I hear you OP. DC is a junior and we’ve started a list but keep having to drop schools because their admission rates keep becoming more and more competitive.

Chill pill OP. Your kid is fine and will get into a college T50-100. Just make sure he gets solid A, B grades, he will go to a college.

Anonymous wrote:Let me get this right:
If your kid is not president of some club, or isnt in multiple extra curriculars or isnt leading something… they are then out of most colleges’ acceptances?

My son goes to a magnet HS …and is in one club, was in the school Track team prior to that for 3 semesters .. but thats it.

I dont see where he can get in.
And I am not talking about top .. 100.

If by "most colleges" you mean "top 10-20," then maybe. Otherwise, calm down.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me get this right:
If your kid is not president of some club, or isnt in multiple extra curriculars or isnt leading something… they are then out of most colleges’ acceptances?

My son goes to a magnet HS …and is in one club, was in the school Track team prior to that for 3 semesters .. but thats it.

I dont see where he can get in.
And I am not talking about top .. 100.

Which magnet high school?

Yes, your kid probably won't get into the Ivy's, the top colleges with a resume like that. But he will get into a perfectly fine school with his credentials.

This time of the year especially when his lucky magnet fellow students are posting their outstanding ED acceptance, it can be very difficult. But just help him know that there are tons of good schools - schools that will be better fits for him - out there and that will accept him.

+1 A lot of the kids who didn't get into reaches in ED will get into plenty of options in RD. FWIW, my son is at VT. Also accepted at a couple OOS flagships, JMU, a couple private schools. He didn't do much in ECs in HS but had great test scores, very rigorous schedule and an upward grade trend with all As in junior year. Only place he wasn't accepted was UVA, which was no surprise to me -- not because of his lack of ECs but because he didn't have the most rigorous classes at his school, that was clear on the scattergram but he "just wanted to see" Anyway he's very happy at VT.

No, you don't need to be a club officer to get into a top school. Nor do you need to stretch your time super thin. Be thoughtful about what you do with your time and about how you write up your application (ECs may be less important than, say, essays for some selective colleges). Find balance.

- parent of kid just accepted to a T10. Most significant EC started junior year. Had very little for freshman and sophomore years. Had some unique activities but nothing that was obviously "impressive."

OP what are his grades? Any APs? TO? Major? Geographical? We can help.

It seems that even the run of the mill "president /founder" of some club is not enough for the top schools. One needs to save a village in Micronesia, while medaling in some sport and working in a Congressman's office (at least according to this board) to have a chance. Unless Daddy/Mommy has the big $$$$s.

- Parent of a freshman whose only EC is math (MOP qualifier).....

He is at the Academies of Loudoun, Sophomore.
True everyone’s children on this board seems to be doing lots of different things and I was discouraged .

Anonymous wrote:Let me get this right:
If your kid is not president of some club, or isnt in multiple extra curriculars or isnt leading something… they are then out of most colleges’ acceptances?

My son goes to a magnet HS …and is in one club, was in the school Track team prior to that for 3 semesters .. but thats it.

I dont see where he can get in.
And I am not talking about top .. 100.

Which magnet high school?

Yes, your kid probably won't get into the Ivy's, the top colleges with a resume like that. But he will get into a perfectly fine school with his credentials.

This time of the year especially when his lucky magnet fellow students are posting their outstanding ED acceptance, it can be very difficult. But just help him know that there are tons of good schools - schools that will be better fits for him - out there and that will accept him.

Anonymous wrote:Let me get this right:
If your kid is not president of some club, or isnt in multiple extra curriculars or isnt leading something… they are then out of most colleges’ acceptances?

My son goes to a magnet HS …and is in one club, was in the school Track team prior to that for 3 semesters .. but thats it.

I dont see where he can get in.
And I am not talking about top .. 100.

Well, what are your student's grades?

My DS was in one EC throughout HS. The club met maybe once a month. He was accepted at all of the colleges he applied to. Your kid will be fine.

Extracurriculars are considered at some schools more than others. Being president is not required for college admissions. Focus most on academic fit.

There are plenty of options. Most colleges don't care much about ECs. My son goes to Virginia Tech. The only things he did in HS were occasionally help with stage crew, a monthly family volunteering activity at our church, and had a PT job.

Your son will get in plenty of places. Don’t let this board scare you. So many good schools out there, many of which have generous acceptance rates.

Let me get this right:
If your kid is not president of some club, or isnt in multiple extra curriculars or isnt leading something… they are then out of most colleges’ acceptances?

My son goes to a magnet HS …and is in one club, was in the school Track team prior to that for 3 semesters .. but thats it.

I dont see where he can get in.
And I am not talking about top .. 100.