Too little, too late...

Applying to College
#1

I am currently a high school junior, and I’m typing this out as I stare at my blank NHS application.

Edit: Sorry, I should clarify: below applies to my college application, not NHS.

I only hold three leadership positions, I have no awards (besides band, which doesn’t count because it’s not individual), and I have only volunteered three times. The only upsides are that I am in 11 clubs, and I have 100 hours for volunteering at a local hospital. It’s pretty depressing.

So now to my main point: it is too little, but is it too late? It is my junior year after all, which I know is when the action really happens, but I honestly don’t know how I can go from this to a noteworthy application in just a year.

I’d really appreciate it if someone can give me a reality check, and just tell me straight up if it’s worthless even thinking I have a shot at semi-competitive colleges. Also, some quick questions:

-There are opportunities to achieve academic awards in school, but should I turn to the more difficult opportunities outside of school instead?

-Work at a tutor center, or intern/shadow somewhere more relative to my future major?

-Does being three years ahead in math actually mean something if the grades I made are low-medium A’s?

-I genuinely want to help the community by organizing mental-awareness events for my club, but should I concentrate on more application-appealing events instead?

-Which matters more: quantity or quality(hours per each) of volunteering?

Thank you so much for reading! I’d really appreciate it if you could attempt answering all of my questions, but I’d be grateful enough if you just answer one or two. I know this is a long post :frowning: sorry!

#2

How about this: put away the NHS application and never think about it again. It’s not worth it. Colleges don’t care.

#3

@T26E4 Oh, I was talking about my college application

#4

How is 11 clubs depressing? That sounds pretty good to me!

I’d say shadow for something relative to your future major. It shows commitment and interest imo

I would say that being 3 years ahead in math is an honorable thing. Most people are 1-2 years ahead, and A’s (even if low or medium) seem to be pretty admirable.

Organizing club events most certainly shows that you are taking leadership in your club, whether you hold a leadership position or not. Also, the more successful those events are, the better.

I think that quality is important in events. Again, it shows commitment and that you aren’t just doing things to put them on your application.

About the NHS thing, apparently (well, so I’ve been told) colleges kind of exempt it now. It’s such a common and widespread organization, and unless you hold a leadership position, I don’t really think it will make any difference. What I will recommend is taking the time that you would be putting into NHS, and direct it to something more prominent, quality-wise. Put the time into something that you enjoy a lot and are passionate about. Doing something unique will make you stand out.

Hope I could help! (Sorry that I can’t answer all of your questions!)

#5

@lnicole Thank you so much for your reply! That’s just the advice I needed, and please don’t apologize, hopefully I can receive a variety of opinions in this thread! :slight_smile:

#6

Agree with @T26E4

Fun anecdote: Due to a paperwork error at his school, my son didn’t get considered for NHS junior year. When senior year came around, and they just assumed he would join NHS, he told them “thanks, but no thanks”. It didn’t seem to affect his admission to Princeton. :wink:

I’d instead use the time to do something interesting, that you care about…

#7

Thanks all for replying, but I’d just like to say that this isn’t about NHS. My whole thought process started when I was working on my nhs application, but it shifted to college apps–nhs was just the background. Thanks!

#8

It’s no problem at all! Don’t underestimate yourself-- it seems like you’ve put a lot of time into EC’s and your education :slight_smile: Plus, you have a little bit of time to do things as well.

I’m a senior this year and just filling out applications. Once you start filling them out, you may find that you have to weed through your clubs and EC’s! It will be nice and easy for you since you set up many options for yourself early in the game. I had to think about some of my EC’s a little bit and believe me, you have actually done more than you think you have. Come app time, you might think, “wow, I don’t have enough.” But when you think about it a little bit outside of your application (I don’t recommend filling out the application all at once and sending it in, you may come up with new ideas), you’ll remember something that you forgot to put on there. It’s happened to me a few times so far.

#9

Try to develop some focus, concentration, leadership at something amongst the 11 that interests you. It shows a trajectory and development rather than random resume building. If you are in 11 clubs just to list them on a form, then it would be depression. But if you really enjoy some or all of them, take some ownership/leadership as an upperclassman.

I know it is irrelevant but: NHS is a joke nowadays. In our district it has relatively little to do with academics and something to do with faux leadership to such an extent that admission makes little sense. So don’t sweat it.

#10

Too little, too late for WHAT??? The vast majority of colleges don’t give much weight to ECs.

#11