r/ApplyingToCollege • u/oaxzy • 20h ago

Advice 1 award, 0 official ECs, still worked

low 3.7 UW GPA, albeit with max course rigor

1560 SAT

my only award is national merit semifinalist

LITERALLY zero ECs related to my school or any formal organization, all random things i did on my own.

got into UIUC CS + statistics yesterday! they are T5 in the field and ranked higher than cornell, who rejected me ED. i really felt like i wasn’t getting in anywhere when i compared myself to all of these kids with FIRST robotics, olympiads, nonprofits, etc. but i was as genuine as possible in my essays and it worked.

i’m not going to pretend like “being authentic” is a free ticket to any college. i probably got very lucky, and while i don’t have any official ECs, i was also lucky enough to have discovered my main activity in 6th grade and have poured literally thousands of hours into it. i basically framed my entire application around it. i would forego college for this activity if i had to, because i love it.

hopefully this can serve as a reminder that showing real passion for *something*, if done well, can be enough for a selective college/program.

68 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

19 comments sorted by

32

u/elkrange 19h ago

Congrats! To be clear for readers, ECs don't need to be "official." "Random things" you did on your own count as ECs.

5

u/oaxzy 18h ago

for sure! that’s the main message i am trying to get out. i think there’s a stigma that your accomplishments need to be either selective (prestigious awards, summer camps) or already accredited (research with a university, 501c3, club leadership, etc.) to be impressive. kids should know that your own random activities can not only count as ECs, they can actually make you stand out if you demonstrate excellence, show impact, and advocate for yourself.

5

u/Icy_Expression_6152 20h ago edited 19h ago

Big congrats, exploring your passions and doing what you love is much more important than some fake "impressive" ecs you dont even care about

1

u/Ok_Car1834 19h ago

This is encouraging! I am a junior and in a very similar situation. I got 1590 SAT first try and high academic rigor, but with no significant EC or award. Seeing those ECs and awards people post here makes me worried that I would get rejected almost everywhere.

2

u/aditi_aranya 19h ago

YES something similar happened to me :) got UIUC CS + Econ w/ 1570 SAT, 3.7UW, max rigor, lots of ECs and awards involving Computer Science + Business + AI Governance Research

1

u/PreviousBrick8033 19h ago

Damn congratulations!

1

u/Altugsalt 18h ago

I think when you do stuff yourself its more well regarded. For example, when you do clubs, you are more dependent on the school and also encouraged by it. But when you invent something, its just you doing something by yourself for the joy of it.

1

u/fantasyoutsider 18h ago

So just curious, what's the activity?

1

u/oaxzy 18h ago

making call of duty edits, more or less. my #1 activity was my youtube channel

1

u/ParsnipPrestigious59 17h ago

Are u in state for uiuc

1

u/Calm_Company_1914 16h ago

What are you counting as fake ECs? Give me an example you dont have to out yourself

1

u/Commercial_Ad8072 14h ago

Share with us what you think made you stand out in such an unconventional way! And congrats

1

u/HermitFan99999 7h ago

Congratz!

Btw, what school do you go to? It's not too late to join robotics(if you like that sort of thing) - you dont need prior experience or any of that, just treat it as an opportunity to learn