What type of extracurriculars are colleges now looking for?

Applying to College
1

I am a junior in high school who recently saw that many top colleges have changed their admissions to focus more on outside of the classroom. Many say they do not like “brag sheets” but rather things which students are dedicated to. I have compiled a lot of extracurriculars but I would say I am pretty passionate and dedicated to most. Do my ECs look like a brag sheet or do you think they show my interests?

Student Hunger Drive Leader- Grade 11, about 50 hours outside of class
St Vincent DePaul Society Monthly Volunteer- 4 hours per month for 9 and 10
Tutor/Counselor for Underprivileged Kids at Summer Camp- 9 and 10 about 50 hours total
German Club- Member 9 + 10, Council Leader 11
Gay-Straight Alliance- Chair 10 + 11 (also co-authored petition with 6k sigs relating to the club)
Korea Club- Member 10, Secretary 11 (will be VP next year)
Democrat Club- President 11 School tutor- 11 4 hours a week
Leader of school wide inclusive sex ed reform campaign- 11 about 40 hours outside of class
Developed a program for incoming residents at new youth homeless shelter- 11 about 40 hours outside of class
Lead organizer for student cultural festival- 11 (this is upcoming but most likely around 20-30 hours)
Volunteer for presidential campaign- 11 (so far about 10 hours I plan to put in up to 100 hours)

This summer I will be interning for the mayor. Do you think my ECs represent my commitment to politics and social justice? Also, my desire to help others especially with education? Or does this just look like a brag sheet :confused:

2

I think they look fine, but it does depend on which colleges you are focused on. The top half a dozen or so colleges really want *snap" to the ECs – they are looking for stuff beyond your local level or very unusual ECs. This is not a “change”, though – it has been this way for years. And trust me, if you don’t have the GPA or test scores or recommendations they want, this pretty much doesn’t matter unless you are hooked (URM, legacy, or athlete). This set of ECs is fine for 99.9% of the colleges in the country.

3

Read this: http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/applying_sideways

Your ECs look pretty good, but you do have to realize that schools look beyond your activities. Good luck!

4

I’m not an admissions counselor, but I would hope that a college would be impressed that it seems like you are volunteering and engaged within the community because you want to, not because you think you should or to fulfill a school requirement. This is evident by how early in high school you started doing this kind of work and how your commitment to social justice runs through your school and community activities. You will be an asset to whatever school you attend, but the admissions process is a crapshoot so don’t take it personally!

5

Thank You! I am not looking at Ivy League Schools but still high ranked (20-50) universities and LACs.

6

Oh, I think you are just fine, unless you have some big mismatch with your proposed major.