To quote my AP Chem teacher, “You have to be really round or really pointy.” Meaning: Try multiple activities in different fields (I do Drama, Math Club, a writing club, fundraising group for human rights causes, Debate Club, and Model Congress) or get super intensely involved in one type of thing (a guy in my AP Chem class does Math Club, and he does Robotics, which he spends the majority of his time on and went to the world championships in). Either one impresses colleges - the kid in my AP Chem class is starting at Harvard this fall.
I will likely be participating in a breast cancer research project at a large public university for 2-3 days a week for 8 weeks this summer. Is this a good EC if I’m interested in biological sciences?
@FernErny I feel you Ferny. This sites sometimes make sad because I see all these achievements and awards/ championships my counterparts have achieved and I haven’t even come close 
Makes me not even want to pursue my dream school anymore because it seems like I have NO chance.
It’s hard to tell if this is a serious reply or a satirical one. Sure, any of those things would be great, you don’t need to be that type of super achiever to get into a top school… All the top schools repeatedly state that they’re looking for students who are passionate about something. A “list” of ECs is far less impressive than a single EC that demonstrates true passion. And it doesn’t really matter what that activity is as long as it’s something the student truly loves and is dedicated to.
If you go to the website of any elite school, you’ll probably see the word “passion” or “passionate” in the section about admissions. I don’t see any reason to think they’re lying about this. I interview high school seniors on behalf of an Ivy League school. it’s the same thing the admissions office tells the interviewers to look for.
My EC’s include:
Starting up my own club with some friends at school, Floor Hockey Club; meant to get kids active.
Participating in FBLA and Model U.N state competitions
Making sandwiches for the homeless with my local Beta Club
Outside of School:
Volunteer at my nearby retirement/nursing home every week (over summer and school)
Volunteering at my church (over summer)
Working a part-time job over the summer, might be too busy to continue it through Senior Year
I know it doesn’t compare to the Perfect Soldier EC’s that the Harvard kids have, but there aren’t many opportunities where I’m at. School is very well off so they don’t have any money issues, that being said the school is very bureaucratic (took us the whole semester to get FHL approved) so I can’t start some sort of volunteer group of superheroes at my school. I’m also focused on living a life, so as interested as I am in Astrophysics, I don’t want to spend my whole ding dong diddly summer at Kennedy Space Station for a NASA program.
I know, as I have been told many times, my EC’s are weaker than a man on life support, but I can’t think of anything outside of going to my local Town Hall and running for office to make myself stand out.
How would you guys rate my EC’s?
Head of the student council
Was the event head for the school’s anniversary, basically did all the work including organizing and sorting out all the kids into teams, organized the stalls and arranged all the things needed)
Volunteered at my city’s TedX
Ran the school’s cafeteria for a week with my classmates, the proceedings went to charity
Organizer at my school’s yearly Olympic games (2 years)
Organizer at my school’s MUN
2 Paid Internships
100 Hours of community service
Currently filming a documentary on children of the slums for an NGO
Going to start our own fundraiser for children’s books and stuff with a few of my friends
Planning on attending Stanford’s summer program next summer
Will participate in MUNs and different competitions in the coming year
Also, if i may add I live in a developing country in South Asia so I didn’t really get many chances to participate in a lot of things.
Also, forgot to include that I was a part of the Art club for 2 years and the Music club for a year.
“Only as good as your scores” - no offense but this is kind of ignorant, maybe up to a point but ivy leagues are more about fit and essays than scores of you are decently well off
Also be sure to do a great job writing about your ECs in your essay 
From my research (I’m not an expert), the best EC’s are what you are truly passionate about and to go as far as you possibly can with that passion. If you like research, do summer research and win competitions to show you’re commitment and acheivment in that passion
This article is great. Thanks for creating it.
You have a laundry list of random EC’s, which isn’t necessarily bad, but just by reading it I get the sense that you’re trying to list out as many accomplishments as you can. Pick a subject you’re passionate about and eliminate everything else. And create a thread if you want more response.
