ECs/Awards & Honors

This you need to do throughout your school years. Honestly, from personal experience, it's actually much better to focus on ECs throughout your high school career than focusing on your grades (For top schools they only amount to at most 10-15% of your application). (for universities in the US, ECs are at least 35% and up to 55% in top schools in terms of the weight of the application).

But no matter. You're here in the last stretch of pre-application life and you want to maximize your summer. Here's my advice on how to spend a very productive last summer before applications in my opinion.

1. Focus on your CommonApp essays. The biggest boost you can do to your application is creating a compelling essay. Considering that this is about 25% of your application, it is crucial that you get this right. This is why I put it as the #1 most important thing in your list. PERFECT THIS even if you think you finished.

2. Do one or two passion projects (which I plan to do as well). HOBBIES COUNT AS ECs. Most people tend to forget this. However, since it's a short-lasting EC, I would not expect it to cover the full 35-55% of your application for ECs. (I would guess maybe 9% for 1, 15% for 2 passion projects at most). This is why I put this second.

2b. While I'm on this topic, go ask your friends! You could possibly help contribute to their major passion project, EC, or possible collaborate together on one.

3. Study for SATs/ACTs if you have a low score (I should as well). This could amount to about 7-10% of your application.

4. Establish better relationships with your teachers. Seriously. This amount for ~5% of your application, so get every bit. Connect with teachers over the summer to show how you're doing!

5. Prep for next year's classes. You probably already know the syllabus for every class by now since you've been in high school for a long time. Just study it. Senior GPA is about 1-2% of your application. If you managed to somehow make time for all five activities I mentioned, congrats! You've done your best to have a productive summer. But it's okay if you can't. Make sure to do your summer homework because it will impact senior grades too!

But also remember to spend time with friends and stay sane by keeping your mental health stable.

But note, even if your ECs are weak, that's fine! Colleges want a well rounded school, not a well rounded student. My college admission advisor mentioned me this:

Imagine you rate each category on this scale:

1 - Won many national/international achievements in this category

2 - Extremely well qualified

3 - Fair (e.g. part of academics maybe a 1350-1450 SAT for ivies, lower for less competitive schools)

4 - Poor (below expectations)

Now let's have three categories called ACE: Academics/Athletics, Connections/Community Service/Character, Extracurriculars (including Honors)

(By honors, I mean Awards/Achievements)

Ivies want people who prefer to have someone with a 1, 2, and 3 in any category order more than a student with all 2s.

Colleges don't want perfect well-rounded people.

This means that it's totally fine to have a weak spot in one area.

Hope this helps,

SilverDragon (11th/rising 12th, Class of 2025, from Japan, 6 Tier 1 ECs/awards + 6 Tier 2 ECs/awards + Countless number of Tier 3 & 4 activities in high school.)