How to Impress Adcoms with your Extracurriculars - Page 5

mwbashful18 · 09-12-2005, 09:43 PM

I've looked into city leagues and coaching: you have to be 18 to coach in my city; leagues in my city only go up to 16 year olds, if sometimes only 14; my city is 1 by 4 miles big, no joke, and has only about 32000 people. We don't have any softball teams for people in high school basically. You could go to another city's team, but I have no ride nor any friends who would play too and give me a ride. My mother works all the time and I have nothing to do with my father. We have only one car and can't afford another. I'm stuck walking or riding my bike, and unfortunately, I can't play any city sports, and my school only offers for girls the following: basketball, dance, cheer, volleyball, softball, and soccer. That is it. I have not talent for any of them but softball. Had we had lacrosse, tennis, field hockey, or water polo, I'd have tried out because those interest me. But we have nothing nor any clubs to join. It's a rather frightening situation that something so out of my hands could ruin my chances at colleges.

somemom · 09-13-2005, 10:58 AM

bashful:

I am not sure how old you are, I assume 16+, but not 18. Can you be an assistant coach at your age? Can you take any other sports at the local Y?

Try not to fixate on doing things just for collge, rather use the excuse of what to put on your app to motivate you to do something, anything, but make it what you want to do, what you have an interest in, not just something to impress the adcom. Can you do a different sport or hobby or activity. it's like this, it does not matter whether you are into accordian or basketball, it matters that you are involved in something. Maybe you will not have discovered your passion yet, but you likely won't discover it without trying things. Most teenagers have not yet, so that's why those kids with a passion stick out on applications. So, find something to try, helping out with kids softball, trying a different sport, what about community college class offerings? Can you take a bus to any places?

Good Luck!

skierdude1000 · 10-16-2005, 10:16 PM

what if my ED college (upenn) offers no essay or any supplemental space to talk about ECs??? In fact, they only limit you to providing 6 ECs and 3 work experiences and 6 awards

i have been very active in graphics/computers... I made a graphics club at school, i teach computer skills to elderly people at a senior citizen place, and i work for a company doing graphic/web design.... how do I make this stand out?

banedon17 · 10-16-2005, 10:20 PM

essay. that's what i did to make them know that computers are my passion (is there another word for this? )

Rishabh16 · 10-17-2005, 08:36 AM

but will they fully believe you just on the basis of your essay ?

banedon17 · 10-17-2005, 09:20 AM

since you put so much of an effort to turn it into an essay, it has to be very meaningful to you.

satanjie · 10-18-2005, 07:50 PM

im in a band with some of my friends, and we play out pretty often (we're not punk or metal.. like most of the other HS bands...) im pretty passionate about that... does that sound a bit cliche tho? high school band?

danashu · 10-20-2005, 07:03 PM

It is my intention to send the adcom my resume where I can expand upon my ecs.

fhimas88888888 · 10-22-2005, 08:17 PM

I am a music and forensics guy (saxophone, composition, speech), but am kind of interested in dance. If I start to take some classes, that will take time away from school, music and foresics (stuff that I excell in). Despite my new found interest, does it make sense in terms of college admissions to take time away from my passions and put it toward something I have never done before? Additionally, can one big award take the place of many small awards?

Raisin Bran · 10-25-2005, 08:15 PM

I can't help but wonder why ECs are so high emphasized to adcoms.
Some say that it's all about being a leader. Others say it shows you're a good citizen. And most will say it shows "passion."

I have a certain problem with this "EC" idea, and I'm sure other people do too. Most every EC I hear is "[Insert generic name] club" or "[Insert some city name] such-n-such organization" where you go to soup kitchens or wash cars. ECs that I hear about seem too official to me. What about things you do in your own personal life, in your room, or in your backyard? What if you put yourself through a rigorous weightlifting routine for months? And then followed that with regular personal running? Since you were not team varsity captian of Track and state champion, does that athletic endeavor not count?

I'm not really an "official" guy. I don't try to "show" my passions with a signature on a form saying I participated in an assortment of clubs and activities. Quite frankly, I don't have an interest in participating in various extracurricular activities. But now I'm discouraged and disgruntled feeling like a peabody in society because I can't really fill those extracurricular blanks with scholarly titles.

I would say my academic status is comparable to most collegebound students. I have my own personal passions that make me unique too. Thing is to fulfill my goals and dreams for the future by going to college I apparently have to "get involved" or "go out of my way" to "show" to adcoms and scholarship sponsors those passions. If thats true, then maybe I'm no "leader" or part of the "community."

My question is, how about putting in the extracurricular blanks what you REALLY like to do?

fhimas88888888 · 10-26-2005, 03:26 AM

I love roller coasters. [I also love composing music, more ligit --> anways]. I think colleges would respect me (or maybe I'm just being idealistic) if I organized an American Coaster Enthusiat meeting at my local park. Or I utilized my coaster knowledge and volunteered at the my metropolitan science museum (MN) and talked about physics. While those things may not be directly relating to my interests - just like a self designed major, it is not too hard to turn something totally non scholarly into something truely extraordinary.

Northstarmom · 10-26-2005, 09:04 AM

"I can't help but wonder why ECs are so high emphasized to adcoms.
Some say that it's all about being a leader. Others say it shows you're a good citizen. And most will say it shows "passion."

Most American colleges view extracurriculars as an important part of the college experience. Therefore, they want to admit students who'll do more than sit in their dorms and study.

In addition, they want students who after graduation will be more than drones with their noses to the grindstone. They want people who'll enrich the lives of their communities and professional organizations and the college itself by being involved alums.

The best way to guarantee that the graduates will act like that is by admitting students who already are active in ECs, including in leadership positions and by making an impact.

People who disagree with the US emphasis on ECs probably would be much more suited to European or Canadian universities, where ECs are not an important part of the admissions process or college experience.

worldshopper · 10-26-2005, 09:18 AM

The first and most important EC I listed on my application had nothing to do with commity service or academics. It is not even a school sport. But it is the EC I put forth the most effort and the one I value the most.

worldshopper · 10-26-2005, 09:23 AM

One who serves his own needs first is better able to then serve the needs of others.

maxj · 10-30-2005, 10:26 AM

@ Raisin

I ran into a similar problem as well. I decided to attach a resume to my application where I could really elaborate and briefly describe some of the less 'official' activities I take part in. For instance, I host and program my own website, and am heavily into photography. In the resume, I described the extent of my involvement in each of these activities; this also leaves more space on the application for more 'official' ECs like Blood Drive.