What are the most common/unremarkable ECs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is our example with our 2 white privileged kids, one at IVY, the other at a t25:

2 yrs ago - T25 kid: 1520 SAT 3.9 UW GPA. Violin, volunteering at non profit, sports, denied at all IVYs applied.

Last yr - IVY Kid: 1380 SAT, 3.7 UW GPA. Started business selling his product to 10 different countries and sold it for $40k beginning of Sr year. donated it all to a charity for kids prior to application, was in the local news. Pre-College summer program in Europe before Sr yr. Sport in HS. Accepted at 3 IVYs and 2 t20.

Well my Ivy kid, 2 yrs ago—the hardest year—got in unhooked at multiple T15/ivy RD and picked an ivy in the top 10 for best fit. They had top scores, all 5s and hardest AP, top of class, and a couple of the ECs this thread lists as boring plus a couple of higher selective/difficult to get EC. No founded nonprofits or pay to play activities or research. Guess what all their unhooked ivy friends are very similar. The hooked ones struggle big time if they pick any type of competitive coursework (multivariable, Econ, premed courses, physics/engineering).
Second kid just got in ED to nonivy T10 also had what this thread thinks are boring EC, but top scores and coursework.
To stand out and have good results at an ivy/T10 you have to be in the top half. Just not likely for those who get in with lesser stats due to some unusual background. Total BS that self corrects when they all get there and start competing

Well…..My bottom half stat kid is an Econ major….3 semesters in and he is still averaging a 95 on all his classes….a little higher than the avg “top half” stat kids in his class….

DP.. that's great, but are they at an Ivy or T15? That's the type of schools the ^PP is referring to.

As I mentioned above….he is the 1380 SAT kid accepted at 3 IVYs…..he is now in year 2 at one of those 3.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People need to get a grip on the EC landscape - how about let your kid be a kid and do things that make them happy rather than forcing or curating options that they may not even care about. And stop with the do something they are passionate about - I bet 75% of typical teenagers aren't passionate about anything so allow them some freedom to explore. Wouldn't it be great if our EC's could be hang out with friend, screw around at the mall, play a few sports for fun.

I think the assumption that people are forcing their kids to do anything is stupid. It’s a competitive process and kids more than anyone want to go to a good college.

I think force might be harsh word but strongly encourage or expect may be a better reference point and wanting to go to a good college doesn't mean you automatically have a passion for something. These are teenagers - most of them have no idea what they are going to do with the rest of their lives but they all have amazing passions - not quite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not how it works. ECs are table stakes for showing you don't play video games exclusively.

Rare ECs are a boost for useful but rare skills like getting a bassoonist in the orchestra vs the 50th violinist that they don't need (but it's still fine as a basic EC/C for well roundedness)

Leadership activity is for showing you aren't a pure sheep, not about how huge of a leader you are in high school.

Awards are considered separately, and can be EC or C, that make the school famous.

Basket weaving is rare but not very interesting, while robotics is common but in more demand for engineering programs.

you sound like quite a sheep yourself. there are fewer bassoonists than violinists, sure, but also little need for them. bassoon repertoire is minimal and boring and they play three notes per concert.

in contrast, violin is the most important instrument in orchestra, by far. first violins carry all the tunes, CM leads the whole orchestra and has frequent solos.

Cellos are more interesting than violins and you get a chance to shine if there's only 4 of you instead of dozens. But I agree, the bassoon is basically percussion. Triangle anyone?

Rude! How about the oboe? That good enough for you? I can’t imagine valuing orchestral music without seeing the important role each instrument plays.

Yes I love the oboe. It is not a percussion instrument.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Ivy League is NOT looking for Eagle Scouts. They would prefer well educated foreigners and geniuses from the American farm-lands.

Well my white Eagle scout 1570 from the northeast who does happen to be a genius must have gotten what lucky with his many ivy /elite acceptances? No he just stood out on his own. And was concertmaster, as are most of his ivy friends (or were all state band chorus or orchestra).

So if he weren't an ES he'd probably have also had an excellent chance.
the ES element is not what got him in, obviously!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an eighth grader and this is very helpful- there is no point killing yourself - t20s are basically out. Maybe even t50s. I'm not going to spend 4 years driving us both crazy. He's not going to start an ngo or create a product sold in 10 countries. He's just a regular kid - talented and smart- but still just a kid.

And yet here his parent is…stalking college forums while he is less than half way thru middle school!

She is fine to do that. I did that as well, in order to learn about things like ECs and course selection in HS and how important it is (or is not).

What is sad is the folks who a) don't have kids and talk about their decades old experiences or b) have kids who have nearly finished their college careers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the most common/unremarkable ECs, unremarkable meaning that an admissions officer would not give much weight to them due to how widespread it is, even if there is leadership involved, and that would only catch an AOs eye if you won a national-level award for the EC?

