I’m a current junior, and all my activities outside of school are incredibly strong. Research, intern team lead, etc — and I have good leadership roles outside of school. But inside of school, the only thing I have is that I’ve been officer of a club for two years and am in a number of clubs.
The reason I ask is because I feel that there are a good number of people in my school who have one strong leadership role and then a bunch of supporting ones, all in the school. Or they are deeply involved in something like choir, the school ambassador program, or student council, all of which I’m not in.
My lack of involvement is largely because the school is grades 5-12, and I was one of the only people who wasn’t there from 5th and instead joined in 9th grade, and at that time I didn’t really know all I could do. My top choice school is also Brown, and IDK if it will hurt for specifically that uni.
A perspective from a parent many years past children’s college applications. Your ECs are what make you be YOU. It sounds like you’ve found some that work nicely for you and may even help you decide priorities for future course/career decisions. Well done!
I’m not a college admissions expert, but I can’t see how it would matter whether they are in the school or not. In fact, to me joining outside groups seems to show some good initiative (unlike my own recollection from many decades ago - I joined a club or two mostly because I liked hanging with my friends after school).
You have no idea why you get into a college (or don’t get in).
I would want to ensure my ECs had tenure and impact, that you contributed.
They also likely don’t need to be academic. Many will have part time jobs or be in an outside band or walk dogs at the shelter. Yes, others will be at school - sports, band, theater but that’s not you and it’s fine.
You are who you are and hopefully you do the things you enjoy. Anyway, you can’t change it.
But it sounds like you do plenty both in and out of school. But quality over quantity - don’t do things just to build a list. Do a few things where you can contribute and show impact.
It doesn’t matter. ECs are about how you engage with the world beyond the academic day. Some people do that through school-sponsored activities, others do not. You’re fine.
It sounds like you have only at least 7 or 8 activities.
It’s what you do with your ECs that matter, not how many you do or how many leadership roles you have. Comparing yourself to others isn’t good for your mental health. Control what is within your ability and ignore what others do.
you don’t need ten. You don’t even need eight. You need to demonstrate that you are engaged in something that’s not classroom or homework. Doesn’t matter if it’s in your neighborhood, county, working at the local ice cream store.
Old news but our two kids had really only two high school ECs, and the primary one was done outside of school.
When the time came for the school counselor to complete their recommendation, our kids gave her a sort of brag sheet that outlined everything they did outside of school, leadership positions, etc. Otherwise, she would have had no clue.
First, it sounds like you are in very good shape in terms of strong EC’s outside of the school and some in-school involvement. Based on some feedback on various platforms from AO’s at similar schools, I believe there is “some” expectation for a strong candidate to take full advantage of their school-based opportunities and support their immediate (school) community, before venturing fully beyond the school. For example, did you take any of your strong outside research, internship, etc. interests/EC’s back to your school environment and try to do something with them and contribute back to your school community? This is not a requirement, just something to think about as you present yourself in the application.
As everyone has replied, your ECs do not need to have anything to do with your high school. Let me give three examples:
One is a job. Some low-income students need to have a part time job throughout high school to help with family finances. Some other families encourage their high school students to get a job as a very good experience. If you purchase groceries at almost any grocery store in an affluent area (or anywhere else) you might see some of these high school students working as cashiers. A job is a very good EC.
Caring for siblings or an elderly relative can also be a very good EC. Again, this is not through school.
One third example that comes to mind is research. Typically there is not a lot of research being done in high schools (I am almost certain there was none at my high school). If you are involved in research this almost has to be outside of high school. However, this can also be a great EC. Of course this is an EC that you have.
Also, you do not need nor want to have the longest possible list of ECs. It is better to do what is right for you, and whatever you do you should do it well. Quality matters. Quantity does not.
No one can predict whether you will get into Brown (assuming strong academics and good references to go with your ECs). You apply and see what happens. If you are not okay with being full pay, you run the NPC before applying (your parents will probably need to run it) and make sure that the finances work out before applying. You also apply to safeties and probably to schools that are somewhere between safeties and reaches (unless you really like your safeties, which does happen sometimes). Then you have faith that this will work out one way or another.
And has already been mentioned, do not try to compare yourself with other students in your high school. You be the best person you can be. You be the best student you can be. Then have faith that this will work out one way or another.
Completely fine that all your activities are outside of school. The WORLD is outside of school! I’m always telling people to look to the outside world for EC opportunities that fit their interests. Don’t worry a minute about this.
Do the ECs that you like, that you want to do, and do them to as great a degree as you want to do them, and it will work out fine.
I agree you don’t need to worry about whether your ECs are school-based.
I do think it is a good idea to reflect on whether your ECs are helping you to develop in all the important ways. Intellectually, creatively, emotionally, socially, ethically, physically, and so on.
But if you are satisfied with how your ECs overall are helping you develop, again I would not worry about how many, if any, were school-based.
