<p>i am just thinking of applying to a 2-3 unis… if i dont get in… i am very happy to take a gap year and then apply again… actually i would be happy if that happens… anyway here is my activity list
-i started an organisation in my home country to promote education and this year for literacy day, we asked the govt to take out a stamp for education and after 2-3 mths they finally agreed, so we will be very involved… actually i just learnt today that the govt approved it. and are now trying to meet our deadlines and design… i am also directing a project with support from the Ministry of Education and UNESCO and lots of money from sponsers
-i am the director in another organisation and worked to form a partnership between UNIFEM (for women) and that organisation and i am the person for both of them (if anyone reads the NYT they would know)
i will also intern and assist a UN project this august and probably continue for it.
my biggest passion is humanitarian work anywhere… and i am really big on promoting education for various reasons (one of them being that almost all terrorists come from my country because of their fundamentalist backgrounds and educations)… but i am a bit worried that since my activities are unconventional… no adcom will really recognise them… i also do some stuff in school… but nothing major… so the whole factor of not contributing to ur community will come in
thanks for your help</p>
<p>lovecolumbia,
Your ec’s sound great but you didn’t ask a question. Are you looking for college recommendations or do you just want our opinions about your activities?</p>
<p>If you want suggestions for colleges, you need to tell us your grades, what area (are we talking US?) and your possible majors.</p>
<p>Your ECs sound very strong, and if your stats match up you will be a viable candidate. Columbia and similar admissions are VERY hard to predict, due to the large number of well-qualified applicants.</p>
<p>With outstanding ECs like yours, though, you’ll get a thorough look at any school, and will no doubt earn some great acceptances. Good luck!</p>
<p>thank alot… i just wanted to know that will insufficient involvment in school hurt me? i mean when i read all these other “what are my chances?” type threads… people seem like demi-gods at their schools… i do love my school and take great interest in my studies but i am not very involved in school activities… i joined model UN but all they cared about were competitions- not that it was a bad thing but just not for me, and other clubs in school are also just for name… really dont do anything… anyway i am the co-editor of the human rights newsletter and next year will be co-editor of a straight and gay alliance newsletter… and i am a student advisor for new/international students… my stats are not the best though- 2100 new sat (if you count different sittings)…i dont have a gpa (moved here in junior year) but my grades are good and i scored the highest/one of the top 3, in my school on some regents exams (if they count). i am from pakistan btw. not a URM but it is frustrating when most people just want to join banks or the industry and no ONE wants to enter public policy or really educate the young children in pakistan who then turn to terrorism, prostitution and sex-trafficking… sorry for the long post… i tend to talk alot about what i do… :)</p>
<p>I think that it is one thing to have strong EC’s and to be passionate about them, but there also has to be a balance as far as your grades and scores are concerned. while you will get many accolades on your EC’s if you also don’t have comrable grades and scores, they may come a question as to why aren’t you placing the same level of commitment and passion to your studies.</p>
<p>I agree with Roger that you should make sure that your stats are equally as impressive (at the end of the day you are going to be partly evaluated on whether or not you can be academically successful)</p>
<p>oh no i do have good grades… and will also get VERY good teacher recommendations… my teachers know me very well and we have had many private conversations over books i have read or if it is spanish how i found an interesting link between spanish and urdu and studied its history
i know my stats arent great but i am thinking of emphasising my ecs and essays…and i have done very well in english and history and want to major in poli sci or international relations so maybe thats a match</p>
<p>You need to look at Swarthmore, Macalester, maybe even Rhodes College in Memphis - they give a merit scholarship based on both grades and community service, and part of fulfilling the terms of the scholarship is participating in community service projects during the year.</p>