Extracurriculars? Forum

espressocream · Post by **espressocream** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 2:44 am

Recently had a conversation with a friend of my dad's who thinks I'm not doing enough.
I've started a group on campus for my major which takes up a lot of my time, frequent the Amnesty International club and work part-time. On the quarter system this gets difficult when I'm also taking 18 credits every single quarter.
I've applied for internships that I'm actually interested in, but have yet to hear back.
I'll be studying abroad next fall in London and will most likely have an internship there though. Maybe.

He basically said that I need to do more - mind you he didn't go to law school and went to graduate school for international studies (my major). That I need several internships, tons of volunteering (and maintain a position of importance at the organization), and participate in student government (which on my campus is the most ineffective institution since the League of Nations)

How seriously should I take his advice about doing more? I don't want to do things just for the sake of putting them on my apps - I find it dishonest, personally. And I don't understand why people would put themselves through things they don't even want to do just for a shot a school - which can probably see through all your over-commitments anyways.

Currently a sophomore at a top 100 school (med. private) aiming for T14.

KibblesAndVick · Post by **KibblesAndVick** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 2:46 am

Drink and party while you can still enjoy college. Study really hard for the LSAT. Never look back.

NorCalBruin · Post by **NorCalBruin** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 2:50 am

Tell your dad that, for the most part, it's much more important that you focus on your grades--and you need time to focus on your grades. In the end, schools will care much more about your scores than your extracurriculars.

Besides, it sounds like you are already really involved!

neonx · Post by **neonx** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 3:03 am

I'm going to chime in here and politely disagree. I believe that ECs/softs (the right kind) can really help non-URM applicants who fall below 25th percentile in either LSAT or GPA for some quasi-selective schools in the T14s (e.g. CCN, MVP). Just my two cents.

ziggie · Post by **ziggie** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 3:08 am

I have very few ECs, which I was worried about during the app process. That didn't seem to hurt me at all

Sandro · Post by **Sandro** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 3:14 am

Currently a sophomore at a top 100 school (med. private) aiming for T14.

Are UG rankings really this prevalent these days ? I don't get it.

dr123 · Post by **dr123** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 3:16 am

UG rankings are the dumbest shit ever

MrPapagiorgio · Post by **MrPapagiorgio** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 3:43 am

dr123 wrote:UG rankings are the dumbest shit ever

+1

On the extracurricular question, unless you are doing something truly unique, don't worry too much. Everyone and their mother has one or two groups that they "participated in" and did some type of community service. However, if you started a non-profit that quickly became very successful (think those kids who started the cell phones for soldiers), that is worthwhile. But don't just do ec's to fill out the app. Because if you did not make an impact, adcomm's don't care how many you have.

espressocream · Post by **espressocream** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 3:44 am

Sandro wrote:
Currently a sophomore at a top 100 school (med. private) aiming for T14.
Are UG rankings really this prevalent these days ? I don't get it.

Mentioned it because after trolling these forums long enough I've realized that someone will eventually ask - since apparently it does give your app some weight? That's the impression I've gotten.

neonx · Post by **neonx** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 3:47 am

dr123 wrote:UG rankings are the dumbest shit ever

HYP.

dr123 · Post by **dr123** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 3:48 am

neonx wrote:
dr123 wrote:UG rankings are the dumbest shit ever
HYP.

you don't need to consult the us news rankings to know hyp are the best colleges

neonx · Post by **neonx** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 3:52 am

dr123 wrote:
neonx wrote:
dr123 wrote:UG rankings are the dumbest shit ever
HYP.
you don't need to consult the us news rankings to know hyp are the best colleges

Who said anything about consulting? It's a ranking--implied but still completely valid.

r6_philly · Post by **r6_philly** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 11:04 am

neonx wrote:
dr123 wrote:UG rankings are the dumbest shit ever
HYPSP.

piccolittle · Post by **piccolittle** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 11:08 am

r6_philly wrote:
neonx wrote:
dr123 wrote:UG rankings are the dumbest shit ever
HYPSP.

Blatant anti-Columbia trolling.

r6_philly · Post by **r6_philly** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 11:09 am

piccolittle wrote:
Blatant anti-Columbia trolling.

If they remember me this week...

NorCalBruin · Post by **NorCalBruin** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 11:42 am

HYPUCLA

rinkrat19 · Post by **rinkrat19** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 12:02 pm

LSAT+GPA >>>>>>>>>> Extras

Having no extracurriculars whatsoever is probably a bad thing, but you sound fine there. None of your stuff is on a par with a Medal of Honor, curing a disease, Olympic gold, etc, so it's all just average softs. (In LR terms, extracurriculars and soft factors are necessary but not sufficient to get into law school.) Grades and LSAT are 1000 times more important.

In fact, if any of your current extras are threatening to affect your grades, drop the extra immediately. And consider lightening your classload if you need to, to keep your grades up.

Perch · Post by **Perch** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 12:10 pm

NorCalBruin wrote:HYPUCLA

this made me laugh out loud, thank you. honestly, thank you.

Sandro · Post by **Sandro** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 12:17 pm

espressocream wrote:
Sandro wrote:
Currently a sophomore at a top 100 school (med. private) aiming for T14.
Are UG rankings really this prevalent these days ? I don't get it.

Mentioned it because after trolling these forums long enough I've realized that someone will eventually ask - since apparently it does give your app some weight? That's the impression I've gotten.

But what is a top100? Nobody outside of concerned college students will probably know. Imo it only holds weight (very little) if you're ivy or some online school (not great)

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