ECs - the most unusual or memorable ones

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've been harping on my sophomore for 1.5 yrs to join something at school. Keep telling her on paper she looks like not that interesting. Then I was so ashamed that I told him kid she wasn't interesting! She is in almost year-round club sport and piano lessons and other than that, she seems to only care about her hair and makeup - no cap as the kids would say.

But, she works hard at her grades and I've decided to leave her alone. We will just try to ensure her essays convey a sense of her quiet confidence and creative interests. I've actually really come around to deciding that -screw the resume-building - I think it is cool she is happy opting-out. And now we have peace in the home. I've told her some doors may close but if she doesn't have the drive rn to jump through hoops for other ppl, a non top-tier school will be just fine.

She is smart and creative and has nice friends... She will get a part time job this summer and at least get some real life skills and have her own Starbucks money. As for the college stuff, we are just going to roll with it and see how it all pans out. I'm sure it will be fine.

My HS Junior doesnt do anything other than being in the school Athletics team and gets mentioned here and there, and was in the states level Science Olympiad ,( didn't win anything.)

I too hope it will be fine, he never did anything else.

[Anonymous]

After years of being a rec bball coach for for my kids, when my kids had aged out the program director called me and begged for me to be a “nonparent volunteer” because she had a team that had no parents interested. So I said yes and told my DD she had to be the coach and I was the assistant. But she organized it all, the practices, the plays, who starts, the subs, she was the actual coach in the games (only one can be standing).

We ended up being assigned a group of kids who lived in Section 8 (because it’s by neighborhood) of the U8 age group. These kids were super young. Many were being raised by grandparents and most had no other kid activities they did. They were a very cute and lively bunch. It was pure luck we got these kids, and if we hadn’t taken them on there would have been no coach.

The first year we won half our games but by the second year we won our age group in the rec playoffs/championships. The entire thing was an incredible experience. She ended up loving doing it. The little girls really took to her. I reminded my daughter that she was building an actual community in this team and that for many of them it was the highlight of their day to come see her and do practice.

I mean it’s not starting your own nonprofit but it is real volunteering, rolling up your sleeves and getting involved. Whenever she sees one of “her girls” out at the store or somewhere else the smile on their faces says it all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After years of being a rec bball coach for for my kids, when my kids had aged out the program director called me and begged for me to be a “nonparent volunteer” because she had a team that had no parents interested. So I said yes and told my DD she had to be the coach and I was the assistant. But she organized it all, the practices, the plays, who starts, the subs, she was the actual coach in the games (only one can be standing).

We ended up being assigned a group of kids who lived in Section 8 (because it’s by neighborhood) of the U8 age group. These kids were super young. Many were being raised by grandparents and most had no other kid activities they did. They were a very cute and lively bunch. It was pure luck we got these kids, and if we hadn’t taken them on there would have been no coach.

The first year we won half our games but by the second year we won our age group in the rec playoffs/championships. The entire thing was an incredible experience. She ended up loving doing it. The little girls really took to her. I reminded my daughter that she was building an actual community in this team and that for many of them it was the highlight of their day to come see her and do practice.

I mean it’s not starting your own nonprofit but it is real volunteering, rolling up your sleeves and getting involved. Whenever she sees one of “her girls” out at the store or somewhere else the smile on their faces says it all.

This is great - love it, good for your dd!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After years of being a rec bball coach for for my kids, when my kids had aged out the program director called me and begged for me to be a “nonparent volunteer” because she had a team that had no parents interested. So I said yes and told my DD she had to be the coach and I was the assistant. But she organized it all, the practices, the plays, who starts, the subs, she was the actual coach in the games (only one can be standing).

We ended up being assigned a group of kids who lived in Section 8 (because it’s by neighborhood) of the U8 age group. These kids were super young. Many were being raised by grandparents and most had no other kid activities they did. They were a very cute and lively bunch. It was pure luck we got these kids, and if we hadn’t taken them on there would have been no coach.

The first year we won half our games but by the second year we won our age group in the rec playoffs/championships. The entire thing was an incredible experience. She ended up loving doing it. The little girls really took to her. I reminded my daughter that she was building an actual community in this team and that for many of them it was the highlight of their day to come see her and do practice.

