<p>"So for those of you who say editor and chief is a bad job, it's much better at least having the title, then doing the work without the recognition."</p>
<p>There was no reason for you to do the work without recognition How to spotlight such efforts is through your essay, your recommendations and/or your interview.</p>
<p>crichessil: I feel for you. How many people who pride themselves on doing things for themselves, and not for other ppl or for college apps, live in families or go to school with very high expectations? For one of my friends, some of the stuff that she did in HS was for college, but the colleges probably couldn't tell since she was smart enough to be able to pull off national-level recognition despite a lack of passion. At the same time, she wasn't able to pursue stuff that she really loved because her family and school expected her to get into great schools. If it were up to her, she'd have applied as an artist and not a science researcher. </p>
<p>So what I'm saying is, don't judge ppl unless you've lived in their shoes. It's harder than you may think to look into your parents' faces and deny them their dream for their child.</p>
<p>thethoughtprocess...i wasn't disagreeing with you...</p>
<p>I respect you all for all your accomplishments. I know it takes a lot of work.<br>
This thread started me thinking about the importance of ECs...My sister is a sophomore and although she looks like she is happy, she is actually very depressed. She is quite smart and does well in high school. Yet, she gets depressed because she compares herself to me. I have achieved many great things, and I have always felt like my life was wonderful. She doesn't feel any satisfation with life. I think it is because she doesnt really have a strong EC. I have played tennis for 14 hours a week since I was a little toddler and surfing is always on my mind. I literally eat and sleep surfing. Whenever I am down, thinking of surfing always lifts me up. Thus, since she is now facing distressing challenges in life, she doesn't have a passion to cling to when it gets tough. I'm worried for her.</p>
<p>"e of my friends, some of the stuff that she did in HS was for college, but the colleges probably couldn't tell since she was smart enough to be able to pull off national-level recognition despite a lack of passion."</p>
<p>There are plenty of students who apply to top colleges and have national level recognition in an EC. Where I live, there is one particular academic-related EC in which it seems virtually everyone who applies to an Ivy has had national recognition. Probably the majority of the applicants here participated in that EC because they thought it would get them into an Ivy.</p>
<p>Truth is, that from what I can see, it's simply a coincidence that those accepted to Ivies from her had that EC. It's so common here that it's rare for any applicant not to have it.</p>
<p>What's funny to me is that in virtually all cases, the students who got in showed passion for something else. In some cases, their demonstrated passion was for an EC or interest that they had had to pursue despite their parents wanting them to drop it. Their parents may not have valued that EC, but I think the college did. Their demonstrated passion also tended to be an EC that was not that common.</p>
<p>ha, I feel bad for your sister, I guess she has stuff to live up to</p>
<p>Why doesn't she surf?</p>
<p>See, my main activity is politics, and living in a very politically charged area its pretty easy to find ways to show this (my area is called the 'microcosm' of America)</p>
<p>I refused to join National Honor Society cuz it doesn't suit my interest; I think it explains it all about how I choose what ECs to participate. I used to hate people who do ECs only for colleges, but then it's their priorities, and I have no right to judge them for it. I don't think anyone does.</p>
<p>I founded two clubs about discrimination (one on gender and one on language), and I founded/run county-wide gang prevention program. I'm officer of three clubs total, and I also do science olympiad thing cuz the event is actually fun (tons of food!!) and it's good to bring medals home :) I do.. internship for elected official.. have spent tons of hours in political campaigns.. Amnesty int. for seven yrs.. blah..blah..blah.. </p>
<p>My resume is long but it's focused.
I'm proud of what I've been doing and have achieved; So should you guys :)</p>
<p>She doesn't surf because...i don't know why actually. She can surf, but I guess it is because she doesn't have a good friend to go with. I don't understand her. She is beautiful (when i say beautiful i mean model beautiful), yet she thinks she is ugly. She thinks everyone thinks she is a dork, and thus she suffers from a low self-efficacy. She needs some confidence and friends, and that usually comes from an EC.</p>