<p>reply it please.</p>
<p>I guess only an adcom could give an informed answer to this question.
Some adcoms have said, or so I remember, that they take into account the availability of ECs when they evaluate a student’s application.
I don’t know if ECs are less important, as important or even more important for international students than for americans. What I do know is that ECs are important, as in they can make a difference between you and the other students from your country/part of the world, whom you are most likely competing against.</p>
<p>I have written so many letters to US Universities, (I am an EU citizen) and I aint heard anythin’ back yet!Both my friends from California had fast replies from 3 universities in US and I am still waiting to hear from them. I wouldn’t mind but I applied first AND my grades are alot higher than theirs. I feel I am not priority and as though I am not important to get in touch with.Nevermind, where have you applied?</p>
<p>thank you bogororo and British chick.
I heard that a member of some club is equal to nothing.
Only important roles and awards are meaning. Are they true?</p>
<p>Well call me stubborn but I have no shiney awards and I certainly ain’t been given important roles in my time but I am not giving up that easily!!!I maybe English and live in rainy weather but I deserve a place just as much as anyone…and dont you give up either!</p>
<p>I don’t give up. thank you.</p>
<p>Hi!</p>
<p>I’m also an international student and just like you I was wondering about the value of ECs when I applied to colleges. From my experience I can tell you that it is supposed that the adcoms would understand that not every country offers the out-of-classroom activities in which u.s. students can participate. Therefore, they take into account the efforts of internationals to make the most out of their education. So, even though you cannot boast an outstanding achievement, you can still show how involved and dedicated you were to a particular activity.
One more thing that is extremely important in my opinion is the way you sort your ECs. My advice would be not to send an extra long list of ECs, some of which might be completely irrelevant. I know it’s tempting to send every activity that one considers important, but you’d better not do it. Instead, include only the ECs that can significantly increase your chances of admission and you can elaborate on them in other parts of the application (the short answer or the essay).</p>
<p>thank you vesselina for good advice.</p>
<p>No problem, LF61. I’m glad I helped :)</p>
<p>I sent a 2-pages brag sheets that concisely list my ECs and academic honors when I applied last year. Certainly, the info in the brag sheets was about anything in my context. The only specific reaction from it was from Bowdoin, the college well-known for its personal admission letters. A paragraph of it was:</p>
<p>“We were impressed with your excellent academic record at <school name=”“> and noted how you have sought challenge with a highly demanding program and received extensive academic honors, including the Junior Science Talent Project and Thailand Biology Olympiad. These achievements are particularly notable in light of your other activities, including science demonstrations at other schools, in athletics, school publications, Thai dancing, and as a school guide. Clearly, you are a promising science scholar who would contribute significantly to Bowdoin community. We know that you would enjoy the close interaction with professors and classmates Bowdoin students experience.”</school></p>
<p>A Georgetown interviewer told me “We ask these questions because we want to admit whole people, not walking brains”. So I’d advice that you show them anything that you are not walking brains. Also, try to make your essays sound liberal arts rather than too-hard-core-in-academics. At least your cultural background can be a good addition to the campus (so it’s good to have some cultural ECs. However, cultural issues should not be in essays unless you’re sure you can write about it perfectly).</p>