0 softs Forum

[rocaveli]

hey guys,

I have no clue what to put in the box marked "extracurriculars" or "awards" - i simply dont have any. I spend my time with friends; running, hiking, yoga, swimming, reading, philosophizing.. my gpa is 3.44, so no awards per-se.

I killed the LSAT but am somewhat worried about this lack of community involvement.

thoughts?

[Kiersten1985]

I didn't have any community involvement or activities aside from work experience. Any of that?

[postitnotes]

ECs are not that important, unless you don't have any. Then I think it does look pretty bad, especially since your GPA is low too. But a 180 looks different to a "low 170s" LSAT, so I think you are okay anyway, although you are going to have a hard time compiling a decent application. What are you going to write your PS about?

[rocaveli]

bump-biggity

any more thoughts?

[cardinalandgold]

I don't have any softs either, but I worked all throughout college to support myself. Hopefully AdComms will take that into consideration in my apps.

[Ragged]

Its not good, but not a deal breaker. LSAT should carry you a long way.

[Grizz]

You weren't ever part of a club relating to those activities? No job?

[TheLuckyOne]

Ok, I have trouble interpreting extracurriculars

I was under impression that stuff like yoga, sky diving, swimming etc would be considered one especially if the person was heavily/somewhat involved in it (and any rewards/competitions are not necessary). Certain work experience could belong to extracurriculars as well.

From what I see now, extracurricular activities are clubs and volunteering exclusively.

Anyone care to explain, please?

[rocaveli]

did have a pt job junior year, no clubs. school schedule was hectic and i lived off campus - did not want an excuse to drive back there for "club meetings"

i'm not too worried, i consider myself a well-rounded person, but it's kinda stupid how they judge u on basis of what "clubs" or "organizations" u were part of.. as if it matters.

[Kohinoor]

hey guys,

I have no clue what to put in the box marked "extracurriculars" or "awards" - i simply dont have any. I spend my time with friends; running, hiking, yoga, swimming, reading, philosophizing.. my gpa is 3.44, so no awards per-se.

I killed the LSAT but am somewhat worried about this lack of community involvement.

thoughts?

only matters in a tie.

[lsatbdog]

Ok, I have trouble interpreting extracurriculars

I was under impression that stuff like yoga, sky diving, swimming etc would be considered one especially if the person was heavily/somewhat involved in it (and any rewards/competitions are not necessary). Certain work experience could belong to extracurriculars as well.

From what I see now, extracurricular activities are clubs and volunteering exclusively.

Anyone care to explain, please?

I don't think extracurricular activities are clubs (not sure how broadly you are defining this term) or volunteering exclusively. Political campaign involvment, varsity collegiate athletics, work (of basically any nature done during UG), honors societies, frats/sororities (again not sure if you count this as a "club) etc are all extracurriculars. Basically, I would consider an extracurricular to be anything that you had to devote some effort and time to and that wasn't solely recreational in nature, ie there was some tangible benefit to it or some barriers to entry, however low.

Further, things like speaking a foreign language, having a pilots liscense, etc are all "softs". I guess a good working definition of a soft is anything that you had to devote a decent amount of time and effort to that had some purpose other than just personal enjoyment and/or produced or did something for other people.

I'm not sure what specifically you are asking, but if you have a sky diving or rock climbing certification or teach a class on them something, I would think that could be a soft and would certainly list it. If you just like to go to the rec center two or three times a week and hit up the pool or rock wall, not so much.

To the OP, did you ever make the Dean's or President's list, or receive any scholarships? It would at least be something to put. Either way I wouldn't worry about it too much, since I doubt it makes too big a difference and even if it does...not much you can do now.

[WhiskeyGuy]

Providing an accurate answer to this depends in part on where you are applying.

[TheLuckyOne]

Ok, I have trouble interpreting extracurriculars

I was under impression that stuff like yoga, sky diving, swimming etc would be considered one especially if the person was heavily/somewhat involved in it (and any rewards/competitions are not necessary). Certain work experience could belong to extracurriculars as well.

From what I see now, extracurricular activities are clubs and volunteering exclusively.

Anyone care to explain, please?

