Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?

[Anonymous]

This thread should be merged with the striver one.

[Anonymous]

You guys are clueless.

- IEC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Boy, varsity athlete playing year-round (but doesn't want to play in college), public school 3.9 UW/4.3 W (not VA or MD), 1520 SAT, 11 APs total by graduation, humanities kid, founded & president of school debating club, Model UN, several seasons of coaching kids teams in youth sports, has worked in construction over the summer (when not doing sport), doing internship with federal judge, volunteers w/Special Olympics. History or Econ as potential major.

Not a whole lot of time to do much else, but is there any EC that's obviously missing? He is hoping for a top 20, SLAC or mid-sized. Double egacy at Ivies but obviously a long shot.

This is so obviously fake, a made up extracurricular project for mom.

Best thing you can do is to actually help your son find something he cares about and get out of the way.

Founder and president of the debate club and model UN is mostly meaningless on its own, you have to have some activity or related project he worked on as part of the club besides meeting during lunch time. Kids lie about these clubs all the time because it’s not verifiable information.

In what capacity did he coach kids? Is he throwing the ball with the neighbors kids, or it’s a real coaching job? Unlikely sophomore kids get to be coaches, sports camp counselor go through extensive training. High schoolers don’t get to work with minors as “coaches” just like that. Sounds more like he plays a sport and you’re making up other activities to pad up his college applications.

As others have pointed out, doing an internship with a federal judge is so suspect of being made up because there’s not a lot that a high schooler can do in that setting. If it’s real, I’d be interested to know what he actually did.

I call BS on the construction summer job too. Minors can’t work in most construction jobs, because it’s considered hazardous occupation, unless they are part of an apprenticeship program.

I’d advise against making stuff up, because it’s really easy to spot the fake activities, since they lack depth and authenticity and are hard to connect with essays, recommendation letters, awards and the rest of the application.

He just needs to ding something he likes and spend some time exploring his interests. Sounds like mom is in the way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Boy, varsity athlete playing year-round (but doesn't want to play in college), public school 3.9 UW/4.3 W (not VA or MD), 1520 SAT, 11 APs total by graduation, humanities kid, founded & president of school debating club, Model UN, several seasons of coaching kids teams in youth sports, has worked in construction over the summer (when not doing sport), doing internship with federal judge, volunteers w/Special Olympics. History or Econ as potential major.

Not a whole lot of time to do much else, but is there any EC that's obviously missing? He is hoping for a top 20, SLAC or mid-sized. Double egacy at Ivies but obviously a long shot.

This is so obviously fake, a made up extracurricular project for mom.

Best thing you can do is to actually help your son find something he cares about and get out of the way.

Founder and president of the debate club and model UN is mostly meaningless on its own, you have to have some activity or related project he worked on as part of the club besides meeting during lunch time. Kids lie about these clubs all the time because it’s not verifiable information.

In what capacity did he coach kids? Is he throwing the ball with the neighbors kids, or it’s a real coaching job? Unlikely sophomore kids get to be coaches, sports camp counselor go through extensive training. High schoolers don’t get to work with minors as “coaches” just like that. Sounds more like he plays a sport and you’re making up other activities to pad up his college applications.

As others have pointed out, doing an internship with a federal judge is so suspect of being made up because there’s not a lot that a high schooler can do in that setting. If it’s real, I’d be interested to know what he actually did.

I call BS on the construction summer job too. Minors can’t work in most construction jobs, because it’s considered hazardous occupation, unless they are part of an apprenticeship program.

I’d advise against making stuff up, because it’s really easy to spot the fake activities, since they lack depth and authenticity and are hard to connect with essays, recommendation letters, awards and the rest of the application.

He just needs to ding something he likes and spend some time exploring his interests. Sounds like mom is in the way.

Yup. I would ding this kid in a heartbeat. He is trying way too hard. Or make that his mom is trying way too hard. He has lived his life to create what his mom thinks is the perfect application. No joy. I have interviewed kids like this who go through their whole list and are very impressed with themselves. Usually don't get in. Once they get out of range of mom's helicopter they don't know what to do with themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Boy, varsity athlete playing year-round (but doesn't want to play in college), public school 3.9 UW/4.3 W (not VA or MD), 1520 SAT, 11 APs total by graduation, humanities kid, founded & president of school debating club, Model UN, several seasons of coaching kids teams in youth sports, has worked in construction over the summer (when not doing sport), doing internship with federal judge, volunteers w/Special Olympics. History or Econ as potential major.

Not a whole lot of time to do much else, but is there any EC that's obviously missing? He is hoping for a top 20, SLAC or mid-sized. Double egacy at Ivies but obviously a long shot.

This is so obviously fake, a made up extracurricular project for mom.

Best thing you can do is to actually help your son find something he cares about and get out of the way.

Founder and president of the debate club and model UN is mostly meaningless on its own, you have to have some activity or related project he worked on as part of the club besides meeting during lunch time. Kids lie about these clubs all the time because it’s not verifiable information.