IMO, the most common, especially in this area, would be student government, debate/model un, academic team/math/science/etc Olympiad, NHS, odyssey, Scouts, rec sports, and maybe theater

Someone published a tier list of ECs and it seemed to get general agreement from a lot of people.

What it basically boils down to is that anything that is merely an extracurricular activities are mundane and doesn't really count for much other than give you something to put on the application
You are looking for extracurricular accomplishments.

Getting elected to student government or being the editor of your school newspaper is competitive and will be seen as a minor accomplishment
Eagle Scout/Black Belt is seen as a common but minor accomplishment
Being a starter for a championship team is seen as a minor accomplishment
Local awards are seen as a minor accomplishment.

Once you start getting regional or state level recognition (you not your team or your school, you), your accomplishments get more recognition.

Eagle Scout is a national recognition - FYI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the most common/unremarkable ECs, unremarkable meaning that an admissions officer would not give much weight to them due to how widespread it is, even if there is leadership involved, and that would only catch an AOs eye if you won a national-level award for the EC?

IMO, the most common, especially in this area, would be student government, debate/model un, academic team/math/science/etc Olympiad, NHS, odyssey, Scouts, rec sports, and maybe theater

Someone published a tier list of ECs and it seemed to get general agreement from a lot of people.

What it basically boils down to is that anything that is merely an extracurricular activities are mundane and doesn't really count for much other than give you something to put on the application
You are looking for extracurricular accomplishments.

Getting elected to student government or being the editor of your school newspaper is competitive and will be seen as a minor accomplishment
Eagle Scout/Black Belt is seen as a common but minor accomplishment
Being a starter for a championship team is seen as a minor accomplishment
Local awards are seen as a minor accomplishment.

Once you start getting regional or state level recognition (you not your team or your school, you), your accomplishments get more recognition.

Eagle Scout is a national recognition - FYI.

It's a middle of the road activity for conformists who want to go to mediocre colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Model UN. Also, I once heard being an Eagle Scout is like writing an essay about your dead grandma.

I wrote an essay about my dead grandmother 26 years ago and my husband was an Eagle Scout…we met at our Ivy undergrad. Not sure if that makes us boring or a cliche.

What happened more than 2 years isn’t relevant, so 13x that time period means less than nothing.

This is true

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not how it works. ECs are table stakes for showing you don't play video games exclusively.

Rare ECs are a boost for useful but rare skills like getting a bassoonist in the orchestra vs the 50th violinist that they don't need (but it's still fine as a basic EC/C for well roundedness)

Leadership activity is for showing you aren't a pure sheep, not about how huge of a leader you are in high school.

Awards are considered separately, and can be EC or C, that make the school famous.

Basket weaving is rare but not very interesting, while robotics is common but in more demand for engineering programs.

you sound like quite a sheep yourself. there are fewer bassoonists than violinists, sure, but also little need for them. bassoon repertoire is minimal and boring and they play three notes per concert.

in contrast, violin is the most important instrument in orchestra, by far. first violins carry all the tunes, CM leads the whole orchestra and has frequent solos.

Cellos are more interesting than violins and you get a chance to shine if there's only 4 of you instead of dozens. But I agree, the bassoon is basically percussion. Triangle anyone?

Rude! How about the oboe? That good enough for you? I can’t imagine valuing orchestral music without seeing the important role each instrument plays.

Yes I love the oboe. It is not a percussion instrument.

+1 Give that kid a spot!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not how it works. ECs are table stakes for showing you don't play video games exclusively.

Rare ECs are a boost for useful but rare skills like getting a bassoonist in the orchestra vs the 50th violinist that they don't need (but it's still fine as a basic EC/C for well roundedness)

Leadership activity is for showing you aren't a pure sheep, not about how huge of a leader you are in high school.

Awards are considered separately, and can be EC or C, that make the school famous.

Basket weaving is rare but not very interesting, while robotics is common but in more demand for engineering programs.

you sound like quite a sheep yourself. there are fewer bassoonists than violinists, sure, but also little need for them. bassoon repertoire is minimal and boring and they play three notes per concert.

in contrast, violin is the most important instrument in orchestra, by far. first violins carry all the tunes, CM leads the whole orchestra and has frequent solos.

Cellos are more interesting than violins and you get a chance to shine if there's only 4 of you instead of dozens. But I agree, the bassoon is basically percussion. Triangle anyone?

Rude! How about the oboe? That good enough for you? I can’t imagine valuing orchestral music without seeing the important role each instrument plays.

Yes I love the oboe. It is not a percussion instrument.

+1 Give that kid a spot!

P.S. My kid plays the oboe

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the most common/unremarkable ECs, unremarkable meaning that an admissions officer would not give much weight to them due to how widespread it is, even if there is leadership involved, and that would only catch an AOs eye if you won a national-level award for the EC?

IMO, the most common, especially in this area, would be student government, debate/model un, academic team/math/science/etc Olympiad, NHS, odyssey, Scouts, rec sports, and maybe theater

Someone published a tier list of ECs and it seemed to get general agreement from a lot of people.

