Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 21:58     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I am not quite sure what is the big deal about coaching. DC went to his badminton facility from a young age, they have all high school kids/athletes coaching the younger kids. Where we live, badminton is a popular sport. I think many badminton facilities do that. It’s quite common.


Coaching a rec team involves a lot of work outside of practice / game time:
-Organization meetings
-Email/text communications with parents, age coordinators, refs
-Hand-holding of newbie parents
-Schedule / field changes
-Dealing with unruly parents
-Coordinating snack schedules
-keeping track of equipment
-Selecting All Star players

Both of my kids did this for a few seasons. It is at least a 6 hour commitment per week. Then add the All Stars Tournament. They were only two coaching at a time. Each played the sport on different club teams, so at least one would be able to coach games if the other one had a club game.


Thanks for explaining. What still isn’t clear to me is why you think OP’s DC could not have coached. Yes, it’s a ton of work, and yes you have to be really good at it to coach (the young badminton coaches were competing nationally). But it’s doable? So why you don’t give her the benefit of doubt? That part is still not clear.


Since OPs kid has coached for “several seasons”, it sounds like he was doing all that in middle school. For many places kids must be over 16 to coach. I’m skeptical.


In order to be a coach my kid needs to do the following:

- be over 16
- complete classes and get certified by Red Cross on first aid, CPR, AED
- take course on recognition and prevention of concussion from CDC
- take Safe Sport class on harassment and abuse in sports for coaches
- become a certified camp counselor with the national sport organization
- become a certified instructor with the national sports organization
- live scan
- work permit from school
- I9 for wages
- two additional certifications

I see kids listing in their college application coaching as an extracurricular when they just taught a few younger relatives shoot hoops last summer.

In my view it’s a stretch to call it coaching, and is just the typical exaggeration that takes place in college applications. The kids that can back up their extracurriculars will rise above the cheaters and the liars.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 21:18     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I am not quite sure what is the big deal about coaching. DC went to his badminton facility from a young age, they have all high school kids/athletes coaching the younger kids. Where we live, badminton is a popular sport. I think many badminton facilities do that. It’s quite common.


Coaching a rec team involves a lot of work outside of practice / game time:
-Organization meetings
-Email/text communications with parents, age coordinators, refs
-Hand-holding of newbie parents
-Schedule / field changes
-Dealing with unruly parents
-Coordinating snack schedules
-keeping track of equipment
-Selecting All Star players

Both of my kids did this for a few seasons. It is at least a 6 hour commitment per week. Then add the All Stars Tournament. They were only two coaching at a time. Each played the sport on different club teams, so at least one would be able to coach games if the other one had a club game.


Thanks for explaining. What still isn’t clear to me is why you think OP’s DC could not have coached. Yes, it’s a ton of work, and yes you have to be really good at it to coach (the young badminton coaches were competing nationally). But it’s doable? So why you don’t give her the benefit of doubt? That part is still not clear.


Since OPs kid has coached for “several seasons”, it sounds like he was doing all that in middle school. For many places kids must be over 16 to coach. I’m skeptical.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 20:50     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I am not quite sure what is the big deal about coaching. DC went to his badminton facility from a young age, they have all high school kids/athletes coaching the younger kids. Where we live, badminton is a popular sport. I think many badminton facilities do that. It’s quite common.


Coaching a rec team involves a lot of work outside of practice / game time:
-Organization meetings
-Email/text communications with parents, age coordinators, refs
-Hand-holding of newbie parents
-Schedule / field changes
-Dealing with unruly parents
-Coordinating snack schedules
-keeping track of equipment
-Selecting All Star players

Both of my kids did this for a few seasons. It is at least a 6 hour commitment per week. Then add the All Stars Tournament. They were only two coaching at a time. Each played the sport on different club teams, so at least one would be able to coach games if the other one had a club game.


Thanks for explaining. What still isn’t clear to me is why you think OP’s DC could not have coached. Yes, it’s a ton of work, and yes you have to be really good at it to coach (the young badminton coaches were competing nationally). But it’s doable? So why you don’t give her the benefit of doubt? That part is still not clear.


