivated to do this to bolster his college prospects. The activity may not have been what set your brother apart but rather the glow he had when he talked about it.</p>

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<p>Defense for bob247: “It sounds like wicked fun so am most likely going to do it anyway” </p>

<p>He said that he’s going to do it anyways even if it does not help him. So he is motivated not simply to bolster his college prospects.</p>

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<p>Kilimanjaro is climbed by 25,000 people every year. It is considered a “walk-up”, that is , a non-technical climb. I suspect ad-coms would see it as an expensive vacation experience rather than a brave, unique conquest.</p>

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Then I reiterate: Everest.</p>

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<p>^^Yep. And maybe do it sans supplemental oxygen for that extra wow factor?</p>

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<p>I do alumni interviews and I have had several applicants in the past few years who have climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. I’m not exaggerating, this really is true. No, I don’t think it will set you apart. By the way, neither will becoming a certified EMT. Just throwing that out in case it was under consideration. That doesn’t mean it’s not a worthwhile venture. But you should do it for fun, if it sounds like fun to you.</p>

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<p>Your attitude should set you apart, on top of everything else. Try not to be one of the “have to get into X college!” crowd. Good luck.</p>

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Don’t see how it could go wrong.</p>

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<p>“Try not to be one of the ‘have to get into X college!’”</p>

<p>Too late.
@TC: If you haven’t climbed a mountain before, I would recommend you prepare some.</p>