I mean it’s not starting your own nonprofit but it is real volunteering, rolling up your sleeves and getting involved. Whenever she sees one of “her girls” out at the store or somewhere else the smile on their faces says it all.

If I were in admissions I would accept your child over all of the kids with the manufactured interests and/or the laundry lists of club presidencies, etc. Because this is clearly sincere and real. The key is her bringing her sincerity across in her essay. Because unfortunately there are many people who do similar things to your daughter who are not emotionally invested but are just doing it for college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After years of being a rec bball coach for for my kids, when my kids had aged out the program director called me and begged for me to be a “nonparent volunteer” because she had a team that had no parents interested. So I said yes and told my DD she had to be the coach and I was the assistant. But she organized it all, the practices, the plays, who starts, the subs, she was the actual coach in the games (only one can be standing).

We ended up being assigned a group of kids who lived in Section 8 (because it’s by neighborhood) of the U8 age group. These kids were super young. Many were being raised by grandparents and most had no other kid activities they did. They were a very cute and lively bunch. It was pure luck we got these kids, and if we hadn’t taken them on there would have been no coach.

The first year we won half our games but by the second year we won our age group in the rec playoffs/championships. The entire thing was an incredible experience. She ended up loving doing it. The little girls really took to her. I reminded my daughter that she was building an actual community in this team and that for many of them it was the highlight of their day to come see her and do practice.

I mean it’s not starting your own nonprofit but it is real volunteering, rolling up your sleeves and getting involved. Whenever she sees one of “her girls” out at the store or somewhere else the smile on their faces says it all.

If I were in admissions I would accept your child over all of the kids with the manufactured interests and/or the laundry lists of club presidencies, etc. Because this is clearly sincere and real. The key is her bringing her sincerity across in her essay. Because unfortunately there are many people who do similar things to your daughter who are not emotionally invested but are just doing it for college.

Agree. 💯
My DD does something similar for an established after school org. It’s been so emotionally fulfilling for her. She will drop all plans so she doesn’t disappoint one of “her girls”. She’s worried about leaving them for college.
No passion project. No founded a non-profit.
And btw this year, my kid got into 3 T20 and WL at a 4th.

[Anonymous]

^^^ passion projects and non-profits (and sometimes research if it seems affiliated with parents' professions or connections) are now "red flags".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is an Internationally competitive jump roper.

Double dutch or regular?

Both

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Different stage in life but I briefly worked in admissions for a business school. If I read one more essay about someone running a marathon - it is a very impressive feat but it became really cliché...

Those are the people who wrote about overcoming a high school sports injury to get into college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've been harping on my sophomore for 1.5 yrs to join something at school. Keep telling her on paper she looks like not that interesting. Then I was so ashamed that I told him kid she wasn't interesting! She is in almost year-round club sport and piano lessons and other than that, she seems to only care about her hair and makeup - no cap as the kids would say.

But, she works hard at her grades and I've decided to leave her alone.

My kid was exactly like that, lots of activities, all routine, nothing spectacular or different. Also worked very hard and had excellent grades. Wrote genuine essays and supps from the heart (multiple drafts to get it right, a natural progression) and got into WASP ED. My take is that excluding some schools like HYPSM that seek competitive/driven kids who beat other kids, for the most part, other schools are perfectly happy with smart unhooked collaborative kids.

[Anonymous]

I know someone whose three girls all have done competitive Irish step dancing for 12 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After years of being a rec bball coach for for my kids, when my kids had aged out the program director called me and begged for me to be a “nonparent volunteer” because she had a team that had no parents interested. So I said yes and told my DD she had to be the coach and I was the assistant. But she organized it all, the practices, the plays, who starts, the subs, she was the actual coach in the games (only one can be standing).

We ended up being assigned a group of kids who lived in Section 8 (because it’s by neighborhood) of the U8 age group. These kids were super young. Many were being raised by grandparents and most had no other kid activities they did. They were a very cute and lively bunch. It was pure luck we got these kids, and if we hadn’t taken them on there would have been no coach.