I am a different poster. I was just sharing some of the extra tasks rec coaches have to complete. I am not familiar with how involved high school badminton coaches are at practices.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 20:43     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
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.


Your son's ECs sound great, but he needs to be able to write in detail about his impact on them and what he learned from them. 1520 is also in range for T20. He should really focus his energy on getting 5s on junior year APs and be proactive about thoughtfully engaging in class discussions since junior year teachers are often the ones writing LORs. Finally, I talk to DS's school counselor about what is the most strategic ED strategy would be for him based on his school's Naviance, etc. data since he'll get the biggest admissions bump there. (My DC is a freshman at an Ivy; got in legacy in early round. 1550, 4.9 W, no national or regional honors but very strong school/community involvement and presumably great LORs.) Good luck!
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 20:41     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I am not quite sure what is the big deal about coaching. DC went to his badminton facility from a young age, they have all high school kids/athletes coaching the younger kids. Where we live, badminton is a popular sport. I think many badminton facilities do that. It’s quite common.


Coaching a rec team involves a lot of work outside of practice / game time:
-Organization meetings
-Email/text communications with parents, age coordinators, refs
-Hand-holding of newbie parents
-Schedule / field changes
-Dealing with unruly parents
-Coordinating snack schedules
-keeping track of equipment
-Selecting All Star players

Both of my kids did this for a few seasons. It is at least a 6 hour commitment per week. Then add the All Stars Tournament. They were only two coaching at a time. Each played the sport on different club teams, so at least one would be able to coach games if the other one had a club game.


Thanks for explaining. What still isn’t clear to me is why you think OP’s DC could not have coached. Yes, it’s a ton of work, and yes you have to be really good at it to coach (the young badminton coaches were competing nationally). But it’s doable? So why you don’t give her the benefit of doubt? That part is still not clear.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 19:52     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I am not quite sure what is the big deal about coaching. DC went to his badminton facility from a young age, they have all high school kids/athletes coaching the younger kids. Where we live, badminton is a popular sport. I think many badminton facilities do that. It’s quite common.


Coaching a rec team involves a lot of work outside of practice / game time:
-Organization meetings
-Email/text communications with parents, age coordinators, refs
-Hand-holding of newbie parents
-Schedule / field changes
-Dealing with unruly parents
-Coordinating snack schedules
-keeping track of equipment
-Selecting All Star players

Both of my kids did this for a few seasons. It is at least a 6 hour commitment per week. Then add the All Stars Tournament. They were only two coaching at a time. Each played the sport on different club teams, so at least one would be able to coach games if the other one had a club game.


This.

Who will make a better impression on the college apps? OPs kid that “coached for several seasons” or the kid that can talk about his experience, what he learned, and how he grew as a person. There’s no substitute for being genuine. One can embellish, exaggerate, straight up lie, it won’t come even close.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 19:42     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Anonymous wrote:I am not quite sure what is the big deal about coaching. DC went to his badminton facility from a young age, they have all high school kids/athletes coaching the younger kids. Where we live, badminton is a popular sport. I think many badminton facilities do that. It’s quite common.


Coaching a rec team involves a lot of work outside of practice / game time:
-Organization meetings
-Email/text communications with parents, age coordinators, refs
-Hand-holding of newbie parents
-Schedule / field changes
-Dealing with unruly parents
-Coordinating snack schedules
-keeping track of equipment
-Selecting All Star players

Both of my kids did this for a few seasons. It is at least a 6 hour commitment per week. Then add the All Stars Tournament. They were only two coaching at a time. Each played the sport on different club teams, so at least one would be able to coach games if the other one had a club game.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 19:40     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Anonymous wrote:OP, your kid's ECs are great. Don't listen to the crazy posters on this thread. My '28 has a similar profile and also thinking about what other ECs are out there. My older was just admitted SCEA to his top choice, contrary to all the "advice" and comments on this forum.


Fake or not, based on mom curating the extracurriculars, the kid is not elite college material to say the least.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 19:25     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
OP, your kid's ECs are great. Don't listen to the crazy posters on this thread. My '28 has a similar profile and also thinking about what other ECs are out there. My older was just admitted SCEA to his top choice, contrary to all the "advice" and comments on this forum.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 19:12     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Anonymous wrote:I am not quite sure what is the big deal about coaching. DC went to his badminton facility from a young age, they have all high school kids/athletes coaching the younger kids. Where we live, badminton is a popular sport. I think many badminton facilities do that. It’s quite common.


