<p>I babysit my younger sister because of my parents work schedules. I actually babysit her everyday for four hours, I cook for her, tutor her, go over her school work with her, provide creative outlets for her (such as painting, journaling, etc) and I've been doing this since Freshman year. Because of this, I haven't been able to do sports or clubs (at least ones that are facilitated by my school, after school.) I have internships/volunteering/etc over the summer, along with some distinctions and awards here and there but the babysitting is pretty much the bulk of it. </p>
<p>I used to view this as a detriment, but some of my guidance counselors are starting to tell me that its actually considered a pretty solid extracurricular - what do you think?</p>
<p>I’ve always been told by my DE English teacher that babysitting is a seriously good EC because you’re responsible for another person’s well being. I agree with her. Listing it somewhere on your application will add some perk (I’m not sure how much though), especially if you haven’t been able to participate in other activities. And from the sound of it, you’ve been doing an amazing job with it.I don’t think it would be as effective if you hadn’t done those internships/volunteering.</p>
<p>I mean…Babysetting is something that is incredibly commonplace. And it is tough to consider babysitting between siblings. Personally? I would not put it as a good ec.</p>
<p>Put this on your app if you don’t have many other “better” activities. Babysitting is an EC and explains to admission why you may not be the most involved student who has 15 activities and 3 research internships. It also proves your maturity and responsibility - very important.</p>
<p>Maybe you could write an essay related to it? Then it would be differentiated from the standard watching-sibling-for-a-couple-of-hours-each-week babysitting.</p>
<p>I mean it’s kind of the same thing as having a job, I think it would have the same weight and don’t you put a description on the common app? So you can explain exactly what it entailed and that you weren’t just watching t.v. with your sister or something trivial like that, you clearly took the responsibility seriously.</p>
<p>I mean it’s kind of the same thing as having a job, I think it would have the same weight and don’t you put a description on the common app? So you can explain exactly what it entailed and that you weren’t just watching t.v. with your sister or something trivial like that, you clearly took the responsibility seriously.</p>
<p>It is a good EC in that it shows dedication and responsibility. But you have to remember that you will be up against people with tons of leadership positions/clubs/hours of community service.</p>