<p>Could you count teaching yourself a language to be an EC? I mean, it is something you do outside a class, but it's not an institution like a club...</p>
<p>I’d say not to include it. It’s more of a hobby than an extracurricular.</p>
<p>What would be the best place to include it on an app then?</p>
<p>it could be something you include in an essay. however i can promise you there are lots of “newsworthy” things that don’t get included on apps. put it in perspective as to whether or not it is more important than something else to include on your app.</p>
<p>I could see you including it in the Additional Info section, if they still have that. It’s a place for necessary clarifications, and it is necessary that you specify that you taught <em>yourself</em> the language.</p>
<p>But would it seem weird or be a turn-off if it was listed as an EC?</p>
<p>I don’t think you can categorize it as an ec but its noteworthy so put it on your resume in the hobbies section.</p>
<p>GlobalDolphin,
What was the objective in teaching yourself the language? Just as participation in an EC may reflect some personal interest, improvement, team or collaborative experience - learning this language must have had some type of purpose and function? I believe that you need to bring that out perhaps in an essay. You could have taken the time and invested it in some other way. Elaborate why you taught yourself the language and its utility.</p>
<p>I’ll definitely find ways to mention it in supplements…
Though I have seen a few chance threads where people mark it as an EC.</p>
<p>I listed it as an EC. I studied Italian and a bit of French outside of school (although less now with all the work that senior year involves). If language is your passion, I would at least put in an essay and if you have space, why not put it as an EC?</p>
<p>It’s certainly more original than some more cliche activities…</p>
<p>There is no reason at all why you can’t list is as an EC. There is no reason why any hobby can’t be listed as an EC. By all means, include it - and any evidence that you’ve achieved a level of competence in that language, like an SAT II score.</p>
<p>Of course, learning a language is not, by itself, all that interesting - lots of people speak three or more languages. The interesting part is why you chose that language and what it enabled you to do as a result. If this is important to you, then you should be prepared to explain a bit more about it.</p>
<p>The SAT II for the language I’m studying won’t be offered between now and the time I’ll apply, so can I note in my additional info/ECs that I plan to take it?</p>
<p>^ you can do anything you want :-). we’ve given you advice… the decision is yours. i honestly don’t think it will have an impact in the decision one way or the other.</p>