How to improve EC's before applying to college?Answered
I'm currently a junior with good academics. I have a 1520 SAT score, 3.99 UW GPA, and will have taken 9 APs and 5 honors classes by the time I graduate. However, I am worried about college admissions because my ECs are average at best. What I currently have on my list is:
- City Youth Government Council (1 yr)
- Baking Club (1 yr)
- Volunteer Club (3 yrs)
- Gardening Club (1 yr)
- Psychology Club (1 yr)
- Part-time job (1 yr)
- Capstone Certificate & Diploma (not an EC but something I can put on application?)
I have done nothing special and have held no leadership positions in any of these ECs. All I can imagine doing is applying for a leadership role in the volunteer club I am in since I am no longer in any of the other ECs listed except for my job. I applied for a noteworthy leadership role at school as well as a college prep program, but I may not be accepted into those. Any advice to improve my EC list over the summer?
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2 answers
Club leadership is a good starting point. So is the leadership role at school. I would try to figure out what you want your ECs to center around. What connects them? How can they show a couple key interests of yours. Pick a field or two and start googling for programs and internships for highschoolers in those fields. Ask Seniors with similar interests what they did for ECs. Find local companies and businesses in those fields and start emailing them now about any programs they have or that they know of. Once you get in the habit of searching for opportunities and making connections it'll become easier. You'll find a good handful to apply to. Most probably wont pan out but all you need is a couple good ones. I'd aim for at least an internship in the summer and some form of non school-affiliated activity in the fall next year. If you don't have a specific area you want to focus your extracurriculars you run the risk of looking like someone who's just doing clubs and stuff to impress colleges. Find your interest and just explore your community and the internet for opportunities and some will turn up. You just gotta keep looking, keep trying different things.
Hey Erica! No need to worry! First off, try organizing your extracurriculars based on a pattern, as colleges are looking for a well-rounded class, not well-rounded students. Try to find a "spike"-something that you're passionate about or something that relates to the major you want. For example, I would like to major in environmental studies, so I joined clubs like HOSA (although I'm only a member), did science fair, joined science national honors society and am planning on running for a position senior year, etc.
You know the club you're still in? Not only should you try to find a leadership position, but try to make important and noteworthy changes to it!
In addition to this, start a passion project! Something you organized, like an event, or something you created, like a business.
Nevertheless, keep in mind that you do in fact have a part-time job, unlike me, so your schedule might be less flexible.
Hope this helps a little and best of luck from a fellow junior!
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