spiffystars

I have a lot of EC's that demonstrate my passion... Broadcast Journalism, newspaper intern, Student Government, Model UN, and next year I plan to start Amnesty Int'l at my school.

BUT, for my college essay I plan to write about how getting into SGA my soph. year helped me to become an active member in my school and also to become a leader in various activities and clubs....is that bad? Wouldn't that be the same thing as "renaming all your EC's"? I really don't know how to focus on just one of these EC's...they've all had a really big impact on me.

kevster1001

if you're just reiterating all your ECs, forget it. but if you write something about what you learned through the process, that might be helpful. maybe you could briefly sum up how all those activities helped you, say, become a good leader and how you learned to manage new responsibilities as a leader and how that changed you.

just my 2 cents there.

protege

Incredible post. Smart. i'll have to remember that. =]

kevster1001

thanks protege.

believersmom

Question:
If a HS has stopped weighting H classes in the grade point, but still has the old gpa explanation printed on it's transcripts, is it okay to have a GC letter accompany the transcripts to explain that? Or would it be okay to write an accompaniment to the transcripts that states what the gpa would have been if weighted?

Thanks for the input.

kevster1001

Im not an expert at this, believersmom, but I think that counselors are responsible for everything related to those types of "shifts" For example, Joseph's grades dropped insanely in junior year. GC might need to write a brief descrip. of why J's grades dropped so drastically. i.e. because he suffered from Disease X, sibling passed away, etc.. GC might also put the actual GPA WITH including the weighted grade.

bpk1

I'm a freshman, but I have approximately have 1,000 volenteer work for Pal, the Police Activity League, I have been helping out there for probably 4 years. I have3 about 5-6 other EC's but how is the 1,000 hours, bc I saw an earlier post where someone asked if 500 hours of research was sufficient enough to be considered an EC. Thanks!

kevster1001

So you started in 5th grade ? Anything before 9th grade is irrelevant for admissions, but you can continue working for PAL.

idamayer

things before 9th are not irrelevant as long as you keep with it (eg awards you won dont count, but if youve done something since forever, it goes on your resume as 'since forever') it shows dedication...

kevster1001

oh well..

I am in critical situation. I have no ECs besides cooking spanish food. I'm not hispanic so that might be considered "unique." Other than that, no.. I dont know what I should do. I wanted to start a spanish teaching program for young kids, but the local library said they didn't need such thing. My passion is latin american culture, so I like anything related to it. I do cooking, and attempted teaching spanish, but the library said "no" Help please, Thank you.

idamayer

oh! tutor ESL kids at an innercity elementary school!!!

I want to do that, but dont speak spanish

kevster1001

seems like a good idea idamayer, but just keep in mind that this city is known to be a "rich city" (though not EVERYBODY is rich, but a handful of them are) and it's a pretty affluent city. Moms here, instead of relying on a high school kid (in this case, me), they would run for an experienced and professional tutor. Believe me, I know how asian mothers behave. (since im asian). You barely see hispanic people and black people. So really, there's no need for me being an ESL tutor. Plus, I think they might be much more worried about English than Spanish.

Al2O3

great advice! thx!

kevster1001

huh? (10 char)

i think i reallllllyyyyy lack ECs, seriously.. ugh

kmanoj

Can someone tell me if this would be impressive for admissons officers or be considered a hook:

I have been learning Indian Classical Dance since I was 4 and I am now pretty good. I came on the news on a local California channel when I was only 6 and I have been in several Indian American magazines and newspapers in different languages and in one Indian newspaper for my dance. Last summer I spent two months learning dance in Chennai, India with one of the best guru who was the ex-principle of Kalakshetra, the most prestigous dance insitute in the world. I just organized a dance program that collected $8000 for a charity I work for in Inda. In the future, I am planning to have a small tour around the United States with all profits going to the charity. Also, I might appear in Doordashan Channel, which is like the BBC of India, and I hope to win the ARTS scholarship in world dance.

For me these are a lot of accomplishments, but for colleges like Brown, Darthmouth, and Harvard I don't know if this is something an average applicant has or if it is considered a hook. Please help me and be hundred percent truthfull!!!