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Worried about weak ECs?
caty122333
50 replies8 threads Junior Member
Hey guys I'm sorry this is long, but this is something I am completely panicking about
After spending too much time looking around here (i need to stop it's giving me so much stress you guys are so stressful), I have noticed just how many extracurriculars ALL of you guys do and how many clubs and sports and volunteering and what not people on these threads are involved in who then get rejected and I am now super stressed out that there is no way I can get into any good schools. I see people here who complain about their "weak ECs" but are involved in at least 4-5 different things. Everyone's complaining about how there is not enough room to fill out all their ECs on the common app but can literally fill out like 2 slots on the EC part of the common app.
here is some of my info:
ACT: 35
Subject tests: 800 math 2, 760 chem
GPA: 3.94 UW /4.67 W
ECs: varsity swimming (9-12), swimming from club (10 years), and some informal tutoring.
That's it. no clubs, no jobs, internships or whatever, and no community service/ volunteering. However, it's not like I sit around doing nothing - I train for swimming about 21 hours a week in winter and 24 hours a week in the summer which takes up a lotttt of my time. However, I'm not good enough to be recruited to any top schools (you have to be so freaking fast!!) so I won't get help with that.. Do you think showing a lot of depth, commitment, dedication, and passion for one thing is OK? Or am I totally doomed????????
I also lettered and went to state for all the years for swimming if that helps?
The thing is that I am OK with going to less competitive schools (okay maybe I would be pretty (very) disappointing but hey there's always graduate school!), but my parents basically EXPECT me to get into a great school and don't listen to me when I try to explain to them that it is literally impossible with my very weak extracurricular.
Is there any way I can at least make up for this a little bit by having great essays? Or are all my chances dashed?
Thank you.
11 replies After spending too much time looking around here (i need to stop it's giving me so much stress you guys are so stressful), I have noticed just how many extracurriculars ALL of you guys do and how many clubs and sports and volunteering and what not people on these threads are involved in who then get rejected and I am now super stressed out that there is no way I can get into any good schools. I see people here who complain about their "weak ECs" but are involved in at least 4-5 different things. Everyone's complaining about how there is not enough room to fill out all their ECs on the common app but can literally fill out like 2 slots on the EC part of the common app.
here is some of my info:
ACT: 35
Subject tests: 800 math 2, 760 chem
GPA: 3.94 UW /4.67 W
ECs: varsity swimming (9-12), swimming from club (10 years), and some informal tutoring.
That's it. no clubs, no jobs, internships or whatever, and no community service/ volunteering. However, it's not like I sit around doing nothing - I train for swimming about 21 hours a week in winter and 24 hours a week in the summer which takes up a lotttt of my time. However, I'm not good enough to be recruited to any top schools (you have to be so freaking fast!!) so I won't get help with that.. Do you think showing a lot of depth, commitment, dedication, and passion for one thing is OK? Or am I totally doomed????????
I also lettered and went to state for all the years for swimming if that helps?The thing is that I am OK with going to less competitive schools (okay maybe I would be pretty (very) disappointing but hey there's always graduate school!), but my parents basically EXPECT me to get into a great school and don't listen to me when I try to explain to them that it is literally impossible with my very weak extracurricular.
Is there any way I can at least make up for this a little bit by having great essays? Or are all my chances dashed?
Thank you.
This discussion has been closed.
Replies to: Worried about weak ECs?
Not gonna lie, it will hurt you for the very top schools, unless you are good enough to be recruited. A few thoughts:
- if you are good enough to help a D3 team, it could help you there. I don't know if they have swim teams, but LACs like Williams, Amherst, Bowdoin, etc are worth looking at. Also, I think U of Chicago is D3 if they have a swim team.
- I think you are quite late in the recruiting process if you want to pursue those. The Athletic forum out here can help if you have questions about that, though.
- You need to make sure you have some matches & safeties on your list no matter what your parents think. Your GC might be able to talk some sense into them if they balk at that.
Think why you swim so much. Do you love it? And why? I do think colleges appreciate that swimming is a very time consuming sport. And while you discount your times, you have some state recognition and it sounds like you are a local leader.