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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]It seems that excellent GPA and SAT is no longer enough. EC activities have to be supplemented with trips to teach underprivileged children in 3rd world countries.  And you have to be able to afford the said trips to foreign countries.  You have to know people to get internships and recommendations.   All this in HS.

I just feel that I have failed my kids because this is just so overwhelming. [/quote]  That is not true at all.  In fact these volunteer/vacations are not viewed the way you think they are by admissions counselors.  There are plenty of "real" ways kids can make an impact via volunteerism that doesn't cost $5 grand.  My kid got into 3 Ivy's and a number of SLAC's with special honors and didn't have a single volunteer/vacation.  He did avail himself of plenty of opportunities at his school and in his community, sought out internships and national and international competitions.  You don't have to "buy" an extracurricular--nor should you.  College admissions counselors are not idiots.  They know exactly what those trips are about--and it isn't altruism.[/quote]

This is really sad you are so skeptical because for my kids these trips form who they are. They are humbled to learn how fortunate they are to be a useful conduit between the haves and the have nots. These trips, local, domestic or international, strengthen them as individuals. They do public service because they want to not, because they have to.

It is interesting to consider maybe admissions people thought app/resume was too contrived. Interesting but, wrong. Oh - and work trips aren't that more expensive than a week in the DMV.[/quote]

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