Unique Extracurriculars vs. National Recognition?

vinceh
Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:43:31 +0000

You make it sound like getting national recognition is somehow easy.

I think the answer is neither is better or worse. Stop in to the “What Are My Chances?” forum and you’ll see that the vast majority of students have a laundry list of essentially interchangeable ECs. The ones that are memorable are the ones that have won true national recognition, (e.g., Intel Science Award), or those that have shown a passion and commitment to an unusual activity that they love, (e.g., expert at playing the Oud, or regional square dancing champion who’s gone on to teach it to young children). I think it’s about commitment and accomplishment.

Of course, if you become an internationally recognized Oud player, then you have the best of both worlds. ;)