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Extracurriculars
I'm from the UK and I know in the US colleges focus quite a bit on what extracurricular activities you have. There's only one college I'm applying to in the US but it's my first choice so I'd really like to think I have a shot at this.
Problem is, my school doesn't offer extracurricular activities and this may be hard to belive but there's no after school activities available in my town (other than academic help which I don't need and sports which I'm not able to do due to health).
The college I'm applying to is an arts college but I'm going for fashion management and they mostly focus on your activites and personal statement, rather than grades.
I'm a sophomore right now and the only extracurricular I do is I play the drums. I've had a job since I was 13 and I'm going to continue working, I'm also looking for volunteer work & applying for an internship with a fashion company in New York this Summer (but the programme I'm applying for favours people with extracurricular activities too so I'm screwed haha.
What should I do!? I really need SOMETHING to put on my applications.
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What you have sounds pretty good! Most kids in American schools don't do a ton of extracurriculars. Sure there are the handful that are involved in EVERYTHING, but the average student is involved in just one or two groups. You play the drums and do volunteer work. This may surprise you, but that's great! The college you're applying to will really like that. Really hype up the volunteer work. Community service is a big deal and puts you above other applicants, especially if you stress the importance of it and how great it makes you feel in your essay. Not only does the community service put you above and beyond your job counts as an extracurricular. Having a real job with real responsibilities is seen as better than being in a useless club. It really puts you over the edge. Your job will put you way above and beyond kids that didn't have jobs and were in a bunch of silly clubs. I wouldn't worry at all if I were you. You seem like a very well-rounded person and if I were reading applications for a internship program I'd definitely like your experience and want you! Being an international student helps too! What you need to do is realize that you have plenty of extracurriculars. Talk yourself up! Good luck. :)
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First of all, blow up the drums and job if you can.. if you're in a band or whatever, try to play it up a lot. You don't have to have a billion extracurriculars - you just have to be a leader in the ones you are already in, mostly. Or excell in what you already do. Drums.. are you in a band? You can always "make" something up. Form a band with friends and say that you play with them or w/e at nursing homes or host concerts for charity. In addition to job, add on "babysitting" or doing chores for neighbors (mowing lawn, shoveling snow) - things people can't really track down or like you went door-to-door to sell stuff to raise money for a cause. Also, if you have an online shop of clothes you made or jewelry or cool stuff you can set that up now and they would not know when you first set it up. It'll look good because it has to do with selling fashion goods.
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