Adding Extracurriculars In Junior Year - Is It Pointless?

Applying to College
1

I know this is an old familiar story - a kid realizes in junior year that they don’t have enough EC’s and starts to scramble.

I’m the parent. I tried to get her to do more, but I didn’t want to push her too hard. What I was worried about has come true. She’s now interested in schools that are more selective than the ones she originally thought she’d target, and it looks like she might end up with the stats to be competitive, but EC’s that are nowhere near what the typical kid applying to those schools has.

She’s not dying to go to the more selective schools. She’s fine sticking to her original list, but I’m even worried about her chances at some of her original targets because of her limited EC’s.

Here are some of her original schools:

Villanova
Marist
Skidmore
Lehigh
Richmond
University of Maryland

Here are some of the more selective schools that are making her wish she dedicated herself to some EC’s a couple of years ago:

Hamilton
Davidson
Notre Dame
Georgetown
Vanderbilt

These schools are all over the map and are very different from each other, but these are the ones she’s interested in at the moment.

A little background:

She goes to a public High School in Westchester County in New York. It’s good, but not great. She’s probably in the top 5%, maybe in the top 2 - 3 % of her class. She has taken all Honors and AP classes, and she has a 3.94 GPA(3 A minuses in Freshman year and the rest A’s).

She scored 1490 on her most recent practice SAT and she takes the SAT for the first time in March. She seems determined to get into the 1520 - 1570 range. I know this is easier said than done, but it wouldn’t shock me if she gets there. She’s a very determined kid and is willing to work her tail off.

For EC’s, she has the following:
Some tutoring in Mu Alpha Theta at school
Robotics club
Part time job at a restaurant - 4 days per week.

So here’s the question:

I realize those EC’s are miles from the kids applying to Georgetown and Vanderbilt. I think I already know the answer, but does anyone think there’s anything she can do to even make it worth applying to those schools? It seems like it’s too late to start something new, but I’d be interested if anyone has any ideas. What I’m thinking is that she should try to go deeper with her programming skills. She’s taking AP Java and using her programming skills in Robotics. I’m thinking that maybe she could do a project for a company this summer.

Question, though - even if she does that, and maybe adds another EC of some kind, will it really mean anything when the other kids applying to those schools have started companies, won national awards, and been the captain of 2 sports teams?

I’m tempted to encourage her to just relax and enjoy her summer, but I’d like to help her get into a position where she has a shot at those more selective schools if it’s possible.

Sorry for the long post.

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

2

She shouldn’t add an EC simply to pad her resume. However, high school is supposed to be a time of exploration, and new-in-junior-year ECs are perfectly credible when they reflect new interests and/or a new field of study. Ideally she would connect the dots for admissions via an essay or short answer question. It isn’t going to be the number of ECs that tips the needle, but what she makes of the opportunities available, and how she challenges herself. I think your instincts to delve deeper instead of wider are spot on.

3

If she wants to add an EC that she finds interesting that is fine, but I wouldn’t push it. Keep in mind that your D’s 4 day/week job will be viewed positively by admissions officer and will offset not having a ton of ECs. Regardless of if she adds an EC or not, I would encourage your D to apply to a couple of the more selective schools on your list – it is perfectly fine to have some of reaches as long as she also has match and safety schools.

I would suggest that she do something productive with her summer – it can be working at he restaurant, doing a project as you suggested, or really anything that makes sense to her.

If finances are a concern and you haven’t done so yet, be sure to also check affordability (run net price calculators) for the schools.

And when the time comes, I would also recommend that she apply non-binding EA or rolling to a couple of match/safety schools – if an acceptance comes in by December it takes a great deal of stress off the rest of senior year.

4

Summer after junior year is a good chunk of time for her to pursue something. Maybe she can find a job programming this summer for a local company (she should start looking for something now), and add some solid volunteer hours in an area that interests her. She might want to follow up if her Robotics team has gotten any local sponsors to see if any of them might give her a chance to do some work this summer. She should also leverage her Robotics team mentors to see if they have any ideas or contacts for her.

I’d add that if she likes Robotics enough to have done it for her one in school EC so far, is she maybe interested in a major in that area (engineering, CS, math?). Because if so, I’d probably suggest shaking up her school list. Some of her reaches seem picked by name brand, not by any noticeable strength in that category.

5

Thanks @Groundwork2022, that’s a great idea about connecting the dots for admissions.

@happy1 , I am hoping that the job counts for something. She works a lot and I think it does show that she has good time management skills. I just don’t know if that’s what they’re looking for or if it’s more about passion for outside interests. The list of ECs and accomplishments of the kids applying to those more selective schools are really incredible. She’s planning to apply ED to whichever school ends up being her favorite, if they have it.

