How to Impress Adcoms with your Extracurriculars - Page 46

sqdwfe13 · 02-04-2009, 12:35 AM

@ashencro: My school has a Writing Club, maybe you should start one. Join English Honors Society if your school has it. Be a tutor. Depending on what kind of writing you like, I guess you could do newspaper or yearbook or literary magazine. If your school doesn't have any of those, start them!

dchow08 · 02-04-2009, 07:24 PM

Or you could just say "Creative writing" in the EC section of your app.

Keshira · 02-04-2009, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Has anyone used a private college consultant? I was thinking about looking into getting one but it is really hard to find someone reputable

I've heard a lot about Michele Hernandez. She sounds reputable.
College consultants are ridiculously expensive though. You shouldn't throw money away on them.

sevan9 · 02-04-2009, 09:44 PM

^ Maybe we should start a list but my friend was telling me about Jill Tipograph in New York. I also read a piece that quoted her in the NYT. I'm sure she is expensive too.

However, the bottom line is that paying for something isn't necessarily a waste if they genuinely help you achieve your goals. Some are probably just less cost effective than others. The trick is filtering those out ....

Keshira · 02-05-2009, 01:10 AM

The cost can be the cost of a year of college at a private school.
I don't think admissions to any college is worth that much...

Also, cheaper consultants probably couldn't help you more than CC can. I'm not even sure if the best ones can.

sqdwfe13 · 02-05-2009, 05:34 PM

How does it look to colleges if you start a non-profit organization in your community?
Is that good enough of an EC to impress an Ivy League or other very top-ranked college and admit you? (assuming good grades, test scores, etc.) Is it "unique"?
I swear I am not planning to start a nonprofit just to put on my resume, but I just want to know about this because I would devote a LOT of time and energy to the cause advocated by my nonprofit.

Keshira · 02-05-2009, 07:56 PM

Anything with initiative and leadership is fantastic, and starting a nonprofit definitely counts.

dowzerw · 02-06-2009, 12:52 PM

yes, tony, write about it. you have depth in your commitment and it is quality, not quantity, which is valued most..

sqdwfe13 · 02-08-2009, 10:36 PM

How important are awards in college admissions? If I showed lots of leadership in my extracurriculars yet received close to no awards, would my leadership overshadow my lack of awards?

dchow08 · 02-09-2009, 01:42 PM

Awards probably don't matter that much. I mean, there are lots of great extracurricular activities that don't offer awards. For example, my old high school's volunteer club didn't offer awards, so it was impossible to get awards from that.

sqdwfe13 · 02-09-2009, 08:57 PM

Thanks!

Another question, are youth councils for national organizations good ECs? Most of my ECs probably consist of being members of committees or councils, stuff like that. Will that make me stand out because I took advantage of opportunities outside of school?

collegecrazy:) · 02-16-2009, 01:17 PM

Hi Everyone,
I am in 9th grade, still a while to go before college apps but not too far down the road!
I was just wondering... what can I start doing from now that will be good for college? I live in Africa and go to a private school therefore we don't have all the oppurtunities American kids at public or private schools have, as you may have already guessed.
So what can I start to do from now that will make my college application good because certain Ivy League universities have been my dream since I was little.
Should I stick to the same Community and Service from ninth grade and onwards? Should I take part in as many school activities that interest me and keep doing them for the next 3-4 years? Should I do additional community and service?
Also, is it true that if you play a musical instrument throughout 9-12 grade, you have a higher chance of being accepted by an Ivy League/top university? I used to play the piano but quit simply becasue I found it utterly boring, had no interest whatsoever and barely practiced. From the knowledge I've gained, most universities don't really care about awards (such as piano exams I took) gained before ninth grade. So does this mean that if I want my college app (when the time comes, obviously..) to stand out I should start learning an instrument?
I mean, what if I want to get into a good university such as Ivy League but Creative Arts just don't interest me. I like to do my own art at home, specifically collaging but that's not enough to pursue an interest in Art especially when we are given all sorts of random projects at school.
Also, if I am a Volunteer at Church or Mosque, does that count towards Community and Service?
What about if I am a member of Student Council in 9th grade and then want to take on a bigger role such as secretary in 10th grade?
I'm really confused about college and I don't want to be looking all over the place at the last minute for things to sign up so that my college app will look good. I want to start from now and find things that inerest me but that will also make my college app stand out, so that I am prepared for when the time comes.

Please help me out!
Thanks

and good luck to all those applying -- my friend got into UPenn, that's a really good schoolisn't it?

nk9230 · 02-16-2009, 01:46 PM

IB has the CAS requirement, so is it ok to put some of those activities you did on your resume?

poetwhoknowsit · 02-16-2009, 02:37 PM

Its funny how one or two more "off the cuff" extracirriculars can really make your student's application shine. A fun tool we found helpful when my daughter started her college search was the handy What Are My Chances? calculator thats free at http://www.******************

collegecrazy:) · 02-17-2009, 01:27 PM

Hi i Would appreciate a reply to my message. My friends and I are waiting on it!!!
Many thank!