What it basically boils down to is that anything that is merely an extracurricular activities are mundane and doesn't really count for much other than give you something to put on the application
You are looking for extracurricular accomplishments.

Getting elected to student government or being the editor of your school newspaper is competitive and will be seen as a minor accomplishment
Eagle Scout/Black Belt is seen as a common but minor accomplishment
Being a starter for a championship team is seen as a minor accomplishment
Local awards are seen as a minor accomplishment.

Once you start getting regional or state level recognition (you not your team or your school, you), your accomplishments get more recognition.

Eagle Scout is a national recognition - FYI.

It's a middle of the road activity for conformists who want to go to mediocre colleges.

no, that would be coin collecting, bird watching, origami etc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the most common/unremarkable ECs, unremarkable meaning that an admissions officer would not give much weight to them due to how widespread it is, even if there is leadership involved, and that would only catch an AOs eye if you won a national-level award for the EC?

IMO, the most common, especially in this area, would be student government, debate/model un, academic team/math/science/etc Olympiad, NHS, odyssey, Scouts, rec sports, and maybe theater

Someone published a tier list of ECs and it seemed to get general agreement from a lot of people.

What it basically boils down to is that anything that is merely an extracurricular activities are mundane and doesn't really count for much other than give you something to put on the application
You are looking for extracurricular accomplishments.

Getting elected to student government or being the editor of your school newspaper is competitive and will be seen as a minor accomplishment
Eagle Scout/Black Belt is seen as a common but minor accomplishment
Being a starter for a championship team is seen as a minor accomplishment
Local awards are seen as a minor accomplishment.

Once you start getting regional or state level recognition (you not your team or your school, you), your accomplishments get more recognition.

Eagle Scout is a national recognition - FYI.

It's a middle of the road activity for conformists who want to go to mediocre colleges.

no, that would be coin collecting, bird watching, origami etc

Coin collecting very important if Arch or Anthro or even Classics.

[Anonymous]

Thought this was interesting:

AO's, thoughts on the EC's you're seeing these days?

I'm just a HS senior but it seems to me everyone has figured out the baseline EC's to get into really selective colleges. Everyone has done research, part-time work, volunteering, presidency,etc etc.
What do you use to differentiate a candidate then? Essays?
Do really good essays make up for weaker EC's or would you pick a student with better Ec's but a mediocre essay?

https://www.reddit.com/r/ApplyingToCollege/s/mNWbTUgb4V

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the most common/unremarkable ECs, unremarkable meaning that an admissions officer would not give much weight to them due to how widespread it is, even if there is leadership involved, and that would only catch an AOs eye if you won a national-level award for the EC?

IMO, the most common, especially in this area, would be student government, debate/model un, academic team/math/science/etc Olympiad, NHS, odyssey, Scouts, rec sports, and maybe theater

Someone published a tier list of ECs and it seemed to get general agreement from a lot of people.

What it basically boils down to is that anything that is merely an extracurricular activities are mundane and doesn't really count for much other than give you something to put on the application
You are looking for extracurricular accomplishments.

Getting elected to student government or being the editor of your school newspaper is competitive and will be seen as a minor accomplishment
Eagle Scout/Black Belt is seen as a common but minor accomplishment
Being a starter for a championship team is seen as a minor accomplishment
Local awards are seen as a minor accomplishment.

Once you start getting regional or state level recognition (you not your team or your school, you), your accomplishments get more recognition.

Eagle Scout is a national recognition - FYI.

It's a middle of the road activity for conformists who want to go to mediocre colleges.

no, that would be coin collecting, bird watching, origami etc

Bird watching and origami good for STEM candidates

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the most common/unremarkable ECs, unremarkable meaning that an admissions officer would not give much weight to them due to how widespread it is, even if there is leadership involved, and that would only catch an AOs eye if you won a national-level award for the EC?

IMO, the most common, especially in this area, would be student government, debate/model un, academic team/math/science/etc Olympiad, NHS, odyssey, Scouts, rec sports, and maybe theater

Someone published a tier list of ECs and it seemed to get general agreement from a lot of people.

What it basically boils down to is that anything that is merely an extracurricular activities are mundane and doesn't really count for much other than give you something to put on the application
You are looking for extracurricular accomplishments.

Getting elected to student government or being the editor of your school newspaper is competitive and will be seen as a minor accomplishment
Eagle Scout/Black Belt is seen as a common but minor accomplishment
Being a starter for a championship team is seen as a minor accomplishment
Local awards are seen as a minor accomplishment.

Once you start getting regional or state level recognition (you not your team or your school, you), your accomplishments get more recognition.

Eagle Scout is a national recognition - FYI.

It's a middle of the road activity for conformists who want to go to mediocre colleges.

uh.. a bunch of high achieving kids who have similar stats and activities end up at T20s.