@intparent, that’s a great idea - asking the Robotics club people for contacts. She is interested in Computer Science, and I agree that her list is a little weird. The problem is that she’s not really interested in any of the typical tech schools because she feels they’re either too big or too cutthroat. I’m sure Vanderbilt is no walk in the park. Same for Notre Dame and Georgetown. She’s torn about the big vs small school. I think Hamilton and Davidson could make sense for her - she likes the idea of a supportive environment. Georgetown is the one that makes no sense to me. I think it will fall off eventually, though. Unfortunately, I think none of this will matter. I think all of those reaches are going to be looking for serious ECs. I’m not giving up yet, but I’m trying to lower my expectations. She already has her head on straight about it.

6

What about RPI or Case? She could take a shot at Harvey Mudd, although it would be a reach with light ECs (but not impossible with very strong stats). They are very rigorous, but also surprisingly supportive. I’d say that she might want to visit at least one tech-focused school, just to see what she thinks. My kid applied to only one like that (Mudd), all the rest were LACs or universities, and after accepted students visits ended up picking it. Your D’s reaches really seem like a prestige list - not really focused on strength in her possible major. What about William & Mary?

7

Regarding strength in CS at the listed reach schools, Hamilton professors co-authored a computer science textbook that has been used nationally, helped develop the accepted model curriculum for a bachelor’s degree in computer science, and have successfully mentored Hamilton students in programming competitions. In terms of the associated discipline of math, The Princeton Review includes Hamilton in its sampling, “Great Schools for Mathematics Majors.”

https://www.hamilton.edu/news/story/comp-sci-department-hosts-college-computing-conference

8

@intparent, thanks for the ideas. All three of those schools are great, but knowing my kid, I can imagine her reaction to each of them. I’m not knocking them. I love all three of them(I don’t know too much about Case actually, but I know it’s a great school), but just to give some more clarity on what kind of kid she is, I’ll tell you why she probably wouldn’t fit at each of those schools:

Harvey Mudd - definitely too small(for her, not me) and probably too intense. I’m having a hard time getting her to look at the 3000 kid schools. 5,000 - 10,000 seems to be her sweet spot. I think 3,000 is the smallest she’ll go. I think it might be too intense for her too. She works really hard, but she seems perfectly happy socializing with a mix of dumb jocks, smart jocks, and other outgoing kids of all academic levels. She’s kind of a smart “jock wannabe” who gave up the sports. I think she’d feel out of place if she were surrounded by a bunch of really intense STEM kids.

RPI - I think the boy/girl split would be a deal breaker. The really intense STEM kid thing applies here as well.

Case Western - I have to admit - for someone who has been obsessed with colleges for two or three years now, I know almost nothing about this school. I think it has an urban campus - no enclosed campus - just a bunch of buildings in the city, like NYU or BU, but please correct me if I’m wrong. I think I just realized why it’s not on her list, though. I forgot to mention this, but this kid is attracted to party schools. Scary, I know, but I think she knows what she’s doing. She’s really good at managing her time, and she always manages to find time to make the parties. Not all of them. She knows when she can’t go and needs to stay home and do her work. I wish I could say the same thing for myself when I was her age:-)

Anyway, sorry for the long post, but now you might see why Notre Dame and Vanderbilt make sense for her, aside from the fact that they’re impossible to get into. I’ll give you Georgetown and Davidson - two schools that I know nothing about and are probably driven by prestige in her mind.

I do remember hearing about Hamilton being strong in Math and the Sciences. I’m going to follow up on the link posted by @merc81.

Full disclosure: I’m probably the one who planted the seed of Hamilton in her mind, and prestige allowed it to take root:-) It basically violates all of her preferences described above - it’s too small, too intense, and doesn’t have a big enough party scene.

Please don’t mistake all of this detail and negativity as a rebuke of your suggestions. I’m curious to hear what other suggestions you might have after hearing more about my daughter.

Thanks,
WalknOnEggShells

9

@merc81, thanks for the link. I just read it. That’s awesome that they won. As I said above in my reply to @intparent, Hamilton isn’t a natural fit for my daughter. I’m the one who loves it, and it probably wouldn’t be on her list if I hadn’t planted the seed.

I’m going to take her to the campus, though. I think it’s the kind of school that could bring out the best in her. I want her to see schools like Hamilton before making a decision.

Are you an alumnus?

10

Okay, that is helpful. (I’m kind of assuming no financial constraints?). Maybe Northeastern? Bucknell?

I’m assuming you’ve combed through a copy of Fiske at this point. If not, I’d do that.

