Few Extracurriculars and UCs

College Admissions
#1

<p>I know about the importance of ECs to colleges in the North East and other places, but for the UCs, how critical are they?</p>

<p>For example, I have relatively few ECs but they include:</p>

<p>Founder and President of Non-Profit Organization-- Youth for Digital Progress Foundation, over 600 hours spent</p>

<p>Worked my way up in a legal corporation as a volunteer that helps immigrants and lower income families that need legal aid (I asssist them with law forms, the law etc)- 1000s of hours, now hold a senior position</p>

<p>Founder and President of a Political Organization (527 group)- National Association of Young Libertarians, also write editorials for the Online Magazine for the site that I started for the organization. Again, over 400 hours atleast...</p>

<p>Finally, have worked 25 hours a week in a corporate job as a Computer Consultant for 10th, 11th, and now 12th grades.</p>

<p>Also, Model UN for 3 years...</p>

<p>This is ALL I have however... How does this look compared to the thousands of students that will have 10X the number of ECs with swimming, tutoring, club member president, ASB, etc? I have put alot of dedication in the organizations that I have founded...</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

#2

<p>I suppose that some posters will think that I only care about how this will "look" for college, I'm not. I am extremely dedicated to these orgs and want to continue working for them long past college. </p>

<p>However, I hope UCs understand that my low gpa (Only 3.97 UC GPA) can be explained better that I have been working so much outside of school...</p>

#3

<p>anyone else in a similar situation?</p>

#4

<p><a href="http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/4199/weewh0.jpg%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/4199/weewh0.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

#5

<p>Many of the UCs accept 30% or more... Those are pretty good acceptance stats.</p>

#6

<p>It's not as much about the number of activities, as about the amount of time you put in them. Working 25 hours a week is not bad at all. How many club activities do you need to match that??</p>

#7

<p>Thanks... Yes, I know. I worked 30+ hours as a major wage earner for my family for 3 years...</p>

#8

<p>work experience - important?</p>

#9

<p>How the heck are those bad ECs.</p>

<p>...</p>

<p>I think you know kids who did football and tutored after school have nothing on somebody who founded a nonprofit organization and holds a senior position in a workplace & is a wage earner for the family.</p>

<p>I mean.</p>

<p>Holy crap.</p>

<p>Harvard would salivate.</p>

<p>I think it's in your best interest to apply to schools with heavy emphasis on ECs!</p>

#10

<p>Thanks everyone. I was just wondering because these are very FEW extracurriculars compared to 99% of the other students applying.</p>

<p>So work experience and volunteer work doesn't count as EC?</p>

#11

<p>It looks good to me. It shows that you are really passionate in something.</p>

#12

<p>If you are interested in the UCs go to that forum or do a search for UC formula...The UCs first look at a specific formula with regard to class rank, SAT and gpa. They recalc the GPA their own way....Many of the UCs accept 30% or more is misleading...the top UCs are very difficult to get into ....also depends if you are instate or OOS...</p>

#13

<p>Thanks for the response. I know that the top UCs are extremely hard to get into , that is why I want to know whether these ECs can give me a reasonable chance...</p>

#14

<p>Harding, while touring a top-ranked college with my son this summer, an admissions officer said that the two criteria they look for in ECs are LONGEVITY and LEADERSHIP. You are far and away preferable to someone who has been on ten teams for one year each, dabbled in the arts, done a few hours of community service, and/or never held a responsible/leadership post. And yes, of course work experience is valuable!</p>

<p>Since you asked, here's my opinion....relax and give yourself some well-earned credit.</p>

#15

<p>Exactly what I was asking for HeliMom, thanks again</p>

#16

<p>Harding292:</p>

<p>Assuming you are a California resident,
UCB/UCLA: Reach</p>

#17

<p>Thanks for the honesty flopsy, </p>

<p>Although, I only posted my UC GPA (which I know is very low compared to UCLA and UCB's average). My SAT I score is only around 1900 which I will definetly retake another 3 times... SAT II- 800 on US History, need to retake another one.</p>

<p>Would it also help that over the summer I took a UCLA undergraduate Political Science course- received A?</p>

