WHAT EXTRACURRICULARS TO EMPHASIZE???

sumobats
Thu, 14 Aug 2014 04:14:23 +0000

Published in Teen Ink, although impressive, is not that big of a deal in college admissions. The process is arbitrary because a lot of it involves voting for other submissions. I know people who would post the link to their stories on twitter (with 500+ followers) and their stories would instantly get dozens of positive votes. Therefore a lot of Teen Ink isn’t focused on the merit of the writer. Also what kind of published were you? Were you published on the online magazine or the actual print magazine?

I don’t think limiting what you put on your app is a good idea. Put whatever you do that you feel passionate about; don’t neglect to put something because you don’t want too many activities.

And if I don’t say it, others will: put your ECs in order of whatever you feel most passionate about. Admissions won’t think badly of you because your writing ECs are #4, 5 and 6 vs. #1, 2, and 3. It’s okay to feel that your most important EC was dance, although you want to pursue a career in writing. Your college is app is very different than a job application. Admissions wants to get to know YOU, not an edited version of yourself that you think will look more impressive.