Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 15:04     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
OP -
This is a perfectly normal set of activities. He sounds like a great kid.

- Mom of Ivy and T10 college students.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 15:02     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Anonymous wrote:OP sounds nuts, but I will say that our local rec league does let high school students coach little kids soccer and basketball rec teams. Its too hard to get enough parent volunteers frankly. You have to be a junior or senior though.


How little are the kids? Around here there are no high school kids as coaches. You’re not going to leave your kid unattended during little league games, so parents are present regardless. Usually some dads step in to run drills and help with the games.

There are high school aged instructors at summer sports camps and my child is applying for next summer. Besides the age requirement, he needs background checks, training in first aid, safe sport, concussion, it’s quite involving once you get to work with other people’s children.

Not saying it’s impossible but the coaching story is suspect.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 14:51     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
OP here one more time--the judicial internship isn't until this summer of '26. He was thrilled to be selected. He's not a full-time law clerk, don't get your panties in a bunch.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 14:49     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
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.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 14:30     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Construction job is a breath of fresh air to AOs. Really unique. A lot of T20s would appreciate an EC like this!


LOL. Nope. My DC is at a DC private. He knows 4 classmates that did construction for the past few summers. It isn’t uncommon even for HHI kids.


Could you explain how these kids get to work construction jobs if it’s so common. I am curious.

Mine tried hard to get a part time job at a coffee shop yet it seems no one is interested in hiring her.


If she is anything like you, that makes sense.


lol I am not that deranged PP.
The question is not for OP, but for the DC private mom.
I think construction job is a breath of fresh air to AOs. It's cool.


The kid didn't work construction, because its illegal to let a child that age actually do construction work.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 14:25     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
OP sounds nuts, but I will say that our local rec league does let high school students coach little kids soccer and basketball rec teams. Its too hard to get enough parent volunteers frankly. You have to be a junior or senior though.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 14:25     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Construction job is a breath of fresh air to AOs. Really unique. A lot of T20s would appreciate an EC like this!


LOL. Nope. My DC is at a DC private. He knows 4 classmates that did construction for the past few summers. It isn’t uncommon even for HHI kids.


Could you explain how these kids get to work construction jobs if it’s so common. I am curious.

Mine tried hard to get a part time job at a coffee shop yet it seems no one is interested in hiring her.


If she is anything like you, that makes sense.


lol I am not that deranged PP.
The question is not for OP, but for the DC private mom.
I think construction job is a breath of fresh air to AOs. It's cool.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 14:24     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
OP, could you explain what you mean by "construction lite"?
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 14:23     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Anonymous wrote:Being a relaxed, normal kid.

That's what I was thinking, but I don't think that is what this parent has in mind.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 14:20     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Construction job is a breath of fresh air to AOs. Really unique. A lot of T20s would appreciate an EC like this!


LOL. Nope. My DC is at a DC private. He knows 4 classmates that did construction for the past few summers. It isn’t uncommon even for HHI kids.


Could you explain how these kids get to work construction jobs if it’s so common. I am curious.

Mine tried hard to get a part time job at a coffee shop yet it seems no one is interested in hiring her.


If she is anything like you, that makes sense.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 14:19     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It’s very risky to fake extracurriculars. First of all you’re only doing it on one app, while AOs review thousands per year and they are very good at spotting inconsistencies.

Lies about club founders and presidents are probably the most common, which is why they carry very little weight.

You can lie about the federal judge internship, thinking you’ll never get caught, but AOs will know from experience that these are usually only open to seniors. Claiming you did one as a sophomore will raise a red flag.

You can claim you did construction work, because you know the company owner and he’ll lie for the kid if he were to get a call. But you forget about labor laws that prohibit underage students to use powered equipment, do hazardous occupations, requirements of work permits from high school, etc.

You can lie about coaching kids in baseball, hand waiving that it’s through the town recreational department. But AO read about thousands of kids who get involved in coaching through non-profits, private businesses, and know what an authentic experience is like.

It doesn’t take many inconsistencies to cast doubt on the applications and it’s downhill from there. That’s why all decent private admissions counselors advice to actually do the activities.


Seek help, you sound deranged.


Is it more deranged than helping your child lie on their college application that he “worked in construction”?

Nah, you’re the deranged one.

Deranged, but also dumb, because many posters expressed their doubts, yet you thing your half baked lies will fool AOs that read applications for a living.


Still sound unhinged, as you have throughout this head. I’m not op.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 13:54     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Construction job is a breath of fresh air to AOs. Really unique. A lot of T20s would appreciate an EC like this!


LOL. Nope. My DC is at a DC private. He knows 4 classmates that did construction for the past few summers. It isn’t uncommon even for HHI kids.


Could you explain how these kids get to work construction jobs if it’s so common. I am curious.

Mine tried hard to get a part time job at a coffee shop yet it seems no one is interested in hiring her.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 13:51     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What's "construction lite" mean?

When you say a kid had a part time job in construction, the implication is he is out in the yard with the day laborers laying concrete, building a deck, etc. Is that accurate?



Probably a relative owned business and he isn’t doing much of any real construction. Work permit restrictions for those under 18 mean any “construction” job they list is pretty much menial tasks or office stuff


Don’t forget he did it at 16, when there are even more work permit restrictions. They’ll probably be caught and auto rejected. Extracurriculars that help with college admissions are usually verifiable or corroborated independently.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 13:34     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It’s very risky to fake extracurriculars. First of all you’re only doing it on one app, while AOs review thousands per year and they are very good at spotting inconsistencies.

Lies about club founders and presidents are probably the most common, which is why they carry very little weight.

You can lie about the federal judge internship, thinking you’ll never get caught, but AOs will know from experience that these are usually only open to seniors. Claiming you did one as a sophomore will raise a red flag.

You can claim you did construction work, because you know the company owner and he’ll lie for the kid if he were to get a call. But you forget about labor laws that prohibit underage students to use powered equipment, do hazardous occupations, requirements of work permits from high school, etc.

You can lie about coaching kids in baseball, hand waiving that it’s through the town recreational department. But AO read about thousands of kids who get involved in coaching through non-profits, private businesses, and know what an authentic experience is like.

It doesn’t take many inconsistencies to cast doubt on the applications and it’s downhill from there. That’s why all decent private admissions counselors advice to actually do the activities.


Seek help, you sound deranged.


Is it more deranged than helping your child lie on their college application that he “worked in construction”?

Nah, you’re the deranged one.

Deranged, but also dumb, because many posters expressed their doubts, yet you thing your half baked lies will fool AOs that read applications for a living.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2026 13:18     Subject: Thoughts on ECs for junior--do we need anything else?
Anonymous wrote:What's "construction lite" mean?

When you say a kid had a part time job in construction, the implication is he is out in the yard with the day laborers laying concrete, building a deck, etc. Is that accurate?



Probably a relative owned business and he isn’t doing much of any real construction. Work permit restrictions for those under 18 mean any “construction” job they list is pretty much menial tasks or office stuff