dchow08

Yes. If you're not sure whether something counts as an extracurricular activity, look up "extracurricular" in the dictionary.

Gaby3

BRJ, I also think that is very good, re babysitting. My sisters' daughter went to a big public school, any "good"club was run by students that could walk there or had cars, many clubs were "name only", attendance was poor. She danced on the weekends and babysat during the week, a block or two away. They only had 1 good car and one "hanging in there" and playing taxi with long work hours wasn't an option. Her brother cut lawns and did other things, not checkable by the school, but all 4 years. They both didn't have a problem getting in decent schools with good grades and average to above average SAT/ACT scores. The boy got about a 1200(old score) and the girl (1300)They got into their state schools, Providence, Bates, James Madison, George Washington, can't remember others now. EC's matter to some degree, but if you're a strong student, hard worker and have good recs, a padded resume should just be that.

Debruns

My twin daughters don't have access to a lot of clubs/EC's at school. My husband has one day off during the week so they joined a literary club they liked that day. Another, on a Friday, they can't do...late days for both of us. At their school also, there are a lot of walkers and students that have parents that can drive them home. I lost that luxury 2 years ago when I had to transfer offices 20-30 minutes away instead of 10.
Their GC said that although the colleges might look at what the school offers, she can also state (along with the student) things such as work, transportation and other issues that would make it difficult. They found a friend that will do Model UN with them next year and I'm going to offer gas money if she will occasionally take them home.

SharkObsessed

Does this sound good for my ECs, I don't have many but I feel like they show the real me rather than joining a bunch of clubs I don't care about:
Science Club (11th and 12th)
Science Brain Bowl/Olympiad (11th and 12th)
Math League (all four years)
Mote (aquarium/ research center) internship for two years (11th and 12th)
starting Ocean Club at school to compete in the Regional and National Ocean Science Bowl (11th and 12th)
NHS (11th and 12th)
Latin Club (11th)

volunteering:
promoting sustainability of fisheries
cleaning garbage off of beaches
clearing garbage from local fishing areas
helping local school set up and maintain tanks
handing out informational packets about sharks to help promote public awareness about sharks plight in the oceans

boho_girl

I think your ECs are great!
They are very focused and I think they show what you're all about (the Ocean/oceanic environmental sciences -is it correct to say the latter?-)

Are you applying for any particular major?

Equilibrium

They're not amazing, but they're competitive for the top colleges.

SharkObsessed

@boho_girl:
I'm not sure yet, probably marine biology or environmental sciences. Maybe oceanography. My main thing is sharks (the Mote research internship is a place that specializes in sharks) that I want to study, but I love anything ocean/environment-related.

@Equilibrium:
I know they aren't that great, I couldn't do anything other than math league until 11th grade because I have transportation issues alot of the time (single mother with money/health problems.) I think colleges would be fairly understanding about that though, don't you think?

boho_girl

I think your ECs support your choice of major very well.
I hope you're write a killer essay and good luck!

bears54a

can someone rate my ec ( these are projected for senior yr)

1. Debate Team Captain ( senior yr)( 4 yrs total on team )
2. Student Council president ( sofphmore though senior yrs)
3. Editor of the newspaper (senior yr)(4 yrs)
4. 400 hrs of volunteer work at hospital
5. Intel Science talent search- (hopefully semifinalist)
6. International Youth Leadership Forum in Medicine.
7. I have invested in the stock market- and ive made 5% in extra money

Also, as a side note, in debate tourmaments, i write bills about current medical issues. Also, i write alot in the newspaper about medical issues.