<p>Also on my personal essays, I have been working on them for months and will have a UCLA Educational Counselor at the Graduate school edit my essay and provide alot of insight.... Will that help?</p>

<p>I am focusing on a difficult home circumstance on the essays (parent's mental illness)</p>

<p>Sorry, I did not want this to become a full-out chances post! WHoops! =)</p>

#18

<p>Might as well post more detailed view of ECs so please bear with me....</p>

<p>Youth for Digital Progress Foundation— International Non-Profit Organization. -----Founder and President of the Foundation, Chairman of the Board of Directors.</p>

<p>Raises money (tax-deductible by the IRS) and receives donation from local businesses, school districts, and private individuals. We have sent over 350 computer systems including monitors, multi-media PCs, scanners, printers, keyboards and other computer components overseas to impoverished schools in countries such as Nigeria, Cambodia and Ecuador. Furthermore, funds raised by Youth for Digital Progress Foundation have gone towards the building of infrastructure such as computer classrooms through liason organizations. My non-profit organization works in cooperation with partners such as the Owerri Digital Village organization which provides instructors to the southeastern Nigerian schools in which I have sent the technology. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina in September of 2005, computers were also donated from my Foundation to the Red Cross for video-conferences between family members and loved ones that were displaced in the Gulf region. </p>

<p><em>Founded in January 2005, became IRS tax-exempt Non-Profit Organization in 2006.
*</em>Around 5-10 hrs per week since Jan. 2005, upwards of 10-15 hours a week during Summer and Spring Breaks.</p>

<p>National Association of Young Libertarians (527 group)
Founder and President of a Political Organization (527 group)- Student advocacy group that focuses on having Libertarian-minded students to become committed to getting involved in the political process and is dedicated to electing Libertarian-minded candidates to office. We seek to increase membership, build scholarly networks in schools nationwide, and create a sense of academic fellowship among those in agreement with NAYL goals. As President of the NAYL, I have established the group’s platform on dozens of issues and have officially endorsed over 60 candidates for office at nearly all levels of government for the 2006 November elections. My duties also include sending out a newsletter to over 400 members via e-mail to the association’s members as well as political candidates and party organizations. </p>

<p><em>Founded in October, 2004, filed with the IRS in order to receive funds as a 527 group in 2006.
*</em>15 hours per week during election seasons, 5-10 hours per week on off-election seasons</p>

<p>The Journal of Young Libertarians—Editor-in-Chief of the National Association of Young Libertarians journal publication. The Journal of Young Libertarians is published with editorials, news and other articles such as studies and reports that have been written by the President (myself) and other members. The Young Libertarian Dispatch is published monthly in digital and traditional paper form. </p>

<p><em>Started in 2005
*</em>3-4 hours per week including writing, editing, researching and publishing.
Volunteer<br>
Law Forms Center- Intern and volunteer for paralegal corporation. First position was office aide to the manager. Underwent company training in legal forms and became volunteer in helping lower-income clients. I provided free services and legal aide to clients that were unable to afford professional consultation within the company. My services included aiding with the legal process of immigration and citizenship by providing and aiding in the completion of necessary legal forms and filing the documents with the necessary Courts and government branches. After 8 months of service, I became Vice President of Immigration Department at the company in 2005.</p>

<p>Began as intern in 2004, became Vice President in May 2005. </p>

<p>Work Experience
American Professional Consultants, LLC
Used my work experience and expertise from Law Forms Center to join American Professional Consultants, LLC. I was hired as an intern in the Legal Affairs department, where I worked for 4 months. I became an Immigration Consultant which is a similar position to the one I held in Law Forms Center. As an Immigration Consultant, I help newly arrived immigrants that are in need in legal assistance. I have aided numerous immigrants attain work permits,VISAs, and bringing their families to America. Vast majority of immigrants that I aid tend to be lower-income and from 3rd countries that are unfamiliar with American law and society. </p>

<p>28 hours per week during school year, 35 hours per week during summer</p>

#19

<p>remember the old adage- quality over quantity</p>

#20

<p>EXACTLY iloveschool! My point right away!! :) </p>

<p>.
..
...
And where can one show this? Personal Statement and Essay!</p>