Too Many Hooks?

Applying to College
1

<p>Hello there,</p>

<p>I’m currently a sophomore high school student who as of recently was seized by college angst (I know this isn’t good, but I can’t help it). I’m looking at the competitive colleges, like the Ivies and BC and such and I was wondering if one could have too many EC’s on their transcript and should that be so, would it hurt later in the admissions process?
This year I’m taking part in the Mock Trial, Model UN and Newspaper clubs (freelancer, sole cartoonist), as well as soccer and track (the former as a JV player, the later as a Varsity runner). Furthermore, I’ve got a couple lesser-known writing awards under my belt. It’s said that colleges love both well-rounded students and “spiky” students with killer hooks, and that one must cultivate one passion. So I was wondering if I might be pursuing too many EC’s and if it would appear to colleges that I was simply giving my transcript an injection, and if I should attempt to focus on one in particular. I plan to stick with these clubs for the remainder of high school.
On a side note, some artists send portfolios of their work, yes? Would a portfolio of cartoons be seriously considered? Would multiple hooks be a good thing?
Please, I realize I am only a sophomore and that there is no definitive strategy to admissions, but the choices I make now will impact the future. I also realize that the academic record is the most important factor, but that’s relatively straightforward. Thanks in advance!</p>

2

<p>Clarification: Hooks aren’t something you can control. Hooks are: URM, recruited athlete, 1st generation college, legacy, etc. </p>

<p>Just do what you love.</p>

3

<p>Ah thanks. Clearly I’m the firstborn in the family ha ha.</p>

4

<p>Like ABC said, those aren’t hooks-- if you’re a 1st generation URM recruited athlete, it’s great. As for whether you can have too many ECs, yes. The term “laundry list” gets thrown around on here a lot, basically referring to a large list of very varied ECs that the student doesn’t appear to actually have a passion for, using it only to pad out their application. </p>

<p>If you join a bunch of clubs you don’t enjoy, your application won’t benefit and you’ll only be bored and exhausted. Do what you truly enjoy and they’ll be able to appreciate it!</p>

5

<p>As a previous poster said, none of what you mentioned is a hook. Those are extracurriculars (or, in CC-speak, ECs). </p>

<p>Personally, I think it’s very difficult to become accomplished in multiple activities; more often than not, a student with five unrelated clubs on their application has little more than membership and a few leadership positions. Colleges don’t go down your application and add a bonus point for every club you’re in–they are looking for leaders, scientists, novelists, the next great ____. </p>

<p>So, to answer your question, I think you have too many ECs to become particularly good at any of them.</p>