EC's?

Colleges & Universities University of Virginia
1

<p>So I don’t want to post a chances thread, because there is nothing that a chances thread can do to break my will of wanting to go to UVa :slight_smile: However, I would like the peace of mind of knowing whether or not my EC’s are good. That being said, it’s not an extensive list, but it’s a dedicated one.</p>

<p>I have been in the church band since 8th grade which involves practice on wednesdays or thursdays (it’s changed over the years) and playing in our band for all three services for our student ministry. I guess it’s not really a leadership position but I’m always quick to help out, and my church volunteering will definitely be the topic of some sort of writing section (be it the common app writing, or the supplement). I’ll probably mention my mom met a girl who is in the band with me who is younger than me, and her mom said that she really looked up to me, and she was really influenced by me.</p>

<p>I have also been helping with general stuff around the church (helping kids out, helping with tech stuff like lights and such) since 6th grade, which also involved being a Small group leader for a couple years until we stopped doing small groups, and helping plan out videos and such for church.</p>

<p>I have played classical piano for a decade now, and have gotten a superior in two different events every year in performance (one of which involved memorizing 7 songs and scales and such, and the other was 2 songs, and a written theory test) plus I have been a runner up at the state level for Music Teacher’s Association auditions.</p>

<p>Lastly, I play Jazz Piano at the Fine Arts Center for 4 years, which is a few periods during school, and we have sent people to Juilliard, Berklee College of Music, University of Miami, University of South California, etc. My teacher selected me for a few different awards like best student, best first year student, etc. and I played in a gig band for money a few times representing the school. This year I will be one of only 4 people who have been there for four years straight, and will therefore be somewhat of a leader for the new students.</p>

<p>I guess one last thing to mention is every summer I volunteer for our VBS at church which has 1000 kids, taking care of a class of toddlers.</p>

<p>How strong do you think these EC’s are?</p>

2

<p>If you don’t have at least 19 ECs with leadership positions in at least 18 of them, you might as well just not apply.</p>

3

<p>I’m going to go ahead an assume that was either a joke, or you’re a ■■■■■ (especially with that low post count, not that mine’s higher). Most people couldn’t possibly do 19 extra curricula’s. Even assuming 5 of them are only every once in a while, that leaves an average of 2 a day. Who has time for two extra curricular’s a day. Why try to scare people away from a college?</p>

4

<p>That seems pretty average considering a lack of leadership positions. It’s good that you stuck with your activities so long though, shows dedication; however it’s half church and half music which may not appear very well rounded? I’m not an admissions officer or anything though. Maybe if there are other activities that interest you, you should take a stab at them before you apply.
And tons of people did at least 2 ECs a day in grade school, I know I did.</p>

5

<p>Well, the church stuff is leadership, and working with children/students, and I want to be a physical therapist, and enjoy church, music wise I just love music, but picking up a random EC during my senior year just looks like buffing up my resume for colleges. I have guitar lessons on monday, piano lessons tuesdays, church stuff wednesdays, and thursdays I usually have to study for the mass of Friday due dates, quizzes, tests, etc. and that just leaves Friday and Saturday and I hang out with my friends then. My schedule just seems full with classes, practice for classical, jazz, and church piano, and then lessons and church…</p>

<p>On second thought, I’m an idiot. I’m also in newspaper at school. Reporter sophomore year, technically the website manager junior year, but the administration didn’t like the website idea, so it was just a title, and Opinions editor this year. I feel so stupid for forgetting that major EC haha.</p>

6

<p>Crimson,</p>

<p>Ignore collegekid16 (I assume the 16 refers to his age). </p>

<p>Speaking from experience (my son), a passion for music is certainly an admirable way to spend your time outside the classroom. But, there are probably hundreds of applicants every year who play in the band or orchestra. In the case of my son, he was not an overly talented musician, but like you he always went the extra mile to help out with the many, many tasks involved in putting on a concert. His band director recognized his dedication and named him Student of the Year. He also wrote a very nice recommendation for him. I have no doubt that these factors helped make him a successful UVa applicant.</p>

<p>Best of luck to you.</p>

7

<p>I’m planning on getting a recommendation from my Jazz teacher and Newspaper teacher. I’ve been student of the year (of some type) freshman and sophomore, and presumably senior year. Hopefully those two recs will add more about what I do with those two, and I’ll write about going the extra mile at church, and the many awards of gotten in classical piano will probably show the extra mile in that. Even if they aren’t the most impressive on their own, I’ve put a lot of work into all of them, and hopefully that conveys between essays and recs.</p>

8

<p>UVa certainly appreciates art EC’s as can be seen by the creation of the College Arts Scholars program with Stephen Colbert’s donation.</p>

9

<p>Do what you love. Be sincere. That should be good enough for UVA. If it’s not, then maybe the school isn’t for you.</p>

10

<p>One more question, for recommendations all the colleges I’m applying to by Common App only require one. I want to do my AP Literature teacher so I have a teacher who liked me, but also taught a challenging class. However, I also want to get my Jazz teacher to do a recommendation because I’ve been in his class since Freshman year, and that would help make Jazz less like a simple EC, because it’s definitely not. Will UVa look at both recommendations, despite me having one more than the required? Also, my newspaper teacher would be a good recommendation. I just can’t decide, I know I need to make my main one a core class, hence AP lit. but both my newspaper and my jazz teacher would be great recommendations. What would be the best combination, and is 3 too many?</p>