I don't think extracurricular activities are clubs (not sure how broadly you are defining this term) or volunteering exclusively. Political campaign involvment, varsity collegiate athletics, work (of basically any nature done during UG), honors societies, frats/sororities (again not sure if you count this as a "club) etc are all extracurriculars. Basically, I would consider an extracurricular to be anything that you had to devote some effort and time to and that wasn't solely recreational in nature, ie there was some tangible benefit to it or some barriers to entry, however low.

Further, things like speaking a foreign language, having a pilots liscense, etc are all "softs". I guess a good working definition of a soft is anything that you had to devote a decent amount of time and effort to that had some purpose other than just personal enjoyment and/or produced or did something for other people.

I'm not sure what specifically you are asking, but if you have a sky diving or rock climbing certification or teach a class on them something, I would think that could be a soft and would certainly list it. If you just like to go to the rec center two or three times a week and hit up the pool or rock wall, not so much.

To the OP, did you ever make the Dean's or President's list, or receive any scholarships? It would at least be something to put. Either way I wouldn't worry about it too much, since I doubt it makes too big a difference and even if it does...not much you can do now.

We agree on how we define extracurricular activities, though, I actually thought that even those activities that are exclusively for personal enjoyment, but require quite some time could be listed as well. In general, I think a person should use some common sense as to what is to be listed.

Thank you for the clarification, BTW.

[rocaveli]

Providing an accurate answer to this depends in part on where you are applying.

T14.

Lol@frat

I should rephrase my original post: I have no documented ECs, but plenty of softs - Im trilingual, have lived in 5 different countries, have three degrees (two in science, one econ), and am in general a cool dood.

[jonas586]

Find a treadmill and jog for 26 miles; then you can say you're a marathon runner.

[rw2264]

Providing an accurate answer to this depends in part on where you are applying.

T14.

Lol@frat

I should rephrase my original post: I have no documented ECs, but plenty of softs - Im trilingual, have lived in 5 different countries, have three degrees (two in science, one econ), and am in general a cool dood.

....then you have great softs. please don't act like you're too dumb to realize that, its insulting to the rest of us.

what's a "documented EC" anyway? some of the clubs i put on my apps weren't even recognized clubs. we had meetings, applied for recognition multiple semesters and were denied because the administration hated us. wooo.

[lsatbdog]

Ok, I have trouble interpreting extracurriculars

I was under impression that stuff like yoga, sky diving, swimming etc would be considered one especially if the person was heavily/somewhat involved in it (and any rewards/competitions are not necessary). Certain work experience could belong to extracurriculars as well.

From what I see now, extracurricular activities are clubs and volunteering exclusively.

Anyone care to explain, please?

I don't think extracurricular activities are clubs (not sure how broadly you are defining this term) or volunteering exclusively. Political campaign involvment, varsity collegiate athletics, work (of basically any nature done during UG), honors societies, frats/sororities (again not sure if you count this as a "club) etc are all extracurriculars. Basically, I would consider an extracurricular to be anything that you had to devote some effort and time to and that wasn't solely recreational in nature, ie there was some tangible benefit to it or some barriers to entry, however low.

Further, things like speaking a foreign language, having a pilots liscense, etc are all "softs". I guess a good working definition of a soft is anything that you had to devote a decent amount of time and effort to that had some purpose other than just personal enjoyment and/or produced or did something for other people.

I'm not sure what specifically you are asking, but if you have a sky diving or rock climbing certification or teach a class on them something, I would think that could be a soft and would certainly list it. If you just like to go to the rec center two or three times a week and hit up the pool or rock wall, not so much.

To the OP, did you ever make the Dean's or President's list, or receive any scholarships? It would at least be something to put. Either way I wouldn't worry about it too much, since I doubt it makes too big a difference and even if it does...not much you can do now.

We agree on how we define extracurricular activities, though, I actually thought that even those activities that are exclusively for personal enjoyment, but require quite some time could be listed as well. In general, I think a person should use some common sense as to what is to be listed.

Thank you for the clarification, BTW.

I think you actually could put things down that were down solely for personal enjoyment, but I would list them under an "interests" heading if you are submitting a resume to law school. Something like the fact that you run 40 miles a week or swim 5 days a week might go in here. Might seem like a semantic difference, but that does seem like kind of an important difference. I would think you would only include things like that if you didn't have some more tangible things, such as clubs/work/sports. Like you said, I think common sense dictates a lot of this.

