<p>Hi guys! New user here :)</p>
<p>By competitive, I mean for UVA (in-state) or Princeton, which is my reach school. I’m currently a sophomore.</p>
<p>Jobs
Summer 2012: Part time lifeguard at Rec center</p>
<p>Volunteer work
2011-present: with my church youth group, lots of things like soup kitchens, clothing drives, walk for life
2012: Obama campaign </p>
<p>Sports
Fall 2011: Freshman field hockey
Fall 2012: JV field hockey (captain)
Spring 2012: JV Lacrosse</p>
<p>Activities/clubs
2011-present: JV Debate, I have a couple local awards and qualified for my local finals last year
2012: SCA officer
2011-present: youth group (don’t know if this really counts but it takes up a lot of my time)</p>
<p>I know my ECs are pretty typical, by I’m really dedicated the activities I do (especially debate). Assuming my grades and SATs are good, do you guys think I have a fair chance at UVA? I know Princeton is going to be impossible but I’ll keep dreaming anyways :P</p>
<p>They look pretty good individually, but they don’t really seem to have a coherent theme. In other words, they don’t really tell the college anything about you.</p>
<p>This will be more of an issue for Princeton than for UVA, since Princeton gets so many candidates with perfect or almost-perfect GPAs and SATs, whom you’d have to differentiate yourself from. I say you should apply if you want, because you never know, but if you don’t seem like an interesting candidate who’s actually passionate about activities (not that you aren’t, but it doesn’t come across that way from these, and it won’t UNLESS you supplement them with more activities in one or two fields and write about one of them in some way in your essays), your chances won’t be very good. Then again, no one’s are.</p>
<p>U-VA in state won’t place the kind of emphasis on ECs as it would for an out-of-state candidate or as Princeton will. Princeton is a crap-shoot for even the best of candidates. These ECs coupled with perfect or near-perfect SATs/ACTs and valedictorian might get you a look with a great essay at Princeton. Keep in mind that there will be scores of folks who are winning high level competitions as the captains of their Varsity (not JV) debate teams. The key will be to convey the kind of influence you have in debate etc. What is your involvement with the Obama campaign? Are you showing up to a district headquarters to help out or are you managing a team of teen volunteers from around the area (eg)? Same question with your church youth group.</p>