If every kid is doing the same damn EC

[Anonymous]

Starting a nonprofit?

[Anonymous]

Apparently it is the season https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1225777.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD’s extracurriculars are Girl Scouts, played some soccer (rec), volleyball (also rec), and is really good at 3 languages. If she has a 4.4gpa, what are her chances at the T30 schools?

Honestly? Low. If you have a kid who is a junior or above and the only activities are rec soccer and rec volleyball (not a huge commitment) and GS (possibly a big commitment), that’s very limiting. Unless her “good at 3 languages” means a job related to them, tutoring, translating, etc.

Unless there are something really unique, these activities are totally not going to help with ivy admissions.

Tutoring, every high school kid tutored at some point. But if you’re a dyslexic kid tutoring other dyslexic kids—that’s something unique and memorable.

Model UN: too many kids doing this, not helpful unless national award

Varsity: good for personal growth. Useless for college admissions unless you are a recruit.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think my daughter’s EC are the same as everyone else’s.

She has a varsity sport (band) Girl Scouts (silver award), some volunteering (church), Spanish, and another language too. Plus governors school, and she shadowed in a research lab.

She is going TO for one of the public Ivies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The best thing to do is to find ECs that are not related to your high school. The kids that just join club after club are not going to stand out.

And another person will tell you that kids who don't do ECs related to their school aren't part of their community.

You really can't win.

[Anonymous]

Mine did a mixture of clubs in school, at church, and an internship in the summer prior to her senior year. I think that internship (research in a university) really makes her stand out. She also has a very touching/emotional personal story and has very strong test scores/GPA. She will do great!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS didn't do any of those activities. He worked PT as a dishwasher/host/food runner. He likes working and earning his own money. No grade inflation in Catholic school. Maybe some grade deflation.

My kid worked a lot too. Started his own small business.

At Ivy.

You mean you started a small business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:my debate kid and not much else is at a HYP.

the essays matter. and LOR really matter.

This 100%

My daughter's teacher who wrote her LOR said she had a hard time keeping it to 2 pages and had to make the margins smaller and use a slightly smaller typeface. AP Lang teacher who knows her on multiple levels (clubs, class etc.). College counselor, after she received it, said DD will be done with the process in December, essentially meaning she will get into her first choice school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think my daughter’s EC are the same as everyone else’s.

She has a varsity sport (band) Girl Scouts (silver award), some volunteering (church), Spanish, and another language too. Plus governors school, and she shadowed in a research lab.

She is going TO for one of the public Ivies.

Which are public ivies?

[Anonymous]

GS silver award is middle school- not relevant for college apps. Now, Gold award can be listed.

For the PP whose kid is in debate and not much else, what made him stand out to letter writers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think my daughter’s EC are the same as everyone else’s.

She has a varsity sport (band) Girl Scouts (silver award), some volunteering (church), Spanish, and another language too. Plus governors school, and she shadowed in a research lab.

She is going TO for one of the public Ivies.

Which are public ivies?

A hotly debated subject on these boards. Googling should find you a very old article written about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think my daughter’s EC are the same as everyone else’s.

She has a varsity sport (band) Girl Scouts (silver award), some volunteering (church), Spanish, and another language too. Plus governors school, and she shadowed in a research lab.

She is going TO for one of the public Ivies.

TO? Big mistake.

[Anonymous]

Any thoughts on how Honor counsel is viewed? At my kid’s school, 2 kids/grade are on. Peer nominated, then voted on by entire class.
Being on honor counsel precludes having leadership in student counsel, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think my daughter’s EC are the same as everyone else’s.

She has a varsity sport (band) Girl Scouts (silver award), some volunteering (church), Spanish, and another language too. Plus governors school, and she shadowed in a research lab.

She is going TO for one of the public Ivies.

Public ivies put less weight on ECs. Doable.
Why TO? Public ivies would like to see your score.

[Anonymous]

What exactly is a "public" ivy anyways?