Summer Programs

1. Northwestern Center for Talented Youth
2. Volunteering at a hospital
3. Junior Statesman Program ( Hopefully )

Thanks for the replys

dchow08

They're all pretty strong extracurriculars, although it seems like a lot of people do these types of things. You should list them in the order of importance to you--we can't tell you that. Generally put the most time-consuming things that you're most involved in (leadership as well) at the top and then work down.

davezhan

how much does eagle scout count if you're an asian as opposed to white and you don't live in the state of california or new york?

bears54a

What do u guys think of this EC

Ive invested in the stock market, i helped my dad earn about
$8,000. I also made 100 dollars myself. Would this look good on a college resume?

dchow08

It'll look fine. Not necessarily impressive, but you should just put it down. Same with davezhan.

chinnychinchang

davezhan: I did not realize eagle scout counted differently for different people. I don't think it does. I think involvement in math/sci would because if one is asian, they are stereotypically excellent at it (even though they may not be. If asians are good at humanities, that may look good for them).

iheartmusik

well, thanks dchow, but no need for the condescension. although i noticed that on the common app, it does seem a rather odd thing to do, just because you can't say how many hours you're going to do a week, etc. also, it seems really redundant since you haven't done it yet. and there is some scope for doubt, seeing as you can't know everything you're going to be doing.
so if i say, i'm going to perform in the school talent show, i might not actually end up doing it. so which ones to put and which ones not to?

i'm kind of sick of (some) people on these boards snubbing people who ask honest questions. some doubt is totally legitimate, and if people want clarification, this is the board to do it on. also, many of these questions have a very logical answer, and some are asked with the expectancy of a more detailed response, so instead of asking if something is done, they are really asking why and how and to what degree it is done.

that being said... i have more q's. how much detail is too much detail for a resume? for example, should i list all of my published work if i am applying to a journalism school? should i include all of my performances if i'm applying to a music school?


this is my list of extra curriculars which i don't know if i'm writing about or not. i'm thinking of doing a detailed resume that explains them, but not write about them in my essay... i know that's a little heretic for this board, but i really want to show them who i am as a writer, and i don't think it would work so well if i was writing about what i was doing. some essay ideas touch a little on my music extra curriculars, but not all of the other ones that i find to be extremely important to me... i'm just hoping that my list will show that i care.

i sort of just want some guidelines about what i should and should not include.
all include senior year, unless otherwise noted.



Speech/Debate
Forensics- 4 years in events of Student Congress, Prose, Poetry, Play Acting, Oratory and Four Minute Speaking
NFL Rank

Performing Arts/Music
Summer Drama School:[list of plays]

State Wide Choir- 7 years (highest level choir)

Musical Theatre Workshop (1 day course)

Stage crew :
[list shows]
School Choir- 2.5 years (5 semesters)

Solo & Ensemble and state solo ensemble
[2 years, scores, repertoire](will do another year, include this?)

Piano Lessons (non-competitive)- 8 years

Guitar Lessons- 1 year

Music Camp- 2 years (will do senior year... include?)



Writing and Editing

Poems published in [school literary magazine]- 2 years (will be this year, for sure... include?)

creative writing/poetry club- 2 years

Yearbook staff- 1 year - reporter

Independent school newspaper- reporter- 1 year- section editor- 1 year

school sponsored paper- reporter- 1 year- section editor 1 year

Article submitted for publication in Portico Student (magazine discontinued before article could be printed)

Observation/Internship at Indian Express Newspaper in Bangalore, India
(observed journalistic process approx. 20 hours, and researched articles)


Academic Clubs
National Honor Society - inducted junior year
National French Honor Society- 3 years
Science Olympiad- 1 year

Service
Spartan Youth Service 60 hours
Food Pantry Gardens 2 hours
Habitat for Humanity 7 hours
UW Hospital 10 hours (1.5 hours/week, 3 months)
Volunteered at RBBP Annaswamy School (free school for impoverished youth), taught English- 1 week, 5 hours a day
Volunteered at Bandalmar School with Asha Foundation in Delhi
-2 weeks (6 hours/day, 5 days/week)
Volunteer Forensics Coach 10 hours

Employment
Target- food service - 3 months (11 hours per week)
Babysitting- 1 month

Special Honors & Accomplishments
Honor Roll- 2 years
Specialty Act: Vocal Solo- School POPS concert
Singing National Anthem for [community thing with mayor there]
and [other things having to do with the community]
Singing with band at [big community thing]
(I think I have more, I should look into my files and try to beef up this section...)


Other
Religious Youth Group stuff 5 years

thanks for reading this, i really appreciate it.

Bears54, i think it's your extra curriculars are fantastic, but it's all in how you talk about them i guess, so make sure they know you love them.