Anonymous
Post 04/20/2026 20:04     Subject: Convincing my son to do ECs!
Anonymous wrote:Er... unless you're the particularly forward-thinking parent of an elementary schooler, your question makes me think it's already too late for your kid, OP.

Your child should have been diligently pursuing a couple of interests outside of school since middle school. Colleges don't care what the activity is, they care about commitment, dedication, and reaching a high level of proficiency after years of effort. They're not interested in students who just sign up for a wide array of clubs in high school and then don't develop their interest in any other way.

When I mean years of effort, I'm talking about development in sports and music specifically. It takes so much time to be good at these things! You can win science competitions or develop great writing skills and be a yearbook editor with a couple of years of intense prep. But you can't plonk yourself down with a violin in 9th grade and expect to be musical, or be among the first at track without years of muscular exercise.

Ask your kid what they're interested in and orient them to pursuits they can realistically do in the short time they have.







My kid does play two sports at the varsity level and was selected at the district level for their instrument. I don't feel like that is sufficient.
Anonymous
Post 04/20/2026 20:02     Subject: Convincing my son to do ECs!
Anonymous wrote:My son has ADHD and also resisted doing school ECs. He worked stage crew for theater one semester. Other than that, he didn't do anything at school. his ECs were community service through our church-a monthly activity the whole family participated in, guitar lessons and playing once a month at church, working summers as a camp counselor, occasional babysitting, playing golf with his grandfather.

He went to VT (graduated last year). Also got into UDel and JMU.


Thank you!
Anonymous
Post 04/20/2026 20:01     Subject: Convincing my son to do ECs!
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Only like 40 colleges care about ECs. It doesn’t sound like your kid is destined for one, so don’t get so worked up about it.


Rude! Feeling good about yourself now?


I honestly don’t think OP is somehow now trying to get her kid to do ECs to get into one of these schools…but thinks all colleges expect it.

Trying to clear up the misconception.


Op. 1. I'm not ruling my kid out for top 50 yet. 2. Is it really that only t50 care about ECs?! I find that hard to believe.
Anonymous
Post 04/20/2026 19:31     Subject: Convincing my son to do ECs!
Er... unless you're the particularly forward-thinking parent of an elementary schooler, your question makes me think it's already too late for your kid, OP.

Your child should have been diligently pursuing a couple of interests outside of school since middle school. Colleges don't care what the activity is, they care about commitment, dedication, and reaching a high level of proficiency after years of effort. They're not interested in students who just sign up for a wide array of clubs in high school and then don't develop their interest in any other way.

When I mean years of effort, I'm talking about development in sports and music specifically. It takes so much time to be good at these things! You can win science competitions or develop great writing skills and be a yearbook editor with a couple of years of intense prep. But you can't plonk yourself down with a violin in 9th grade and expect to be musical, or be among the first at track without years of muscular exercise.

Ask your kid what they're interested in and orient them to pursuits they can realistically do in the short time they have.





Anonymous
Post 04/20/2026 19:23     Subject: Convincing my son to do ECs!
My son has ADHD and also resisted doing school ECs. He worked stage crew for theater one semester. Other than that, he didn't do anything at school. his ECs were community service through our church-a monthly activity the whole family participated in, guitar lessons and playing once a month at church, working summers as a camp counselor, occasional babysitting, playing golf with his grandfather.

He went to VT (graduated last year). Also got into UDel and JMU.
Anonymous
Post 04/20/2026 19:20     Subject: Convincing my son to do ECs!
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Only like 40 colleges care about ECs. It doesn’t sound like your kid is destined for one, so don’t get so worked up about it.


Rude! Feeling good about yourself now?


I honestly don’t think OP is somehow now trying to get her kid to do ECs to get into one of these schools…but thinks all colleges expect it.

Trying to clear up the misconception.
Anonymous
Post 04/20/2026 19:00     Subject: Convincing my son to do ECs!
Anonymous wrote:Only like 40 colleges care about ECs. It doesn’t sound like your kid is destined for one, so don’t get so worked up about it.


Rude! Feeling good about yourself now?
Anonymous
Post 04/20/2026 18:59     Subject: Convincing my son to do ECs!
Anonymous wrote:Take a look at Reddit A2C and College Results threads to get an idea of what types of ECs are out there. Often earlier in HS is better to develop ECs because classes are less stressful and kids have more time. Schools don’t want one-dimensional high stats kids. They want kids who are involved in things they’re genuinely interested in and doing a variety of cool stuff. For kids who are ADHD, you may have to assist with time management and encourage them to get involved with some new things. Also don’t underestimate volunteering and PT jobs, AOs really like to see both.


Thank you!
Anonymous
Post 04/20/2026 18:54     Subject: Convincing my son to do ECs!
Only like 40 colleges care about ECs. It doesn’t sound like your kid is destined for one, so don’t get so worked up about it.
Anonymous
Post 04/20/2026 18:49     Subject: Convincing my son to do ECs!
What does he like to do with other people? Colleges generally like to see that students play well with others. And that can take a gazillion different forms.
Anonymous
Post 04/20/2026 18:35     Subject: Convincing my son to do ECs!
Take a look at Reddit A2C and College Results threads to get an idea of what types of ECs are out there. Often earlier in HS is better to develop ECs because classes are less stressful and kids have more time. Schools don’t want one-dimensional high stats kids. They want kids who are involved in things they’re genuinely interested in and doing a variety of cool stuff. For kids who are ADHD, you may have to assist with time management and encourage them to get involved with some new things. Also don’t underestimate volunteering and PT jobs, AOs really like to see both.
Anonymous
Post 04/20/2026 18:23     Subject: Re:Convincing my son to do ECs!
Show him what schools are likely admits with no ECs and if he's ok with them, let him do what he wants.
Anonymous
Post 04/20/2026 18:17     Subject: Convincing my son to do ECs!
The purpose of ECs is to fill time in ways that enrich your life, teach you skills, or serve the community. Doing them for college is silly,

What does he do with all his spare time? If he doesn’t want to join a club/team/etc, he can get a job. Working at chick fil a fills the same box on the application as playing soccer.
Anonymous
Post 04/20/2026 18:12     Subject: Convincing my son to do ECs!
How old is he? What does he like to do? What has he done in the past?
Anonymous
Post 04/20/2026 18:12     Subject: Convincing my son to do ECs!
Are you willing to help? My son has not yet grasped the role ECs play in college acceptance. Would be willing to share what your kids did for ECs and the college they got into? His ADHD brain thinks he can push this off to later, but he really can't!