Just my thoughts and my understanding, I could be wrong.

[TheLuckyOne]

Providing an accurate answer to this depends in part on where you are applying.

T14.

Lol@frat

I should rephrase my original post: I have no documented ECs, but plenty of softs - Im trilingual, have lived in 5 different countries, have three degrees (two in science, one econ), and am in general a cool dood.

I'm in the same boat, I have tons of work experience and "undocumented" ECs, but I feel it will take me quite some time to coherently and concisely put it on my application and I'm worried of how I am supposed to do it

[WhiskeyGuy]

Providing an accurate answer to this depends in part on where you are applying.

T14.

Lol@frat

I should rephrase my original post: I have no documented ECs, but plenty of softs - Im trilingual, have lived in 5 different countries, have three degrees (two in science, one econ), and am in general a cool dood.

I imagine having a blank EC field at Berkeley, Yale, and Stanford would be frowned upon. It sounds like you have some decent softs, though, so perhaps there is a way to convey those on the application form.

[rocaveli]

....then you have great softs. please don't act like you're too dumb to realize that, its insulting to the rest of us.

what's a "documented EC" anyway? some of the clubs i put on my apps weren't even recognized clubs. we had meetings, applied for recognition multiple semesters and were denied because the administration hated us. wooo.

Sorry dude didn't mean to be insulting - "grass is always greener on the other side"; in no place is this dictum better demonstrated than TLS. you consider my softs great, but I'm insecure about not having been president of the knitting club for four years.. or taken part in model UN.. so on and so forth.

Peace and love (yeah i live in cali)

[TheLuckyOne]

Sorry dude didn't mean to be insulting - "grass is always greener on the other side"; in no place is this dictum better demonstrated than TLS. you consider my softs great, but I'm insecure about not having been president of the knitting club for four years.. or taken part in model UN.. so on and so forth.

Peace and love (yeah i live in cali)

[Kohinoor]

Providing an accurate answer to this depends in part on where you are applying.

T14.

Lol@frat

I should rephrase my original post: I have no documented ECs, but plenty of softs - Im trilingual, have lived in 5 different countries, have three degrees (two in science, one econ), and am in general a cool dood.

I imagine having a blank EC field at Berkeley, Yale, and Stanford would be frowned upon. It sounds like you have some decent softs, though, so perhaps there is a way to convey those on the application form.

And of course UVA. I recently sat down for a heart to heart with members of the admissions committee, as we UVA students are wont to do, and they described how softs and the personal statement can make or break a person's application. A 3.4/159 can demonstrate the fit and strength of character that we Wahoos are known for while a 4.3/180 might lack the depth and interest in his fellow man that we demand of every applicant.

[ConsideringLawSchool]

I think that the point of softs is to show that you characteristics of you as a person and to help adcoms guess at your future behavior as a law student and a lawyer. IMHO, listing 15 clubs in which you were a member is less valuable than having one sustained passion that you have pursued in a demonstrated way over time (for example, building boats).

[TheLuckyOne]

Providing an accurate answer to this depends in part on where you are applying.

T14.

Lol@frat

I should rephrase my original post: I have no documented ECs, but plenty of softs - Im trilingual, have lived in 5 different countries, have three degrees (two in science, one econ), and am in general a cool dood.

I imagine having a blank EC field at Berkeley, Yale, and Stanford would be frowned upon. It sounds like you have some decent softs, though, so perhaps there is a way to convey those on the application form.

And of course UVA. I recently sat down for a heart to heart with members of the admissions committee, as we UVA students are wont to do, and they described how softs and the personal statement can make or break a person's application. A 3.4/159 can demonstrate the fit and strength of character that we Wahoos are known for while a 4.3/180 might lack the depth and interest in his fellow man that we demand of every applicant.

How many of 4.3/180s do you know to be rejected (I'm not talking about Yield Protect here) and 3.4/159s admittted instead at UVA? I personally haven't heard of a single case yet. It might be the case with the marginal numbers, not at the extremes IMO.

[rocaveli]

I think that the point of softs is to show that you characteristics of you as a person and to help adcoms guess at your future behavior as a law student and a lawyer. IMHO, listing 15 clubs in which you were a member is less valuable than having one sustained passion that you have pursued in a demonstrated way over time (for example, building boats).

buying yatchs?