<p>Why not just focus on doing one of those really well? Your EC’s are great for a “regular student”. This is far more than the average kid does! If you’re trying to stand out among super competative students then you need to do one of these things really well. Quit trying so hard to be what colleges are looking for and follow your passions. There is no formula forgetting into a top school so why waste your time trying to do too much? Doing what you love is your best bet, and if you don’t get into your “dream school” there is nothing lost.</p>
<p>If I start a club and run it for all four years while putting a lot of effort into its success, is this a good EC?</p>
<p>A college admissions counselor told me a really good analogy for what makes a good EC resume. You start with something that you’re passionate about and keep building on it more and more, just as you would stack scoops of ice cream on a cone. Its better to have one huge ice cream cone than a bunch of small ones. In other words, don’t sign up for a bunch of meaningless clubs that you have no interest in. Find a passion and just keep building on it. You’ll be surprised about how much you can do if you truly love what you’re doing.</p>
<p>dayummit- it’d probably sound less …awkward if you put “gay rights” and highlight it in an essay.</p>
<p>I’ve been reading this forum and the way people speak about their ECs makes it seem like it’s all just for show to get into a good college. It’s sort of sad to me but I guess that’s how college admission works, whoever looks the best.</p>
<p>Would learning a programming language in your spare time be considered an EC?</p>
<p>Unfortunately, many people do get involved in extracurricular activities simply for that purpose. However, I’d say it’s much more likely to seem like that when you’re just reading a list over the Internet.</p>
<p>Hey guys, I’ve been given a couple of volunteering opportunities and I’d like to know which one colleges would rather see. One of them was managing social media marketing for a non-profit organization that wants to donate school supplies to kids in Columbia and the other was to write articles for an online science organization. I’m going to be a Junior soon and I’m planning on majoring in Chemistry if that helps in anyways.</p>
<p>Honest Opinion Guys? And What Can I Do To Improve How I Look To Colleges???</p>
<p>Extra Curriculars</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Track and Field</p>
<ul>
<li>Varsity Regionals Medallist</li>
<li>400m Relay Medallist</li>
<li>Three years Varsity</li>
<li>Since 4th Grade</li>
<li>10 hours per week practicing</li>
<li>3 Years</li>
</ul></li>
<li><p>Art and Literature</p>
<ul>
<li>Art Museum Volunteer</li>
<li>Art Club President</li>
<li>Regional Scholastic Art Award</li>
<li>Lead School Mural Painting</li>
<li>4 Years</li>
<li>Short Story Published in Magazine</li>
<li>Journalist Intern at the Expressionist Magazine</li>
</ul></li>
<li><p>Volunteer and Service</p>
<ul>
<li>Over 400 hours</li>
<li>Secretary of Key Club</li>
<li>Started Charity Dedicated to giving school supplies to homeless children</li>
<li>Lead recycling committee </li>
<li>Library Volunteer Tutor</li>
<li>Homeless Sheltor Volunteer</li>
<li>Art Museum Volunteer</li>
<li>Hospital Volunteer</li>
<li>Presidential Volunteer Award</li>
<li>Certified CPR</li>
</ul></li>
</ol>
<p>4.Debate
- Founder of Junior Statesman of America
- Best Speaker Award
- 4 Years</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Karate</p>
<ul>
<li>Champion Karate Gold Medalist</li>
<li>Black Belt</li>
<li>15 Years</li>
<li>Martial Arts Assistant Teacher</li>
<li>Best Student Award and Nomination</li>
</ul></li>
<li><p>Technology</p>
<ul>
<li>Secretary of Science Olympiad/Robotics</li>
<li>Science Olympiad/Robotics Regional Medallist</li>
<li>4 Years</li>
<li>Owner of Web Design and Mobile App design company that donates proceeds to providing technology for homeless children</li>
<li>Engineering Research Facility Internship</li>
</ul></li>
<li><p>Student Council</p>
<ul>
<li>Senior Representative</li>
<li>National Honors Society Member</li>
</ul></li>
</ol>
<p>Awards:</p>
<p>Distinguished Honors Award
*National Merit Commended
*AP Scholar with Distinction
*Presidential Volunteer Award
*Junior Statesman of America Best Speaker Award
*Science Olympiad/Robotics Regional Gold Medalist
*Short Story Published in Magazine</p>
<p>@Supaspeed yes</p>
<p>@Mashfeek do whatever you’re more genuinely interested in (if it’s neither, which it seems to be since you had to ask in the first place) find something else to do</p>
<p>Just a question about sports for Ivy Leagues: </p>
<p>If I am good enough(Like state finalist in a event), will it give me a jolt for my application?</p>
<p>CHANCE ME PLEASE IM DESPERATE</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1383626-chance-me-penn-georgetown-vandy-wash-u-uva-unc-michigan-uf.html#post14782511[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1383626-chance-me-penn-georgetown-vandy-wash-u-uva-unc-michigan-uf.html#post14782511</a></p>
<p>I’m a senior this year and will be graduating this upcoming spring. I’ll be applying to colleges in about a month. My top school is SDSU, it has everything I want in a college. I was wondering if you could tell me my chances of getting in without EC’s (extracurricular activities)?</p>
<p>I have a 3.95 GPA 10th-11th (I know California schools don’t count freshman or senior year in your GPA.)
I got a 1600 on the SATs. (Reading, Math, and Writing)
I have taken 3 years of honors English.
I was on honor roll all sophomore and junior year.
I am hispanic and plan on majoring in business or communications.
The only volunteer work I’ve done is help at a church festival the past 4 years.</p>
<p>I have changed high schools 4 times so I haven’t really had the chance to join any clubs and as for volunteer work I just don’t know where I could volunteer. What do you think my chances are without any EC’s?</p>
<p>Thank you for this post! CC was starting to stress me out with students that have an overwhelming pool of EC’s worried about whether or not they’ll get into certain universities. -__- I don’t understand why just a couple EC’s that the applicant is passionate about doesn’t suffice. </p>
<p>Once I joined this site I started thinking that I would have to find the cure to cancer in order to look like a competitive applicant. Sheesh</p>
<p>try to show more leadership</p>
<p>A good ec is one you enjoy and put time and effort into.</p>
<p>CC makes me despair sometimes…If I could do high school all over again, I’d definitely get more involved in EC’s sooner.</p>
<p>ECs usually only look really good if it shows some sort of leadership. Like president of a club etc.</p>
<p>All the messages on this thread offer great advice about what ECs to pursue. As a high school senior, I would just like to throw my two cents in on peer-elected leadership positions such as being the president of any club/student body/band, etc., and captainship. These are wonderful positions to hold, and if you use them to make meaningful contributions to your respective clubs, then that’s great. But seeing as they are student-elected, it has been my experience that those who hold these positions tend to be more popular, not more qualified. That’s not to say that great leaders don’t hold these positions, or that they’re not valid credentials–they are–but maybe they shouldn’t hold as much weight as, say, having the initiative to run your own fundraiser. There are many great leaders out there who are overlooked by their peers; this shouldn’t be a detriment to them as they apply to top colleges.</p>
<p>Good to hear,</p>