How re my ECs?

Applying to College
1

On a scale of 1-10, what would you say my ECs are?
Also, from 1-10, how is my leadership?

Tennis Coach (Self-employed, 2014-2015)
• Coached small children in tennis to help them improve their skills and fitness
Math Tutor (Self-Employed, 2013-2015)
• Tutored high school and middle school students in SAT math and classroom material

Participated in a week of on-site simulated training at NASA through High School Aerospace Scholars

6 week internship for biomed engineering at UH

Activities Tennis
• Played recreationally for ten years (2005-present)
• Played on high school varsity team for four years (2012-present)
• Played USTA tennis competitively for seven years (2007-2015)
Piano
• Played for thirteen years (2002-present)
Guitar
• Played for five years (2010-present)
Member of youth cultural organization
• Improved organization as Treasurer in 2013-2014
• Improved organization as Secretary in 2015-2016
• Volunteer by completing over 50 hours of community service (cleaning up highways, beaches, serving at soup kitchens, etc.)
Member of NHS (National Honor Society, 2012- present)
Member of Mathematics Honor Society (2012- present)
• Improved organization as Vice President in 2015-2016
Member of Red Cross Club (2012- present)
Member of United Way Club (2014- present)
Member of Science National Honor Society (2013- present)
Member of HOSA (Health Occupational Students of America, 2012- present)
Participated in UIL Math (11th grade)

Total, I probably have over 100 volunteer hours

Thanks in advance

2

EC’s: 7.5

Leadership: 6

3

Did you do anything with your guitar or piano?
Leadership: 7, the self-employed thing is pretty impressive in my opinion, but depends on how far your “business” actually went.
EC: 7.

But, these ratings will be very inaccurate without your essays. The essays are the ones that truly make your EC’s 10/10. Also, you might want to consider cutting some of your clubs, you have a lot right now. This way, you can focus on your main hobbies and interests, presumably Tennis and Music.

4

These are all typical ECs with the typical level of leadership/engagement. For 95% of the colleges in the country, they are fine - they don’t help or hurt. 100 hours of volunteering is likewise nice, but not uncommon. For the most selective two dozen or so colleges, these are just average or slightly less than average.

So what are you trying to accomplish here? What’s your objective? If you are having fun, learning, developing new skills, meeting interesting people, testing your limits, being creative…then I’d say your ECs have accomplished your objectives and that should be it’s own satisfaction. If you are doing them to be impressive, that would be a waste of time and opportunity…and you are missing the mark.

5

Thanks everyone!