11

She’d be a competitive candidate and get $$ at WPI/RPI. If she doesn’t like that tech type of environment she might like Northeastern or Tufts, her gpa/scores are in line. Neither of those schools are known to be “stress tests”. Both of them have campuses, near city life, have good programs in math/comp sci
Hamilton isn’t really a party school, nor is NEU or Tufts for that matter, but the kids still find ways to party and have fun.

12

My kid added a pretty big EC in junior year and I don’t see how it is any less worthy for having started then? She was asked to coach an elementary school competitive math team.

13

Part time job four days a week is an EC respected by many admissions offices!

If she has STEM directed interest why do you shy away from STEM directed universities, especially with Robotics as one of her few EC’s?

Case, RPI and WPI are three valid options. I am always encouraging students to do their research by asking themselves what is important to them. What would her most likely majors be? What would she like to minor in? OK, she sounds like she would like to participate in some sort of sports, but not likely big 10 football. What would they be? Yes, balance helps build a successful academic/social life! Music? Rowing?

All three of these Universities are academically very solid, but they are not the same.

In alphabetical order, check out:
Case Western @ https://case.edu/,
RPI @ http://www.rpi.edu/
WPI @ https://www.wpi.edu/

Take your time at WPI. The program is truly different and requires some reading. The last two entering classes are about 43% women. I believe women head each of these universities.

WPI '67

14

@WalknOnEggShells:

Hamilton works best for students decisive in their preference for a traditionally-sized, undergraduate-focused small college with a curriculum balanced across humanities and fine arts, natural sciences and math and social social sciences. A visit will clarify for your daughter whether this combination of attributes appeals to her.

The above noted, with respect to your daughter’s current preferences, it would be worth noting that athletic participation as a percentage at Hamilton runs particularly high compared to most colleges: https://www.newsweek.com/25-schools-stocked-jocks-71873.

15

At WPI, 80% of students are involved in sports activities. I don’t believe you will find thousands of fans at the Hamilton or WPI football games, but these smaller colleges do have high levels of regular student participation. Their school spirit is built more around participation than watching Personally, I believe it helps stress, physical fitness and balance. My HS sports were mandatory. Hamilton has a large student population with similar HS background.

16

You mentioned Georgetown; we attended an info session there and I can say that they specifically said that they are sceptical when students suddenly start adding a bunch of ECs in junior year, preferring to see deeper commitment to fewer ECs over a longer period of time. We heard similar from another college but it’s not one on your list. Maybe focusing more/gettIng leadership positions in the ECs she’s already involved in would be a good route, as you suggested.

17

@intparent, we do have financial constraints, but according to the NPC’s, we might get enough aid to make it doable.

Northeastern and Bucknell are two that we’ve considered. I think Bucknell might be a great fit for her. It scares me a little because it seems like kids either love it or hate it, and we know some kids who went there and hated it, but I think I’m going to bring her there to check it out.

I’ve never read Fiske’s, but I’m going to look for it. Thanks.

18

I’m going to give another plug for WPI, my oldest applied there and I was really impressed with how happy the students seemed. Our tour guide was a young woman involved in theater. She might also want to look at Smith if she’s not averse to a woman’s college, which has a reputation for being strong in STEM. I have a friend whose daughter was at RPI in biology. I don’t know that she loved it, but she excelled there. Got great merit aid, which they kept increasing and graduated early. She’s working on a PhD at Cornell.

Neither of my kids had a lot of EC’s - it’s really what you do with them. We were also in Westchester in a school that I think one could describe as good but not great. It had a very strong Science Olympiad team while my kids were there and that was their main EC. Younger son was also in two orchestras. Your post caught my eye because he joined the Literary Magazine senior year just because his friends were on it. I don’t think it hurt him, nor do I think it helped him. He was in the top 6% of the class (missed 5% by one kid!). His ECs were very light, but he wrote a pretty charming essay about how he’d gotten interested in origami and ended up selling his earrings to local galleries. He did much better in admissions than I would ever have expected. (Rejected from Georgetown, got into Vassar (where no doubt being male helped), got into U of Chicago and Tufts.) Her job is a real EC, don’t underestimate its value.

19

@RightCoaster, thanks for the ideas. I think I’m going to take her to some of the tech schools. She hasn’t been to any of them yet. RPI and WPI aren’t too far so I’m going to see if I can get her there.

I love what I’ve read and heard about Tufts, but she hasn’t shown any interest in it or Northeastern. I would love to see her apply to Tufts. I’m still working on that one.

20

@VickiSoCal, that’s a great EC your daughter added. I’m going to ask my daughter if she would enjoy doing something like that.