I have no extracurriculars. How can I prepare for college admissions.

Applying to College
1

I’m a student in high school right now and I wanted to know how I can prepare for college admissions. I’m a pretty good candidate academically but I know I will do poorly in colleges that have holistic admissions. I’m currently a sophomore and I will be graduating next year (I don’t really have a say in this). And I have no extracurriculars. There’s a reason for this but I know I have to get myself together. In 2015 I was abandoned by my father, who was very in and out of the picture my whole life, and my mom became very ill (chronic pain). I entered a really weird mental health place after this and I just focused on my studies so I wouldn’t have to face reality. Since 2017 I have been doing online school and I’m just recently coming out of the mental state I was in (At least I have a good essay topic). Anyways, I have basically no extracurriculars and I feel like I need to ge this part of my application together even though it’s a bit late. I have a very strong passion for politics and I want to be a politician. I plan on majoring in either Economics or Political Science (maybe even both). I was planning on starting a political blog as I feel I am quite passionate about it. I was also looking into volunteering for a candidate for the 2020 elections although most candidates currently have an exploratory committe and are not taking volunteers. I also plan on doing dual enrollment for National Government and State & Local Government at my local community college. I’m a virtual student and I only have a learners permit so I can’t really do clubs or anything too far away as my mother can’t drive me. There is a shopping center right outside my house so I was also thinking of looking for a summer job there. I was also looking at entering National History Day and Columbia Review. I’m also a bit immature and hot-headed as well as shy.

My college list:

Reach - Princeton, Columbia
Semi-Reach - University of Florida
Safe? - UCF, FSU, FIU, Florida Polytechnic, Florida A&M

Academics (I’m a straight A student and I don’t plan on changing that):
I’m class rank 1 / 65
I plan on taking the SAT this March and I might take the US History and Math II subject tests.

Middle School (These were high school courses and are counted as):
Algebra 1 Honors
Biology Honors
Spanish 1
Spanish 2

9th Grade:
English 1 Honors
Algebra 2 Honors
Marine Science Honors
Spanish 3 Honors
Personal Fitness
Fitness Lifestyle Design
Emerging Technology in Business

Summer 2018:
English 2 Honors
Algebra 2 Honors

10th Grade (I am here):
AP English Language
Pre-Calc Honors
Physics Honors
World History Honors (School did not offer AP)
AP US History
Drivers ED
Sat Prep Course
AP Macroeconomics

Summer 2019:
Chemistry 1 Honors

11th Grade:
AP Literature
Calculus Honors
AP Biology
US Government
Microeconomics
Journalism
National Government (Dual enrollment)
State & Local Government (Dual enrollment)

Thanks for any advice. :smiley:

2

Harvard, Princeton, and similar schools expect students to be strong in many ways.

Nearly any other school will understand that no one is perfect. Strong grades and good test scores will take you a very long way even without ECs. Also, if you get a job at the nearby shopping center this is an EC. You also have a strong story, and have kept excellent grades under very difficult circumstances.

“I’m a straight A student”

I am from a different part of the US so I am sort of guessing. However, this plus good test scores should be good for your safeties, and I think would probably give you a very good chance at U.of Florida.

3

If you were taking care of your mom in any way, that would also be an EC and should be mentioned in any prompts or essays.

4

@TheGussA I think a lot of top schools like “overcoming adversity” stories like yours, so don’t write off holistic admissions. I started a thread recently that has names of high stat/no EC places: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-confidential-cafe/2122901-best-colleges-and-universities-for-students-with-top-stats-but-no-leadership-abilities.html

If you are in Florida, then I would think UF would be a match, not a reach.

5

Try doing something over the summer, maybe apply for an internship. Or try volunteering somewhere nearby.