Speculation. How do you know he doesn't have related activities and projects?

In what capacity did he coach kids? Is he throwing the ball with the neighbors kids, or it’s a real coaching job? Unlikely sophomore kids get to be coaches, sports camp counselor go through extensive training. High schoolers don’t get to work with minors as “coaches” just like that. Sounds more like he plays a sport and you’re making up other activities to pad up his college applications.

Speculation.

As others have pointed out, doing an internship with a federal judge is so suspect of being made up because there’s not a lot that a high schooler can do in that setting. If it’s real, I’d be interested to know what he actually did.

These programs do exist.

I call BS on the construction summer job too. Minors can’t work in most construction jobs, because it’s considered hazardous occupation, unless they are part of an apprenticeship program.

You said most, so there are construction jobs suitable for minors?

I’d advise against making stuff up, because it’s really easy to spot the fake activities, since they lack depth and authenticity and are hard to connect with essays, recommendation letters, awards and the rest of the application.

Do they have to share all the depth and authenticity on a discussion forum? OP wasn't asking for your feedback on this.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Really enjoyed this thread! To answer some Q's:

1) Construction is construction "lite," a real summer job, supervised by construction company owner;
2) Judicial internship a real thing, not just him (got into program for high school students);
3) Could play sport in college, but doesn't want to (DIII at best);
4) Coaching gig through town rec sports;
5) Not aiming/interested in HYPSM, because (obviously) not a grades perfectionist;
6) Summer Olympics volunteering common for sports kids where we live;
7) Passions are sports, teaching all types of kids how to do sports, history/legal history, and arguing (hence debate and MUN);
8) Wants to go to a good school but also have fun.

All advice good advice, even the negative stuff.

[Anonymous]

The one thing that might be missing or needs a good narrative is impact. So give that some thought.

[Anonymous]

OP- I’m a high school teacher who teaches seniors and I think your kid sounds great. I am not a college counselor by any stretch, but have had many kids talk with me about their applications, since I write their rec letters. In my opinion, your kid probably will want to maximize the “additional info” section to quantify what play year round sports looks like- how many hours does he spend traveling to and from practices and showcases while maintaining great grades? What exactly does he do for special Olympics over the summers? Let your kid be who he is- just make great use of the additional info section- lots of kids assume AO’s know what it means to compete in year-round sports, but it’s different for every student depending on the level, what they’re balancing, how late they’re getting home at night, etc. just my two cents!

[Anonymous]

I meant for that to say OP, (with a comma). I am not the OP, but was trying to address my advice to him/her

[Anonymous]

I don’t get the skepticism about the judicial internship. I imagine it’s the judge allowing kids to sit in his courtroom, see what goes on, and then maybe discuss with the judge and/or his clerks at the end of the day for 10 or 15 minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get the skepticism about the judicial internship. I imagine it’s the judge allowing kids to sit in his courtroom, see what goes on, and then maybe discuss with the judge and/or his clerks at the end of the day for 10 or 15 minutes.

That’s not an internship honey, it’s called shadowing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are established, and highly respected, high school internship in federal judicial system. Sonia & Celina Sotomayor Judicial Internship Program for example has a high school division. For high school students interested in our judicial system, there are plenty of outreach programs at the state court level. Do a search and particularly look into your local judicial system. You can also reach out to judges directly to see if they are willing to have a high schooler as an intern.

Federal judge internship is definitely something unique and unusual (and yes prestigeous!). I don't understand why folks are against it. Ignorant?

No one is “against it”. They are lawyers or former clerks, like myself, who think the story suspect as in a nepotism job. I’ve clerked for two years and have never seen minors in the courthouse. Too many potential problems. And the question was properly raised - even if he did do it, what did he do? We would never have let an intern touch the files- immense confidentiality and liability issues. An AO will
Know this and wonder

Probably just shadow, which would be very educational for a high school kid. No one is suggesting the kid is drafting opinions. It’s

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get the skepticism about the judicial internship. I imagine it’s the judge allowing kids to sit in his courtroom, see what goes on, and then maybe discuss with the judge and/or his clerks at the end of the day for 10 or 15 minutes.

That’s not an internship honey, it’s called shadowing.

You sound miserable, I think it can also called an internship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get the skepticism about the judicial internship. I imagine it’s the judge allowing kids to sit in his courtroom, see what goes on, and then maybe discuss with the judge and/or his clerks at the end of the day for 10 or 15 minutes.

That’s not an internship honey, it’s called shadowing.

A big part of any (any!) internship is educating the interns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get the skepticism about the judicial internship. I imagine it’s the judge allowing kids to sit in his courtroom, see what goes on, and then maybe discuss with the judge and/or his clerks at the end of the day for 10 or 15 minutes.

I think it's sour grape. I see karens gas lighting. And it's New Year's day.