Guys I need help writing the EC’s sheet, I have done a lot of EC’s but most are camps that lasted for maybe a week or two but are significantly important to me. The sheet makes it look like it that they need activities that are done on regular basis but unfortunately I don’t have many of those I was in some clubs in my school but not very significant.
pls help
What is the format that you are filling? Do you simply not have the flexibility to list your camps?
Week-long camps aren’t ECs, unless they’re competitive and reflect some kind of accomplishment. Don’t worry too much about ECs - admissions people realize international students don’t have the same kinds of opportunities that American kids do. If you don’t have ECs that reflect your interests and passion, then write about them in your essay.
@katliamom Why couldn’t the camps count as ECs?
https://www.thoughtco.com/what-counts-as-an-extracurricular-activity-788878
@“Eslam Gamal” Please read the article above. Extracurricular Activities are anything that you do outside of the classroom or curriculum that you are not paid for. Hobbies, religious activities… Someone even made an EC out of collecting free stuff. Think outside the box. Are you just having formatting issues?
@gearmom, I thought OP meant the kind of camp you pay for… because usually, isn’t that what camps are?
@katliamom Even if they pay for it it should be fine. We paid for martial arts lessons and included that. The important part was that it was significantly important to @“Eslam Gamal” and admins are trying to understand who @“Eslam Gamal” is. As long as it is not a school class or it’s not paid work (also important but not recorded as an EC but a job), then it can become an EC especially if it is significant to you. You have to choose what to highlight about yourself. In America we might not highlight the same thing because we have so many options.
My absolute favorite EC suggestion was a parent today on CC trying to convince his daughter to include driving around younger siblings and doing errands for the family (a family with 5 children) as an EC under the family responsibilities umbrella. You know know that there is going to be an admin who will smile when they read that. Many working parents would have that as a dream EC. Helping your family is completely valid. Especially nice if it is structured like this family did it.
Good to know, @gearmom !
That is very helpful thank you very much, the kind of short-term activities I was talking about is like
I was wondering about what to include actually, I love to write in different handwriting especially cursive and it does definitely consume a lot of my free time, but I never actually won any awards to this, except for best handwriting in the 9th grade if that is included, how do I write such thing on my sheet?
@katliamom @gearmom and thank you again for your help
@“Eslam Gamal” I really like that handwriting hobby. It’s an interesting contrast to your impressive short term STEM activity (I really liked those also) Are you practicing writing in English or another language?
I would include an essay on handwriting which demonstrates your handwriting if you have a section for including creative work.
Handwriting is so very personal and expressive. The STEM world can seem so sterile. Thus that contrast I mentioned. I know a student who handwrote an engineering paper and received extra points simply because it was so beautifully written. Do you share your writings with others? This could really be a very interesting essay/creative work submission.
Example of a hobby essay:
https://www.thoughtco.com/handiwork-sample-common-application-essay-788395
@“Eslam Gamal” Include your 9th grade handwriting award under the awards section.
And again I really liked your short STEM activities. NASA Space App program… How cool is that!
Such a relief, thank you so much. Actually it is sort of a personal hobby and yes I do write in English and Arabic I will certainly give it a shot.
And @“Eslam Gamal” When Americans participate in standard ECs they might participate for a school year but the time at the activity might be just an hour or two each week. The total time involved might be just 40 to 80 hours. I would record your camp ECs by hours and not say a week to reflect the effort. You could have several ECs which are 40-80 hours of work. Very comparable to American ECs.
Reminds me of you:
https://www.leemunroe.com/steve-jobs-calligraphy/
Where are you applying? Do you need financial aid?
Sorry for the late reply, @gearmom
Yes, I need financial aid, am applying this year next October, thank you for all your help.
I just finished my essay’s draft and trying to finish my application as soon as possible.
Yours,