Do extracurricular activities REALLY matter?
I am going to be a junior in the fall and have absolutely no ECs whatsoever. I was depressed and had an eating disorder freshman year and the first semester of my sophomore year. I had no motivation to stay after school longer than required. I am in the top 5% of my class and have a GPA of 4.714 (5 point scale) and have taken all honors classes and AP World.History. I want to major in biology, animal science, or environmental science. I help my parents out with their business on the weekends if that counts. I plan on going to a decent school ( 68% acceptance rate). Do I have a chance at getting in? Is my lack of EC's a drawback?
Comments
Maybe, but with a GPA like that, who the heck cares? I suggest you chose a focus and stick with it. It could be in your studies (a string of similar, challenging courses is good), a hobby, or anything else. You're halfway through high school, so if you can find a focus quickly, it'll be a snap. If your focus aligns somewhat with something you've been doing for a while, you can still credit your past work as an extra curricular. For example, if you're into books, you could join a book club or do a little work at your local library, and that'll fit in with your past experience. Good luck!
It depends on the school plus your SAT scores. For instance, if you apply to a school and your grades and SAT scores are way over what they require, you will get in. However, if you apply to a more selective school and you are on the borderline between acceptance and rejection, the person who has the same GPA and SAT scores plus lots of ECs will get in ahead of you because it shows that they can do well in school as well as doing outside activities.
By the way, the fact that you help your parents at their business is an extra curricular activity. Write it up in your applications and mention how many hours you spent there. It will help you. Good luck!
They matter to a lot of schools, most notably the Ivy Leagues and similar "extremely selective" colleges. They don't matter much at all to others. As to your situation, working weekends at the family business certainly qualifies since it gives you knowledge and experience that is over and above and quite separate from academic work. However, it would be good if you would add one or two other things beginning this fall, and joining a couple of clubs at school would qualify. You might find an environment group interesting, and could volunteer at a local animal shelter.
No, no longer until the activity is at present appropriate to what you're aiming for. for example, volunteering as a newspaper columnist at your college paper is at present appropriate to a graduate software in journalism , so as which will help lots. although, it has 0 relevance to a graduate software in, say, biology. Likewise, doing an intramural game is appropriate to a grad software in activities physique shape. yet on no account appropriate to an MBA software. i think of you get the photograph. As for artwork, surely any style of journey enables build a resume in case you haven't any longer have been given genuine artwork journey. although, for the journey to count form it needs to have been important sufficient the place you may cite features that helped you boost professionally and appropriate to the artwork you have an activity in. for example, volunteering at a medical institution will generally artwork on your choose in procuring get entry to-point medical institution administrative varieties of jobs. Non-appropriate stories tend to be susceptible sauce. standard even with the undeniable fact that, you would be aiming for an internship (paid or no longer, does not be counted) in college it is in-line in the direction of your occupation aims throughout your junior and senior years, as this would artwork to you income far, far, better than something.
They weight then pretty heavily because most schools use a holistic approach but I'm sure you'll get in some where because your gpa is great and you can explain your situation in your essay!