My city (in the Balkans) does not offer many extracurriculars about my ‘passions’ (writing/directing and bussiness) except for maybe some sporadic bussiness seances that you hardly get informed about. How can I fill the blanks in my applications if I can’t do extracurriculars on what I love and need the most for college?
So have you actually ever been involved in any business or done any directing?
The only ‘directing’ I’ve done are some short youtube videos filmed on my phone, with no actual plot since I don’t know anyone willing to act for me. As for bussiness, I have a great idea for a social network, but obviously I can’t say in my application that I only have an idea. Another thing relating to ‘bussiness’ would be my marketing ‘scheme’ for introducing yearbooks to my class. I’m putting everything between ‘’ because I can’t consider any of this as serious, for the reason that they’re nowhere near what an American student would be able to accomplish.
You can participate in other ECs or you can figure out a way to make your interests work. Filming on your phone is not going to be very impressive, but perhaps writing and directing a play for a local elementary school, and have someone film it, or get credit for mentoring those children. Maybe film some info videos for local businesses (‘how to’ for the employees, or ‘how not to’).
That’s the problem. The schools here are too rigid (I don’t know if it’s like this in every city of my country but it is like this in mine). We go to school everyday for 6-7 periods where we are stuck to the same classroom. We have no clubs or teams in our schools so naturally the average student’s desire to participate in ECs is nonexistent. A play for example would have to be forced from the teachers to the students as obligatory to pass the grade, otherwise it would never happen.
And also no local business would take a 17 year old girl seriously and they wouldn’t want that sort of publicity anw
Universities understand that international students don’t have the same kinds of EC opportunities as Americans. That said, surely your country offers internships? Even getting a job will be better than nothing for someone with business interests.
As far as your other hobbies, look for writing contests and screenwriting competitions where you could submit your work. (Google is your friend!) You can continue making You Tube videos – just make sure they’re good and they have something compelling to say. Good content can overcome poor (phone) quality. Have you thought about putting on a play with your friends? A one act play you write can be done over a holiday break.
Remember, part of getting into college in America as an international student – and definitely getting a job in the film world – requires you to be competitive, determined and original/creative. Other students will figure out how to stand out from the competition – if you won’t, your application won’t go anywhere.
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The schools here are too rigid (I don’t know if it’s like this in every city of my country but it is like this in mine). We go to school everyday for 6-7 periods where we are stuck to the same classroom. We have no clubs or teams in our schools >>>>>>>>
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I think you are missing the point, extra curricular are outside of school, tired school based clubs are not getting US kids into competitive spots either. You think that just being in a club is something magic? It just isn’t.
Do students in your country take music lessons, play sports, participate in fundraisers (marathons, walks, dance-a-thons)? That’s what many US kids do for ECs. The also volunteer at nursing homes, tutor younger kids, join scouts.
I really doubt your school is so ‘anti-Arts’ that there are no plays, no musical recitals, no painting available.
See if you can volunteer at a local university in the theater department and talk to the person that teaches directing. Also you can make a one act play and you are the actor. My son started his own business online. You are more of an idea person. See if someone can help you develop your ideas. Maybe you can work with someone at the university level for this?
Since you like writing then write. Maybe you can enter it somewhere. Local play houses. There are meet up groups on all of this to look up.
Extra-curriculars are the things that you do outside of the classroom. It is fine when they reflect your vocational/career interests, but for many students their main ECs don’t. Being a serious chess player, for example, is a perfectly legitimate EC, but has nothing to do with any career (except being a chess master, of course) (but notice how easily you can tie success in chess to success in just about anything else in an essay!)
Re-posting this from @katliamom for emphasis:
All of your reasons for not doing anything related to writing/direction or business have many solutions. I wrote out examples for each, but then deleted them. If you are applying to colleges now, it is too late to start coming up with ideas- you have to work with what you have.
So, what do you do when you aren’t in the classroom or doing homework? those are your ECs.
How about making a tourism film about your town, then asking the town administrators if they would put it on their web site? Or a short film about your high school that can be posted on it’s web site for the purpose of introducing next year’s incoming students what to expect? You don’t need actors for those.
As @Sybylla said, you are missing the point of ECs. Colleges want to see that you are taking advantage of the opportunities available to you, but if few opportunities are available, they look for the exceptional student to get creative and MAKE their own opportunities. That’s the student that stands out. Other posters have given you plenty of ideas on how to get started. Use them as a starting point to come up with your own ideas. Ignore the naysayers in your town who don’t think teens can be agents of change or improvement. It’s the struggle to do it anyway that could make for an interesting college application essay.
I had pretty much the same situation as well. Something you can do about writing is look for international essay competitions where you could participate (extra points if you win something). Look for online journals and magazines where you can write. If your school allows you to form clubs, open your own writing club or business club and be involved in them regularly