<p>I was wondering if following (reading and watching) news from the UK could count as an extracurricular to be listed on the Common App. It plays into my passion for British History and takes about 5-7 hours a week. </p>
<p>I can’t see how it would… maybe you could work it into an essay if you are writing about your passion for British history? But listing it as an EC just doesn’t seem workable.</p>
<p>I was thinking of explaining it like:
As a student of the history and politics of the United Kingdom, I take a keen interest in current events and political developments in the UK. Websites, newspapers and networks read and watched include: The Guardian, The Independent, The Economist, The Times, The Telegraph, BBC News, and Huffington Post UK. I gave a presentation on current events in the UK to my AP European History Class for National History Day, etc.</p>
<p>I agree that I can’t see how it could pass as an EC.</p>
<p>@LAMuniv: Why exactly do you say that?</p>
<p>It’s like saying watching the news but you are only specializing in British news. Doesn’t really make a difference. It’s like saying played video games, that doesn’t count as a EC. Staying current should be important for everyone, even when you graduate from college. Adults are doing this for leisure.</p>
<p>Being interested in stuff is not an EC. Anyway, the UK has plenty of its own “faux” news dedicated to celebrity gossip and one-sided discussions of issues–it’s not all highbrow, credible and impartial.</p>
<p>@cicero1 See @An1100345 's post for my reasons - they took the words right from my mouth.</p>
<p>True. But aren’t most extracurriculars things “adults are doing for leisure?”
Also, this activity is highly unusual among other high schoolers, and I would argue that it increased my interest in British History and Politics (I took a four-credit college class at UW-Madison on British History/Politics Since 1688)
Also, I know the UK has plenty of trashy, tabloid news sources (e.g. The Sun, Daily Mirror, Daily Star, etc.)
I’m talking more about the BBC, The Guardian, Times, Telegraph, Financial Times, etc) </p>
<p>@Cicero1
I think that no matter what I say, you are going to say following British news is an unique extracurricular. But here are my final arguments that following British news is ABSOLUTELY NOT an extracurricular.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Many teachers today assign current events to do as part of a grade. For example, my AP Comp Gov teacher asks my class to prepare six current events reports on one of the six core countries we learn throughout the year. Yes, I literally had to go on news websites every other day and find articles on Britain, which coincidentally is the country that I am learning about, and write a detailed summary and reaction on them, which can take hours if I want a good grade on it and because of me going on different news website to find a good article. (Not to mention, I gained a lot of knowledge on Britain also) AP Comp Gov taught me the structure and history of the British government and the politics. My research on Britain every week and from my teacher also increased my interest. But, I think you should put the UW-Madison’s class on your Common App. </p></li>
<li><p>Many of the EC’s are things that adults don’t do for leisure, except like volunteering. No adults do debate, science olympiad, quiz bowl, or any stuff related that. They are adults and they get to enjoy their lives. Some adults read newspaper to stay current and they read it in their free time. As I said before, everyone should do this.</p></li>
<li><p>Here is my example: I follow North Korea all the time for fun. I go on Google everyday and search up North Korea news and just pull up articles to look at every day. I occasionally watch North Korea documentaries, which is like an hour or so. I don’t count this as an EC. It played into my passion about North Korea and encouraged me to raise awareness for the lives of daily North Koreans. It actually takes up 30 min.-1 hr. of my daily life if I am so into it.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I think an EC either need to have an impact on others around you or you do it with other people. (Except like music lessons) Unless you won like 1st place in some British history competition or whatever, I wouldn’t put this as an EC. I don’t know if this convinced you fully that what you are doing is not an EC, but I tried my best to do so.</p>
<p>I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be combative or argumentative. I do agree with a lot of your points, and I don’t think I will list it. I was just wondering, as sometimes extracurriculars seem a bit arbitrary.</p>
<p>@Cicero1 A good rule of thumb is, can you accomplish anything with it? When doing your EC, is there eventually going to be a tangible thing you can point to and say “look, I did that”? Whether that’s a dance recital or a certificate or what have you.</p>
<p>It’s very hard to frame watching the news as any form of extracurricular activity!</p>
<p>This is too much like “reading novels” or “reading history books” to list as an EC. There may be an opportunity to talk about this in an essay, but we are trying to convey to you that it will not look good listed as an EC. If you start a discussion group to talk about it, that’s an EC.</p>
<p>I agree with the opinions above. Do not list this as an EC. This type of material belongs in an essay.</p>
<p>I classify an extracurricular as an activity in which you work with others or have an impact upon others. An EC should be an organized activity in an organized setting, such as writing for the school paper or playing on a sports team.</p>
<p>Watching British news is tantamount to saying watching TV or reading books. It’s more of a free-time hobby. Anybody could do that. Like someone posted above, not everyone can do Quiz Bowl or Science Olympiad.</p>