@Northstarmom I am a student in Mississippi who doesn’t have a huge list of “fabulous” ECs. However, I have been involved in my school districts advanced choirs since the 5th grade, gotten into the state honor choir every year I’ve auditioned, and gotten into an elite girls auditioned choir. I’m section leader and a shoe in for chamber queen of my madrigal group.
I’ve also volunteered 650+ hours at a state hospital, and I want to go into medical/forensic anthropology in college. Do you think that these are good ECs?
Your ECs show commitment and passion. You are clearly not a dilettante who tries a bit of everything and is good at none. 650 hours of one thing shows dedication. Specifically it supports your interest in the medical field, so it all lines up. I would write a thoughtful and well edited essay that highlights where your passion lies and what you plan to study; then sit back and trust that it’ll get you Into a “good fit” school. All the best to you!
I know ECs don’t have any set ranking, but I have a question about a particular EC that I haven’t really seen on CC. I did an independent research project and it went all the way to Intel ISEF. How much weight does it carry to be an Intel ISEF finalist? Does it compare to a summer research program? Or is it considered a merit/award? (I believe around 1,700 are selected from all around the world each year).
Are my EC’s very weak? I am about to be a junior.
Drama - since freshman year. Involved in 2 musicals (dance/chorus), 1 straight play (supporting), 3 one-acts (1 supporting, 2 main).
Cross country - since freshman year. JV both years. I have worked very hard to get to where I am now and it could be an essay topic.
Golf - since sophomore year. I’m not very good but I made my varsity letter and I am working to get better.
Volunteering - since sophomore summer. I’ve gone on two mission trips, one to Haiti and one to Nicaragua. I’m really proud of the Nicaragua trip - we did construction work at an orphanage for kids with special needs, it was an amazing experience. I also helped with a golf clinic for underprivileged kids.
Future:
I will hopefully have more prominent roles in school plays as a junior and senior. I am going to be an officer next year (historian, basically managing social media and documenting club activities) for my school’s thespian chapter. I will probably run for chapter president as a senior.
When I started cross-country, I absolutely hated it. Now I love running; it is good for my mental health and just generally makes me feel good. I hope to run varsity the next two years. If I’m successful, I have a chance at becoming a team captain.
My golf team is small and I hope to be captain or co-captain my junior and/or senior year.
I am trying to start a Science Olympiad team at my school. If I am successful, I will probably be captain my junior and senior year.
I am going to be doing a LOT more volunteering since I know that is probably the weakest part of my resume. I will be volunteering with the Red Cross a few hours a week (as much as I can manage honestly), as well as with my church (Sunday school for kids who are converting to Catholicism, 4 hours/week + mentoring special needs kids for my youth group, 2 hours/week).
Any suggestions?
Should I join a service organization? My school’s Beta chapter only allows members to log hours from club-sponsored events… would I be better off keeping track of my hours independently?
Thank you!
Amendment: a few times a year, my school’s counselors meet with PTA leaders and a few (like 4) student representatives to discuss policies and the like. I’m one of those students. It’s not a big commitment but my counselor invited me specifically.
Well, as an ambitious junior in high school, I am not sure if my EC’s are good anymore (after looking at Northstarmom’s list).
Raised over $2000 for raising schools in India and water pumps in African villages (2 schools and 3 water pumps).
Play violin in the Contemporary Youth Orchestra - concertized with Tommy Shaw, Styx, etc.
- Was principal of the 2nd violins in High school symphony orchestra
Co-president of the Programming Competition Club at our school.
Gave 2 Carnatic vocal concerts (Indian music).
Practice Tabletennis at a club ~ 4 hrs/week + USATT rating of 1500.
Currently
Prepping for the NSF Brain Bee nationals (for next year)
Prepping for AMC + other math competitions - I finished the math curriculum at our school last year)
Patenting a device that 4 friends and I invented for increasing the accuracy of wildfire modeling programs greatly.
Cons
- don’t have many service hours ~ 20 hrs.
Thanks for the input
Don’t activities need to go in the activities section in the Common App? Where is the leadership section?