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I find myself lacking seriously in the EC department. I'd really like to get into an Ivy or other selective school. I'm currently a junior, and prepping seriously on my 2nd SAT I attempt, maybe an ACT attempt, and several SATII, and one or two self-study APs. So hopefully, I wont be lacking in the test dept., as well my grades aren't bad or anything either, so I'm good there.

Then there are the ECs. I pretty much dropped out of all sports upon entering high school, as I was never really good, and didn't see a future, and really didn't find it interesting anymore. I didn't do much in the way of school activities in Freshman/Sophomore year except for French Club and Choir (only soph. year). I am a very introverted person, and started learning German on my own, started piano lessons, and tried to become an electronic musician, by learning the ins-and-outs of equipment, etc. It was also very hard to do anything outside of my house because I cannot drive yet, and there was no way for me to get anywhere.

However -- This year, I'll be driving and I'm trying to become a bit more extroverted. I ran for Class Treasurer, but lost by a very small margin. I will still be in the French Club next year, and I'm going to try to get a position in the club. I'm doing the regular choir this year again, and I made the "elite choir" which is basically a "real" choir that will travel, does more than the regular choir, and is much, much smaller than the regular choir. Finally, I'll be on the Academic Challenge (Quiz Bowl like, except we dont have it. Trivia Jeopardy! kind of thing...) team, as I was in middle school, as was very good at it. Unluckily, they meet in the mornings before school, and I couldnt get there because of lack of car or anyone nearby on the team. I'll continue my self-German studies, piano lessons, and electronic music. I'm also looking into learning C++.

Still, I don't know if I can count these things I do at home as ECs, and they still look very mediocre.

I thought about starting an investing club at my school, since I'm starting to get into the stock market, but with the student body at my school, hardly anyone will join, and I'm not even sure the school will allow the club.

Any suggestions how to beef up the EC department given what I've told you?

Thanks in advance.

By Serene (Serene) on Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 04:40 pm: Edit

uhhh... community services??? That is so important because everyone else would have some, so you'd look 'worse' if that field is blank.

And yeah, do list your hobbies as ECs.

see the other post

http://www.collegeconfidential.com/discus/messages/99/14504.html

By Number9 (Number9) on Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 06:33 pm: Edit

I'm looking around at volunteer positions around. If I find a decent volunteering gig, do you think I'd be good?

By Number9 (Number9) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 10:21 pm: Edit

bump.

By Smiley (Smiley) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 11:22 pm: Edit

>>It was also very hard to do anything outside of my house because I cannot drive yet, and there was no way for me to get anywhere.<<

I sooo know how you feel... I've been in exactly the same situation!!!

By Number9 (Number9) on Saturday, June 28, 2003 - 01:33 am: Edit

Its really bad. There seems no one at my school has any ambition, and only does sports. So its not like I could get a ride with someone...

By Number9 (Number9) on Saturday, June 28, 2003 - 07:26 pm: Edit

bump.

By Distudent108 (Distudent108) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 12:27 am: Edit

i dont understand how its possible for someone to take on so many ECs. If its a major EC i would believe A lot of time is needed towards that EC. Because of debate i cant even join any other major EC. Plus most meetings for most ECs are on the same day same time and Just isnt possible to be in so many and actually be active in all of them. I only have 3..One major one

By Gianscolere (Gianscolere) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 02:09 am: Edit

Just do your best in the French Club and if you cannot find the resources to further in your ECs, strengthen your academics even more even if it's already strong. Join contests like National History Day (www.nationalhistoryday.org)if you're into history and Intel and Westinghouse competitions if you're into math/science. Also, if you're into history, try submitting a research paper to The Concord Review (www.tcr.org). Do a search online on academic contests you can join...many of them are essay contests.

By Number9 (Number9) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 12:55 pm: Edit

Yeah, I plan to enter in many contests and scholorships this year. Thanks for the links, there are hardly any clubs at the school.

Distudent - I'm with you on that. I see people who are volunteering, doing other ECs, and then in the Homework VS. Sleep topic they say they get a nice 6-8 hrs. sleep.

As for me, most of these things are not daily activites. My piano lessons are only a half-hour a week, French club will meet every week or two. Academic challenge maybe twice a week, and the elite choir once a week until Christmas and other major holidays.

That being said, I don't know how long people's ECs last.

Going back to Gianscolere...

I really enjoy writing and literature, are there any good ones for that? I've been searching FastWeb for contests, scholarships, but their search feature is very poor (I get a ton of results for senior only when I signed up saying I was a junior...)

By Distudent108 (Distudent108) on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 02:38 am: Edit

o my debate EC last pretty much all school year. It ends in may and even in the summer people usually go to debate camps. A lot of people BS. I mean jus join a EC that you believe will make you look good. I think captain of the debate team looks good. And i have lil ECs but debate is main. Just go or a EC that you can really stand out in. That matters. Not the quantity. It the quality. how devoted you are and how well you do. Try winning a lot of tournaments and etc. You get me? I know ppl are saying Im stupid for saying quantity doesnt matterbut seriously some people in this forum try to discourage you. It not worth it. They have even discouraged me but i realize that theres no reason to be and just ignore them. They have some good advice but most is just not helpful at all. But the truth is in every message theres a big lie mixed in with the truth