Conflicted about ECA's

bosoxnation33

5-Year Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2014
Messages
40
I know that the WCS is everything at USNA, and it's really been stressing me out the past couple days. I feel like I should be doing more, but I don't want to overwhelm myself. My courses are going to be more rigorous next year because I'll be taking mostly AP's. I really don't know what to do.
Here's what I'm definitely doing:
Softball for school (this is a huge commitment)
Leading a daisy troop
NHS (I'm only a sophomore but I have all the credentials)

I'm seriously considering joining Key Club to get more service hours and to be able to say I'm involved in an after school activity that's not a sport and CAP to familiarize myself with aerospace engineering to ensure that that's the major I want to pursue.

I feel like that's not enough though. I feel like I should do Girls State and get my Gold Award and start doing church group and maybe even join USNSCC. It might not sound like too much right now but I don't wanna join all these things and have my grades suffer because I spread myself too thin. I wanna be able to have time to exercise on my own and prepare for the SAT while still flourishing in my basic curriculum. I don't wanna submit my application and get denied for not doing things I could've done. Help?
 
Girls state takes a week during the summer. Scholarships are usually available from your American Legion Post. Put this one on your list for sure. No prep needed and you will have a great experience that also looks good on your resume.

Your grades/test scores are the biggest part of the package. You are right to keep them at the top of your priority list.

Can you do volunteer work this summer? Mission trip? work a job? I would try to add more ECAs to your summer so you don't feel as much pressure during the school year.

Then you can choose which school year ECA you think will be the best fit for you.

Just a thought.....and good luck!
 
I know that the WCS is everything at USNA, and it's really been stressing me out the past couple days. I feel like I should be doing more, but I don't want to overwhelm myself. My courses are going to be more rigorous next year because I'll be taking mostly AP's. I really don't know what to do.
Here's what I'm definitely doing:
Softball for school (this is a huge commitment)
Leading a daisy troop
NHS (I'm only a sophomore but I have all the credentials)

I'm seriously considering joining Key Club to get more service hours and to be able to say I'm involved in an after school activity that's not a sport and CAP to familiarize myself with aerospace engineering to ensure that that's the major I want to pursue.

I feel like that's not enough though. I feel like I should do Girls State and get my Gold Award and start doing church group and maybe even join USNSCC. It might not sound like too much right now but I don't wanna join all these things and have my grades suffer because I spread myself too thin. I wanna be able to have time to exercise on my own and prepare for the SAT while still flourishing in my basic curriculum. I don't wanna submit my application and get denied for not doing things I could've done. Help?

Easy there. You're right in that WCS is (mostly) everything, but they don't publish how each ECA is weighted. Most people on these forums will tell you that the quantity of your ECA's is far less important than what you actually achieve in them. Can you become the captain of the softball team? Can you become an officer in NHS?

Girls State is huge, but tell me how this will interfere with your grades? It's during the summer, and if it falls between exam weeks, I'm sure your school admins will understand. Earning the Gold Award will help your WCS tremendously. There's hundreds of Gold Awardees and Eagle Scouts (myself included) at USNA. What part of your high school life is preventing you from doing what 15% of the Brigade did?

Today I woke up at 6:00, worked out, did homework during my off-periods, went to practice, went to a mandatory brief, and now I'm doing homework again. The academies are all about time-management. That's perhaps the biggest thing I've been taught here. High school can't even compare to it. For you, it may mean giving up a sunday to do homework, or forgoing a party, or skipping dinner with friends. It's a lot of work. We've all been there. Just always remember why you're doing it.

You'll have plenty of time when you're up here to decide whether or not to pursue a group 1 major. Your performance in math and science courses should help you self-evaluate your own aptitude. And no matter what your workload is right now, aerospace engineering will be both harder and more time consuming.

Keep up your grades, stay involved, and pursue leadership. "Be Excellent" in everything you do. Everyone found a balance in high school. You need to as well.
 
Don't forget that while, yes, it is important to have EC's, immerse yourself in extracurriculars you like. Quality, not quantity.
 
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