EC Improvement

Applying to College
1

Hi!
I am currently a sophomore, and I really want to improve my ECs. While I have quite a bit of current/planned ones, I feel like I can do more and have a bigger impact, and I think a few current ones I’m doing right now are a bit lackluster. How can I improve? I’ve posted all the ECs I am doing/plan to do at some point in high school plus additional info below. I want to major in either Econ or finance. I plan on getting a leadership position in at least 2/3 of the following. I’m also looking for some good internships that have deadlines in mid/late March or April, or potential internships I can do in the later years of HS.

  • Model UN (10-12) - Won the honorable delegate award in my committee during our 2024 fall summit. Applied to be an officer here but fell short. It’s definitely one of my main clubs
  • DECA (10-12) - didn’t qualify for states this year so my season ended early
  • Peer Mentoring (10-11) - we mentor freshmen every week
  • National Honor Society (10-12)
  • Principals Advisory Committee (10-12) - we talk about current issues with our principal and brainstorm solutions. To my knowledge, I’m 1/3 sophomores in this program. I’ve been told it’s selective but I don’t know till what degree.
  • Library Volunteering (9-11/12)
  • Peer Tutoring (11-12)
  • Psychology Club (11-12)
  • Student Council (9-maybe 11 and 12)
  • Girls Who Code (9) - Our sponsor quit after three meetings so we never got around to doing anything.
  • Writing a fictional coming of age novel about a girl who loses her best friend and grows around the grief. A portion of my main character is supposed to be a reflection of myself through her personality and struggles with depression. I have no idea If I will be able to publish this by senior year, but I started this in November of 2024 and I’m 75/~270 pages in.
  • Will try and get an internship. My school offers a chance to intern with the Credit Union of Texas so I will be trying for that. I want maybe another internship/fellowship though
  • I have a not-for-profit with another classmate. We haven’t gotten much done yet but teachers are aware about it and we are actively implementing it a main initiative for our school’s chapter of Hope Squad, a club dedicated to suicide prevention. We’re in the process of contacting a charity that helps domestic violence victims so we can partner with them.
  • I write quite a bit, as it is a hobby of mine. I’ve won an honorable mention, silver key, and gold Key in Scholastic Art and Writing.

Sorry for yapping, thank you all for taking the time to read this.

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In my opinion, more is not better. What do you enjoy doing the most in terms of ECs? Do a few of the things you like the best. Having a LONG list of ECs for the sake of having a long list of ECs isn’t going to help.

Become active in a few ECs you enjoy. Having a commitment to things is more important than adding to the list…in my opinion.

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Exactly!!!

This is not a contest to have the longest list of ECs.

First I think that you should read the “applying sideways” blog on the MIT admissions web site. Think about it. Take it seriously. As I understand it, the point is to do what is right for you; whatever you do, do it well; and treat people fairly. This is the approach that my family has taken and it has worked for us. However, what each of us did was different, and it led to a range of different very good universities.

Then participate in the ECs that are right for you. Forget about what any admissions officer is going to think about any particular EC. Instead, do what is right for you and do it well.

And if you do get into a leadership opportunity, then listen to others and try to make the activity, whatever it is, better for everyone who participates.

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THIS! I can’t emphasize this enough!

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I just want to add one more thing. Starting a real non-profit is something you likely cannot do without the help of your parents. It’s a legal process and you are too young to do it.

BUT more important, there are TONS of already established non-profits that could benefit from your help. Starting your own likely will have no appreciable impact. But really working with commitment for an established non-profit might.

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This article is EXTREMELY helpful, Thank you so much!

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I think more can act actually work against you. I know of only one student that apparently never slept and had major roles in a lot of clubs in high school and carried that with her into college. But having a few activities you enjoy and can learn from for several year’s each, is more meaningful. Working BTW is an excellent EC and I personally think being a tutor or peer tutor is good.

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