The first year we won half our games but by the second year we won our age group in the rec playoffs/championships. The entire thing was an incredible experience. She ended up loving doing it. The little girls really took to her. I reminded my daughter that she was building an actual community in this team and that for many of them it was the highlight of their day to come see her and do practice.

I mean it’s not starting your own nonprofit but it is real volunteering, rolling up your sleeves and getting involved. Whenever she sees one of “her girls” out at the store or somewhere else the smile on their faces says it all.

If I were in admissions I would accept your child over all of the kids with the manufactured interests and/or the laundry lists of club presidencies, etc. Because this is clearly sincere and real. The key is her bringing her sincerity across in her essay. Because unfortunately there are many people who do similar things to your daughter who are not emotionally invested but are just doing it for college.

The result was great for the little kids and this poster’s kids…but it was still parent directed and a result of nepotism.

1. When program director called parent for a nonparent volunteer, it means that kid got the job solely bc of nepotism.

2. Kid did not have an independent burning passion or desire to do this work - parent said yes to the program director “and told DD she had to be the coach.” Meaning parent directed child’s work/focus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I started a running list of memorable ECs (from this site's old posts and what I hear from our school community or see on reddit). See below. Please add on!

STEM RELATED
Working as a car mechanic;
Restoring pinball machines or vintage arcade games;
Getting licensed as a HAM radio operator;
Clock repair/watchmaking;
Working with a glassblower or in a scientific glassware repair shop;
Telescope making - esp if interested in astronomy; and
Working on model trains (modernization and automation).

CS RELATED
business founder for computer repair
"Hobby Engineering" (independent projects)

HUMANITIES RELATED
Letterpress printing and bookbinding
Cartography and mapmaking
Puppetry and marionette making

OUTDOOR HOBBIES
fishing, rock climbing, archery

OTHER HOBBIES:
origami, coin collecting, birdwatching, crocheting, blacksmithing, woodworking, master reseller on FB marketplace

PT JOBS:
car mechanic
oil repair/oil change mechanic
seamstress
butchering
makeup artist
obituary writer for local small-town paper

Butchering what????
Omg.

[Anonymous]

I don’t get the push for “unique” ECs. These will all be dropped by second semester senior hr in high school and never picked up again. They don’t make anyone interesting.

Plus where is the time? Between a bunch of AP classes and there isn’t much time to pursue more than one activity. I have a freshman doing a varsity sport and it is so time consuming. He’s at practice after school until 5pm, if there’s a game too he’s there until 7pm. And there’s 3 games per week! Then the Saturday multi school games last the entire day. He barely has time to keep up with practicing his instrument.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I started a running list of memorable ECs (from this site's old posts and what I hear from our school community or see on reddit). See below. Please add on!

STEM RELATED
Working as a car mechanic;
Restoring pinball machines or vintage arcade games;
Getting licensed as a HAM radio operator;
Clock repair/watchmaking;
Working with a glassblower or in a scientific glassware repair shop;
Telescope making - esp if interested in astronomy; and
Working on model trains (modernization and automation).

CS RELATED
business founder for computer repair
"Hobby Engineering" (independent projects)

HUMANITIES RELATED
Letterpress printing and bookbinding
Cartography and mapmaking
Puppetry and marionette making

OUTDOOR HOBBIES
fishing, rock climbing, archery

OTHER HOBBIES:
origami, coin collecting, birdwatching, crocheting, blacksmithing, woodworking, master reseller on FB marketplace

PT JOBS:
car mechanic
oil repair/oil change mechanic
seamstress
butchering
makeup artist
obituary writer for local small-town paper

Butchering what????
Omg.

I occasionally see what look like high school or college kids at the Springfield Butcher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get the push for “unique” ECs. These will all be dropped by second semester senior hr in high school and never picked up again. They don’t make anyone interesting.

Plus where is the time? Between a bunch of AP classes and there isn’t much time to pursue more than one activity. I have a freshman doing a varsity sport and it is so time consuming. He’s at practice after school until 5pm, if there’s a game too he’s there until 7pm. And there’s 3 games per week! Then the Saturday multi school games last the entire day. He barely has time to keep up with practicing his instrument.

For T20 schools, the varsity sport is barely worth a mention…..