ECs - the most unusual or memorable ones

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a family friend who developed an interest in Alpaca's in middle school. By the time he was a junior, he was running a small farm with a side business for their wool. He was incredibly smart and worked hard. He was accepted at all the best schools and I imagine that no one had seen another kid who ran an alpaca farm in their free time.

One alpaca is 15k. How does a high school student afford to purchase a flock of alpacas?

How do you think?🤔

[Anonymous]

Anything interesting mentioned in this thread would have 10 students pursuing it the next few years. The AO's at T10 would be wondering how such a niche thing got 10 students just from DC Metro area.

[Anonymous]

DCUM never disappoints.

“My kid got the maximum score points at school but what’s all this jazz about being an actual human being with interests? What’s the gimmick I don’t get it.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I kept wondering, how easy it is to fake these nonsense ECs. All you need is just writing this bs in your essay. A short order cook? A sailor? A bunny raiser? I can walk on the moon! It’s not like AOs will actually verify that you have done all the bs!

Brown and Stanford do "audits". I am sure others do as well:
https://www.reddit.com/r/ApplyingToCollege/comments/vej3ya/psa_brown_and_probably_other_schools_are/

Also, if it is a true passion or EC you achieved highly or spent a lot of time on, the counselor is likely to mention it in their letter. My daughter’s passion was significant and it was mentioned. I guess you could lie on the parent brag sheet if you want to be an accomplice in perpetrating the fraud.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anything interesting mentioned in this thread would have 10 students pursuing it the next few years. The AO's at T10 would be wondering how such a niche thing got 10 students just from DC Metro area.

What’s interesting here?

Most are weird hobbies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

For your wonderful makeup-loving daughter, a gift, courtesy of this college counseling guy I see everywhere!
https://www.tiktok.com/@tineocollegeprep/video/7423531655656230186

I love this, thank you!!!!

Watch the video. He said to put it at the end of the EC list. Presumably adds texture?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid (last year) included his skills as a beekeeper among his ECs (My spouse had started keeping hives in our yard and more or less mandated DS help him, so DS learned the basics and yes, wore a full bee suit multiple times).

I don’t know if it helped with admissions.

But what was the impact with beekeeping? Or was it just included in the ECs to show personality?

Primarily to show personality and also demonstrate contribution to the “family business” (we did make and distribute some honey—well I guess the bees made it). Additionally he looked up whether there was a beekeeping club at the schools he applied to and then mentioned his interest in joining the club in the “why this school?” essays.

Couldn’t really tie it to major since he was applying to engineering. But also he was not applying to top schools so—I’m not sure how important unique ECs are in schools with a 50%+ acceptance rate.

This wouldn’t work at a T20 (contribution to family business) if you and spouse listed FT jobs….

[Anonymous]

DS is in 10th and started learning how to build boats in 6th grade through a free class being held by a local foundation. He has now built 5 wooden boats, the last he designed himself, and then donates them to organizations that get kids out on the water. In 6th grade this had zero to do with college, it was just a cool opportunity and he likes working with his hands. Now we see that it could be helpful, but he drives it. This summer he's going to teach some classes for kids on boat building. I think in total we have spent about $500 for tools and the rest he has gotten through donations or scrap. He's leaning towards Naval Architecture, or something along those lines, so will see how it helps!

[Anonymous]

Hollister model. Duke.

[Anonymous]

I think it is so ridiculous that memorable EC is a make or break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kid who started a beekeeping initiative (already was certified master beekeeper from Cornell) with a local jail, and eventually inmates mastered beekeeping and made honey.
Kid packaged and sold the honey for them. Think inmates created a garden too and kid did same with that.

There's more to it, but that's the gist.
At Stanford.

A jail lets inmates work with kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it is so ridiculous that memorable EC is a make or break.

It is not. Colleges look at everything. If you child is intellectually curious, their hobbies will reflect that. They will be fine. No need to manufacture interests. Let your kid be your kid and then have them explain who they are. The narrative writes itself for genuine kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hollister model. Duke.

Huh?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it is so ridiculous that memorable EC is a make or break.

I think the point is for most kids they can’t be generic and cliché. It’s harder for an admissions officer to make the argument case for them if there’s nothing that stands out.

Listen to the Yale and Dartmouth AO podcasts. Especially Dartmouth. Even if your kid doesn’t apply to Dartmouth. My kid did not apply there this year, but it was so immensely helpful to understand holistic review & the committee process and what stands out.

[Anonymous]

Theremin
Warhammer painter/player
Soy candle storefront on Etsy
Vintage TV repair