How many hours is impressive?

Reachhigher
Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:59:21 +0000

So you know on the Common App where they ask for your extracurricular involvement, the # of weeks per year, and the # of hours per week? Well, how many hours is impressive for a single activitiy? I know leadership positions, # of years dedicated to the activity, and achievements in the activity, etc. matter too, but I’m just wondering - how many hours per week for a single activity is impressive?

If you want to be super helpful, I’m really struggling with my EC list… what do you think?Any comments would be appreciated (see my other threads too). Thanks! :)

Okay here’s all the activities I do/years involved/hours per week…

Youth group founder/coordinator, 2, 5-8
School musical cast member, 2, 15
Fair Trade secretary and leader of FT store through my church, 4, 5
Mission ministry (have gone on a mission trip overseas) co-leader of trip planning committee and member of core team to promote mission throughout my state, 4, 3
Ballet, 3, 4
Spanish tutor (high school kids), 3, 3
Church choir, 4, 5
School club to help incoming freshman, 3, 2-4
Peer mediation group, 4, 1

Thoughts? If I were to take off like two of them, which ones should they be? Which are most/least impressive? I’m applying to some pretty selective schools.