ECs: How am I doing?

Applying to College
1

<p>Okay, I am a sophomore–going-on junior actually–and I was wondering how my extra-curriculars are so far. I’ve listed what they will be if I continue what I am doing until senior year. I know the common app only allows you to put six ECs (or seven, maybe…?), so I’m also wondering which ones I should focus on. Or any other improvements… Okay.</p>

<p>(not listed in any particular order)</p>

<p>Student Authors–(10-12) Founder/President, and I wrote an original novella (which, next year, I am selling copies of and giving the money to a charity) and I actively promote literature in school with projects and different “activities”</p>

<p>Student Council–(10-12) Vice President (for the upcoming year), Secretary, Publicist, and hopefully by senior year I will have been or will be President, and I lead a bunch of the community service projects</p>

<p>World Tang Soo Do Association <a href=“9-12”>aka “Karate”</a> 1st degree black belt, assistant instructor, and by the time I graduated I will be a 13-yr. participant</p>

<p>A+ Tutoring (9-12) just volunteering at the elementary schools, I will have around 250-300 hrs. or more by the time I do college apps</p>

<p>Amnesty International (10-12)–I’m not an officer, but I am really into their causes and projects, I don’t know if I should try to be an officer…?</p>

<p>“The Vent” magazine (11-12)–I’m starting it this upcoming year, and it will be like a literary magazine and newsmagazine, except cooler (!), and I will be the Founder and Co-Editor, with a friend of mine</p>

<p>Class Officer (10-12)–President, Vice President (I hope I can be one of the two for senior year, I was VP 10th grade and am Pres. this year, so I can probably get at least VP for next year), and I do a bunch of projects with this</p>

<p>Spanish Club (10-12)–I’m not an officer, but I have some original projects–should I try to be an officer in this? Over or in addition to an officer in Amnesty…?</p>

<p>Any suggestions???</p>

2

<p>And I forgot…also…</p>

<p>National Honor Society (11-12)–I am the secretary (for the upcoming year) and I will inevitably be pretty involved in their projects, should I try to go for a position in this too or is it worth it?</p>

3

<p>*a higher position (i.e., VP or Pres.?)</p>

4

<p>I think that you’ve got such a long list of potentially time-consuming ECs that it’s not likely that you can do justice to all of them. To me, it looks like you’re trying to compile a long list, not trying to have a lot of impact.</p>

<p>My suggestion is to make “Vent” a part of Student Author club. Starting a magazine and writing and selling a novella all take a lot of time, and you’ll have to overcome lots of hurdles, so it would be better to have them under one umbrella. </p>

<p>If you’re a class officer and really are doing substantial things, that also would take a lot of time. There probably wouldn’t be time to do Amnesty International unless you did something like have a school-wide fundraiser to help Amnesty International.</p>

<p>Anyway, I think that you should focus on what you want to accomplish in terms of projects, and then look for ways that you can do this in activities you’re already involved in. Don’t spread yourself too thin. Depth of commitment and service, not the length of your list, is what impresses colleges and also has the most impact.</p>