You are not sure what the big deal is about coaching because you have no direct experience with it. There’s a whole code of conduct, all one on one interactions must be observable and interruptible, there’s a lot of training involved. Sports have several levels of certifications, on who can teach what to whom.

It’s not like you can just show up and teach kids badminton.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 19:10     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Anonymous wrote:Why so bitter, ladies?

Lonely? Depressed? Kids stuck at JMU?
What gives? Who cares about the construction job? The federal judge gig? Coaching? OSHA regs? QB fraud?

Focus on you!!!!


I think OP's DC did a decent job in his ECs. They don't have a theme, probably need some good work to come up with unique narratives for linking all his activities. I don't think they are fake. They are whatever opportunities her DC encountered at the time, so the activities appear to be all over the place.

The deranged lady'DC probably wasn't able to execute at that level, thus the anger and jealousy. She never gave any advices to OP, and never mentioned what her DC did that she thinks will pull it off. Part of me can resonate with her disappointment in the system, the vast majority of high stats kids will end up with mid ECs.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 18:55     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Anonymous wrote:Why so bitter, ladies?

Lonely? Depressed? Kids stuck at JMU?
What gives? Who cares about the construction job? The federal judge gig? Coaching? OSHA regs? QB fraud?

Focus on you!!!!


Um OP literally asked for people's opinions. She just didn't like what she got back.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 18:44     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Why so bitter, ladies?

Lonely? Depressed? Kids stuck at JMU?
What gives? Who cares about the construction job? The federal judge gig? Coaching? OSHA regs? QB fraud?

Focus on you!!!!
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 18:42     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP here again. These comments are either helpful (thanks!) or hilariously unhinged and angry (also thanks for the laughs!)

I will just note that while my kid does all of these things, he doesn't do them all at the same time! Thus, the sport all year round (for love of it), debate/MUN during school year, coaching kids youth sports in town rec league during the season, construction lite during summer (mainly moving and carrying heavy things for a construction company--even legally, as he had to pay taxes, etc), volunteering when Special Olympics has their events, etc.

He's no superhuman, and actually does the activities he wants, not what his parents tell him to do. He also loves hanging out with friends and watching sports, which he sometimes does to his grades' detriment.

For those of you thinking I'm making this up--surely I could come up with a better collection of perfect activities than this? But the venom is amusing.

I don't think your DC's activities are made-ups.

The ones I think fake are those that claim "impact", "depth", yours have neither.

Raised 1 million fund, generated 10 million revenue, published on high impact scientific journals, filed patents.


Or decrease trillions of tons CO2 emission!
LOL
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 18:32     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP -
This is a perfectly normal set of activities. He sounds like a great kid.

- Mom of Ivy and T10 college students.


+10000

What is wrong with all of the weirdos on here?

Manual labor jobs are normal for teenagers. My kid had a packing & moving job. That was paid off the books! And definitely carried more than federal limits. Lol.

Many kids do manual labor during high school and it is looked favorably upon.

And the internships? It’s like how all of our kids got their internships! Through connections. Through all of us. It’s how the world works. Wake up.

Yes, my kids are at top 20 schools. No research, pricey summer programs or nonprofits. Yes an internship through connections.

Newsflash:

t25 schools actually want nepo internships because it will show them that your kid is employable whether through your connections or their own grit… It doesn’t matter to them. At the end of the day they want employable students and even better if you’ll help them get there.

Idiots. All of you.


Fist of all, whenever people say their kid is at an Ivy or Top whatever to prove they are right, I automatically assume they are lying.

I’m sure Harvard can’t wait to admit the kid fabricating construction internships at his uncle’s small business. That’s a sign the kid is destined to do great things. How resourceful! The grit! lol

If you’re searching for the idiot take a look in the mirror.


Questbridge may be the biggest fraud. A majority of these QB admits are from families having cash only business. They are poor only on paper, evading huge amount of taxes. They have everything, private prep for SAT, private tutors help with course work.