Good ecs?Answered
Hello. I'm a freshman going through a 1/6 life crisis right now. I don't have any specific extracurricular that people can associate me with. I wish I was a dancer, rhythmic gymnast, or reincarnation of Picasso or Mozart. Alas, I am not. Didn't receive those opportunities, but yet here we are. So, are these ecs good enough for a top 20 school? Please give advice on how to expand on these ecs.
Also: I really don’t expect to accomplish everything on this list. Maybe like 2-3 goals. I just set general goals in case an extracurricular doesn’t work out and I have to pivot. If I was a machine and had cloning abilities, then sure, but realistically, nope.
Research: Currently: reaching out to bio & computer science professors at a college near me. Goal: Producing an independent research project using a novel AI model to monitor a specific disease or cancer. My dream is getting invited to ISEF.
AI App: Not really sure what I want to build yet. I'm thinking of building a medtech application with machine learning in tandem with a research project. Or a writing service with machine learning or some time of social art application. (Will work on my junior year.)
Robotics Team: Currently: on a 36th FIRST ranked team in the world. I haven't really done much I am going to study the programming controls over the summer. Goal: On the programming and build team. Helping program around 80-90% of the machine work.
Student Council: Currently: delegate. Goal: class on the executive board junior and senior year.
Magazine & Podcast: Goal: interviewing influential people in the cleantech, medtech, Web3, and social media sphere. 10,000 monthly listeners on the podcast and over 5,000 followers on social media pages.
Compute the Future: a nonprofit I co-founded with my friend about teaching kids in our area in computer science and technology. Currently: working on securing funding. Goal: getting funding, teaching kids cs and tech at a local library and getting them into hackathons.
Umunna Houston: A social club for the Nigerian/African students in Houston. Currently: Director of Education, planning social media work with other exec members and social events.
Speech: Goal: being on the speech team and doing my best.
National Honor Society & SNHS: Goal: leadership opportunities.
SciTeens: volunteering organization a museum of natural science near me. Goal: ace my interview, get accepted into the program, and get enough volunteering hours for the PSV gold award.
Voices of Black Youth: A version of the Black Student Union at my school. Currently: freshman rep and sophomore rep (elected)
Cross Country or Tennis: Goal: running or tennis team next year
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3 answers
This is exactly the kind of thing T20 schools are looking for: really impressive stuff. You've got a "spike" all planned out. But to be honest? If you can get two or three of these things to your "goal" levels, like the research and starting a non-profit and speech (just random examples), that is insanely impressive. My words of warning? While it's amazing to be goal oriented and having the vision is a huge part in doing things, don't try to do too much. I've been there. You want to give your all in everything you do and reach that level of excellence in everything, and sometimes things are going to fall though your fingers and you're going to be exhausted and wish that you had spent more time with your friends instead at 400 extracurriculars. My point? Be flexible. Keep your goals! Reach them! But don't get so goal obsessed that you aren't having fun and are trying to do too much. Realize that not very much in your life is going to turn out the way you expect it to. Sometimes it's way better than you imagined, and sometimes is the opposite. You as a person are going to change so much in the next four years. Don't get so wrapped up in the goals you set now that you can't change. Your "spikes" will come as you get to know yourself, especially as you are setting yourself up so well right now.
This is an AMAZING start. I wish I had been this determined when I was a freshman. Good luck in everything you do, and don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something that you can, but don't get in your own way. Go crush high school!
I think your extracurriculars look great, but something I would suggest is pursuing ecs that you truly enjoy and are a part of your story and theme. Your theme can be deeper than just something like relationships or community service, and it can be more specific like bridging divides across different communities. Though you've probably heard that having nationally renowned awards or activities are necessary for you to get into your dream school, not that many students will actually be like that and you should continue to hone in on your passion projects!
These ideas of extracurriculars are incredible, nice job! I would definitely also suggest doing some community service - helping out the community in a creative way would also be a nice addition. I liked the Compute the Future nonprofit idea especially as well as utilizing your research to develop an AI app.
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Thank you so much!! I forgot to preface but I really don’t expect to accomplish all of my goals in each extracurricular. It’s sort of a contingency plan in case something doesn’t work out and I have to pivot. I definitely want to enjoy my high school years and spend time with my friends!