Insane8914

I have a question which I'm sure has been answered a bunch of times.

On the common ap, it gives you six places to put your ec's, what if you need more space? I have alot of clubs in which I've been active for all 4 years, but not neccerily a leadership position in. Should I just omit them, cause there is not enough space? Though I think some are very important to my application.

worldshopper

^^ Does it not allow you to add more spaces? I thought it did.

List them in order of importance.

JIMMY@KILLARNEY

Omit the unimportant ones. Ones that are just some really cliched hs ECs. If there are six spaces, I'd recommend putting down 4-5 important ones that have taken a lot of your time in the last few years. Also, some schools allow you to attach a brief resume (except for columbia and stanford, which STRICTLY forbids applicants to add anything extra)

worldshopper

Might I add to only attach a resume if the details won't fit in the spaces provided on the application.

CMD220

I do have a huge list of ec's- soccer captain, track captain, dance instructor, 11 yrs dance, ski instructor, a cappella, drama, musicals, volunteer at special needs baseball and basketball, triathlons... I don't want it to seem like I'm just a ec hog trying to join as many things as possible to look good, because I honestly enjoy every single thing that I do and am 100% dedicated to each one. Is that too cliched for admissions to hear because its the truth. How can I convey how committed I am without sounding fake or corny?

cooljoe

Is it good to tell them that you play a bunch of instruments, even though you have not won any recognition for it? I play piano, accordion, violin, and guitar, but I have not won any major recognition for it. I'm kinda self-taught (with the exception of piano, which I won some minor awards for in elementary/middle school and still take lessons) and do it for fun.

xoirene

^ I'd like to know as well (I've been studying piano for many years). I think you should state it, and perhaps write an essay on how music has influenced your life or something... if playing these instruments are important to you. If not so much, then I suppose it's like any other activity; just something you do beyond the classroom that makes you more of a tangible person.

student91

after we complete a volunteering activity, usually we get a recommendation or praise letter from the organization's volunteer leader or something, and i got quite a few from UNICEF, REd Cross and Children Cancer. They are quite personal and recommends me in a good way that represents the true me. I think its so wasteful to not include them in my application package as they say many things about me. Moreover, i have one letter of commendation from the Thailand Consulate praising me for the work i have done in the Tsunami disaster. How and where can i include it? should i just send copies of them in with the whole package? becuz many universities state that we should not include unnecessary copies of awards and stuff. Also, should we send in pictures of certain awards or award ceremonies of me getting them? IN addition, how about sending in evidence of work experience and reocmmendation letters/praise letters from the organization in which i did the work experience?
Thanks. Plz reply, im so confused.

cooljoe

That's awesome, student91! I'd love to do something like helping victims of the tsunami disaster! How did you start? Do you have any advice for a freshman who would like to take on simlar projects? Thanks.

idamayer

Actually, that is a question I have been dealing with lately as well...
I want to find some community service type thing that I really enjoy and care about, but I am having some trouble finding something (that my mother will let me do) that I feel will have an impact on people. If there is anything that I could do that might impact the world outside the US (which is comparatively very well off) I think that would be best. Any suggestions??

cooljoe

bump........................

kevster1001

Ugh, orrican.... Seems that my EC sux. I love doing it though..
Im nothing compared to worldshopper. And all those descriptions and what you have done is so awesome.. I don't know what else I might do to extend my interests. Now i wanted to start a spanish mentoring program, but it seems it doesn't work, so time to fold it up. Im left with nothing. I have no other amazing ec. No awards, internships, nothing.. Im becoming a junior this year.. I haven't started to study for the SAT (im doing in the summer), grades are pretty good but sucked in frosh. year (about 3.43 GPA, no honors crap) since i was in an Int'l school and it was hard, now came here about a year ago so no darn way to get into any honors/accelerated classes. But i do have good grades though.

I just dont get how people can do so much stuff, and still get pretty good grades. Awghhhhhhhhh im sooo screwed. ..

But only good grades won't get you to good colleges. I know that clearly... There must be something outstanding and unique about myself...

But I just feel im lost,, It feels like the path for good colleges has been blocked.. now there's a new pathway for me.. something called the Community College Drive. Ugh....... *sigh*

bye bye UC's... farewell stanford.

orrican

dude, apply to the Ivies. Though you're not a shoe in (99.99% of applicants aren't), you have a decent shot, like the rest of us.

Apply, and let the chips fall where they may.

kevster1001

who Me?? i have a decent shot? just read the previous post, i dont think so..
there's a reason why they are the IVY LEAGUE. Even UCs are darn hard to get into.

orrican

From what I understand, your grades are in the Ivy range (forget about freshman year). Do well on your SAT's, and you will have gotten yourself a fair shot.