Ecs are largely about how you use your time outside school, and these are great because they build on interests, and also have benefit to others.
And frankly, having had a kid who was a soccer ref for a while, this is an activity that has a lot of interesting lead-ins for essays, from what appeals (rule follower, opportunity to teach younger players rules) to those situations that come out of it (realizing you don’t see everything, getting yelled at by adults, being fair and benefiting someone who has treated you badly, being granted authority because of roleetc.) All of this is a great way to show who you are.
He is making impact. He is working in an adult environment and being responsive and responsible and kind and demonstrating the values of a world class medical institution to vulnerable people.
Good lord, the kid is already making an impact!!! Does anyone else on this thread know just how hard it is to be a soccer referee??!
Well, I do know. There is a huge amount of knowledge that must be mastered, and a great deal of split second judgement. Physical fitness as the refs need to be able to run for 90 minutes. And then there’s dealing with difficult parents and coaches screaming at you from the sidelines! It’s a lot for anyone to deal with, let alone a 15 year old. There’s a reason the pay is so good, and yet there’s a referee shortage. It is a tough and skilled job!
I would add that above all, schools want AUTHENTICITY. Trying to make this kid’s involvement with soccer something it is not actually DILUTES its impact.
Your son’s ECs are just fine. It shows involvement and commitment, not just checking a box and then doing nothing to get really involved. And he is doing something more than just going home and studying.
I do interviews for MIT and when I look at someone’s ECs, I like to ask what their role is in the activity. I hate to see laundry lists of ECs because there is usually no substance to their EC. There aren’t enough hours in the day for some of the lists I’ve seen (fortunately these are in the minority).
College is more than just classes and academics. There are clubs, sports and just having a social life. Part of the EC picture is: Can the applicant handle all the activities outside the classroom and still do well in the classroom.
Look the honest answer to your question is that once institutional priorities at ivy+ schools are met, there are very, very, very few spots left for regular strong students. And for some families, no cost is too much for getting a seat at the table. There is a thread about a certain $120K college coach where he describes his path to an ivy league school. A while back, I posted another link: Reddit - Dive into anything
My DD21 has a former elementary school buddy who now goes to an ivy league school. She started a finance club to empower women in HS and that club together started a microlending initiative in South Asia to help uneducated rural women. Having known this kid all my life (and her parents), I can tell you this did not happen in vacuum. Another colleague has a kid at an ivy adjacent school – full pay, 10+ APs, took a $4 or 5000 SAT prep class and got 1550+ and was “assisted” by a local faculty member for essay prep ($2000). I am not making any of this up.
The other posters here are absolutely correct. Your kid is awesome. Don’t worry so much about all of this. Most kids can become what they want to become by attending one of many excellent colleges that do not require these hurdles.
OP your kid is great exactly the way that he is in exactly in the way that he’s doing it!
I’ve read a lot of scholarship applications, over the years, and I can pick out when someone is being phony or exaggerating their ECs.
Your child has learned the qualities of being a good employee.
He is:
-punctual
-takes directions well,
-is reliable,
-is consistent,
-has a strong work ethic,
-and adapts well to his environment.
The colleges and universities are there to not only educate, but also to provide good employees with those work ethic skills for the workforce and their employers.
Your child has already learned what those colleges hope will evolve in their students. Tell him to keep up the good work as he is a decade ahead of most graduating seniors.
I agree with @blossom. I think his ECs are FINE. He sounds like an upstanding young man. I believe he will do well, no matter where he goes, because he already has those skills that elude a lot of young people.
I appreciate the context and could definitely see the tongue in cheek aspects of your original post. I don’t think my son has Ivy or Ivy+ aspirations. He (frustratingly, right now) has very little patience for theory. He aspires to a high-adrenaline career and wants to be on a flight medic transport TODAY, or in a FEMA disaster zone TODAY. He wants to set your broken femur in a backwoods incident TODAY without any training or education! And he’s sure he can already do it! Wow, to be so self assured at such a young age, may we all suffer from such a surplus of self esteem! (I kid, because I love). It will be an interesting journey, the next two years, I am sure.
Stop stressing then! He is doing great. The reality is that most kids get into most schools. Beef up that 529 and be supportive in his journey. He will be fine.
