<p>My S’s EC’s also played a major role in getting him accepted at his #1. He has been training for many years in the martial arts and has competed internationally, including in China. He did spend a summer in China studying martial arts and Mandarin. I believe the admissions folks saw the connection between his summer experience with his overall commitment to excellence in this area. That I believe is the key to evaluating these experiences; is it part of a pattern, or does it seem contrived? If it is the former it is a plus, if it is the latter it may not be.</p>
<p>H read that WSJ article and we have decided if that is what it takes for D to get into one of the top rated colleges or universities, than she will be going to one of our state universities. Summers, as a teenager should be FUN and if she is happiest attending ballet programs and working at my friends second-hand-clothes shop so be it. </p>
<p>I dont understand why the students have to go to Bolivia or Tibet? If you want to plant gardens and paint houses for the poor theres NYC, Chicago, Miami, LA, Detroit, Dallas, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Newark .</p>
<p>well, Tutu, some of these experiences are surely “code” for: “you may be need blind, but I ain’t needy.”</p>
<p>That is a very interesting observation, I hadn’t thought of that.</p>