Click here to go to the NEW College Discussion Forum

I've been reading that a lot of EC's that my D is putting on her app's is worthless. Are there any lists here in CC that tell us what not to include.

This is what she has listed so far:

1. Varsity letter every year in swimming
2. Varsity letter in Volleyball
3. Captain Varsity swim team
4. Treasurer for 2 years of National Spanish Honor Society.
4. Volunteers weekly at the local children's hospital
5. Works ten hours a week for caterer.
6. National Merit Semifinalist
*7. Black belt in Taekwondo (first earned at age ten)
8. Senior acolyte for four years (acolyte X ten yrs total)
9. Texas All-State Swim Team honorable mention

UHH let's see, I guess that's it because I see that adding the following appears to be worthless according to other threads I've read on CC:

1. National Honor Society
2. National Honor Roll
3. Who's who
4. All american scholar
5. National merit science award. (and it sounded so good)

So, any suggestions on whether all the ones she has listed above in the first list are worthwhile? Or should she edit out a few of the top list. Should she add any from the bottom ("worthless"list)? Thank you very much.

By Northstarmom (Northstarmom) on Monday, October 04, 2004 - 05:22 pm: Edit

NHS is not worthless. Depending on the level of school that she's applying to, being a member could be a tip factor. There's even some second or third tier college that gives automatic scholarships to NHS members.

If your daughter is very active in NHS, such as being an officer, chairing a committee having to do with fund raising or community service, that could be a very impressive EC -- if she explains what she has and is doing.

Space usually is limited on applications so it's better to expand on 2 or 3 important activities than to simply list a string of them. For instance, if she's handling adult responsibilities in her catering job such as being solely responsible for setting up or cooking some meals, that would be an impressive thing to mention. Similarly, it would be a good idea to say what exactly she does as a hospital volunteer.

Her essays could be another place to expand on what she does in her ECs.

By Mjcps (Mjcps) on Monday, October 04, 2004 - 08:22 pm: Edit

Thank you Northstarmom,

I'll tell her to keep the NHS distinction on the list. She isn't an officer but she does have to do a lot of community service, including tutoring algebra and other subjects after school in the library and helping the ESL kids with their english.

She's a decent writer (in my humble opinion) so maybe she can elaborate a little and explain some of her duties.

I appreciate the input. We're trying to think of anything else we may have forgotten that would look good. It seems like there's a lot of space to fill up on the app's.

By Mjcps (Mjcps) on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 09:08 pm: Edit

I'd like to add on one more question to the above regarding EC's. To anyone who might have some insight:

The registrar of D's high school asked her if she'd like to work in the registrar's office during her free period. It would be a local credit and would not count toward her GPA. (She has a free period because she took 5 high school credits in junior high).

Do you think this would be helpful in making her EC's more competitive or would it sort of just be a waste of time?? She already has a job and does volunteer work. It's her last period of the day and she'll do it if it will help but she'd rather come home. Thanks in advance for any advice.

By Sophster (Sophster) on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 09:12 pm: Edit

Micos, any sort of work is always welcomed by the admission ppl and it does make her app look colorful. however, if your daughter has other stuff to pursue, don't sacrifice this valuable hour. Admission ppl likes to see quality not quantity.

By Mjcps (Mjcps) on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 10:01 pm: Edit

Thanks for the reply Sophster. She already gets up at 5:30 a.m. to go to swim practice at 6am. So maybe she could just use the time after school to rest (and write her essays) instead of taking more on. I just hope the free period doesn't look too bad on the transcript.

By Wolfpiper (Wolfpiper) on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 10:15 pm: Edit

I seriously wonder about any kwan that lets kids earn a black belt at age 10. It puts up some red flags as to the quality of the school for me. How long/how often did your daughter trai for her black belt?

By Mjcps (Mjcps) on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 10:41 pm: Edit

Okay so this is a little off topic but...

She started at age 6. The owner/main instructor was the bodyguard to the South Korean President in an earlier life. He was also my D's best friend's father (the friend is half Swedish and half Korean, but that's another story) And during that time D went three times a week faithfully (excluding holidays, vacations, etc.) So it took about 5 years if you consider she was just short of her 11th birthday when she got her black belt. Do I sound defensive??? sorry.

We have pictures of her flying though the air, breaking boards with her feet and other pictures where she's using her hands to do the same. Learning all those moves and to speak some Korean was tough! Don't mess with my D. lol

Anyway, I was actually wondering if she should include that in her list since she's not actively pursuing Tae kwon do anymore.

By Coureur (Coureur) on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 11:33 pm: Edit

I would include the black belt - it's a significant achievement, but I wouldn't mention that it was earned at age ten. It makes it seem like a kiddie black belt instead of a real one.

By Reidmc (Reidmc) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 12:49 am: Edit

not sure what the acolyte does for her, though might mean more at one school than another.

I always suggest putting the list in an order that has the most significant achievements first, along with the activities that represent the most committment. So in your Ds case, I would cluster all three swimming entries at the top, follow with the volleyball and the job, and then the rest in order of her intrest and time invested. I would leave the black belt in, and follow Coreur's suggestion. NHS if there is room for it, at the end of the list.

By Bluealien01 (Bluealien01) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 08:14 am: Edit

I thought National Honor Roll was a scam?

By Mjcps (Mjcps) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 08:25 am: Edit

Most people here in CC seem to advise that National Honor Roll is basically worthless as an award so D's leaving it off the apps. But, what Northstarmom said was to include National Honor Society, which in our school is an honor and also involves extra commitment.

So at this point she's dropping the "first earned at age ten" modifier from the black belt entry.

She's gonna keep the acolyte on there because it shows a vary long term commitment and it was a meaningful activity for her.

If there's room she can add the house she helped to build for Habitat for Humanity.

We'd really like to let all of you know that this input is greatly appreciated. I know I do all the talking for my D but I update her with what I learn and she's pretty busy this year (as most seniors are)so I think she's glad she's able to have me distill what I learn from this site into small quick "soundbites".

By Garland (Garland) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 09:44 am: Edit

I agree that acolyte can represent a look-term commitment, with increasing responsibility. My S did not include it, as it ended in middle school.
But he listed "church volunteering" and grouped in that category usher, liturgist, VBS aide, musician, and other volunteer work he did.

By Mjcps (Mjcps) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 10:32 am: Edit

Very good point Garland. She does do a lot of other things for the church. Maybe she should list all church related activity and include the fact that she has been faithfully serving (no pun intended) for ten years.

By Mjcps (Mjcps) on Thursday, October 07, 2004 - 05:24 pm: Edit

FYI regarding EC's

This was sent to me by the people at UT Austin regarding EC's for the Plan II (honors) program:

All applicants are evaluated on the basis of all submitted test scores (SAT, ACT, IB, SAT II, and AP), class rank, the courses he/she has taken with emphasis on senior year choices, writing abilities, extra-curricular activities (with emphasis on the level of commitment, breadth as well as depth of interest and leadership positions held by the applicant), awards/honors, service to the community, work experience and evidence of leadership in all areas (school, church, non-academic, sports, band, work, etc.).

So they include church EC's as significant. YAY.