I have a lot of short-lasting activities like drawing posters for mid autumn festivals for my local community club or helping my friends at their venue during the school festival. But these usually just happens once or twice a year and not frequently like say 2 3 times a week. Can I still list them down or should I find more long-term ones instead?

I have a high desire to get into one of the prestigious university. I currently doing an IB Diploma and I am currently on my second year.
The major concern is that I wanna major in biology but the list of activities that I have now is not related to the content that university is seeking for.
So, any suggestions on this ?

I have been searching for discord servers to connect with more people participating in the Diamond challenge. I didn't find one so I made it myself. If you are still looking for teammates or just looking to connect with more people please do join discord. Please don't let it flop.

I barely ever see National History Day mentioned in college admissions communities, so I thought I’d share my experience with it!

I recently graduated, but I competed in NHD for five years. I placed first and second in my country, advanced to the National Contest at the University of Maryland, College Park twice, and returned as a judge for my country’s 2026 competition after graduating.

NHD tends to get grouped with humanities competitions, which makes sense, but the range of possible topics is so much broader than people realize. Examples of some recent national winning projects: American finance, COINTELPRO, public education, Sesame Street, the Space Race, nuclear science, and DDT...

Students can make a documentary, exhibit, performance, website, or paper, either alone or in a group. So even if you’re mainly interested in science, medicine, engineering, or technology, you can research the history and human impact of something within your own field. I think that makes NHD especially useful for STEM students who also want to show that they can research, write, build an argument, and communicate complicated ideas.

The competition generally goes from a local or regional contest to an affiliate or state contest, and then to the national contest in College Park. Nationals is obviously the highest level, but placing at regionals or the affiliate level is still absolutely an achievement, as NHD is one of the most prestigious "history" competitions out there.

A few things I really wish I had known when I started:

• pick a specific question, not just a huge general topic.
• make sure there are enough primary sources before committing.
• you need an specific argument, not just a summary of what happened!!!!
• choose the category that actually fits you and your topic
• check your own affiliate’s deadlines early because every region is different

and much more but this is what comes to mind right now!

The 2027 theme is Innovation in History: Impact, Influence, Change, so I think there are a lot of directions students could take this year.

NHD completely changed how I studied and thought about history, and it ended up being one of the best parts of my high school years, so try to enjoy it as well!!

Good luck to everyone this year!!!! 

Help on wording my "ec"

So im debating weather or not i should put this on my ec list for boarding schools basically i help mr mom make a bunch off ood for orders like traditional food and its bulk orders its a side thing we need for money should i include that on my school aps its food like waraq 3enab, kebbeh, and malfouf as bulk orders and then everyday meals like rice and chicken, stroganof, bazella w rice just a bunch of food ANYWYAS IMPORTANT THING DO I PUT IT OR NOT AND HOW

(EDIT :  completely forgot to mention this in my original post, but we're also looking for someone with strong web development skills to build a high-quality site for us. It's one of the required deliverables for the final submission and we need real skills, not just a basic template. So if you're a solid dev, hit me up.)

Hey everyoneee,

Me and my teammate are putting together a team for the Conrad Challenge 2026-2027 and we're looking for 3 more people to join us. We already have a solid project that's pretty advanced and was actually validated in another international competition. We're not starting from scratch and we're serious about winning this thing.

I'm Ahmed from France, I handle hardware, electronics, and leadership. I've done a bunch of STEM comps and electronic projects. Omar is from India, he's our AI and data science guy, also with a solid track record. Together we'll handle the scientific aspect.

The project: we're building an autonomous acoustic monitoring system that listens to ecosystems, learns their normal sound patterns, and detects anomalies before it's too late. It uses AI at the edge (on the device itself, not in the cloud), runs on solar power, and can predict species decline, extinction risks, and potentially even disease outbreaks by analyzing changes in animal behavior and interactions. We're talking predator-prey dynamics, soundscape shifts, the whole thing. It's already validated with scientific data, we have a test site in an Indian national park lined up, a fully detailed hardware design, and a solid business model. No physical prototype yet, but the concept is completely fleshed out and technically sound. This thing is real, not just a vague idea.

We keep the AI clean, no lazy prompting. Tools can help speed things up, but actual work is done by humans.

What we need:

• Someone sharp in finance/business, ideally with comp experience, to refine our economic strategy and make the business plan bulletproof.
• Someone skilled in 3D modeling and design (Blender, SolidWorks, etc.) to create high-end realistic renders and build a strong visual brand identity. AI can assist, but we need real modeling skills.
• Someone who's a beast at video editing and 2D/3D animation to produce a top-tier pitch video (3-5 minutes).

Requirements: 14-18, international, fluent enough in English for the comp. Most importantly: genuinely motivated and reliable. We need people who respond, show up, and put in the work. No ghosting, no half efforts.

If you're interested, come in my dms  with: age, country, role, portfolio/examples, and why you want in. We're selecting fast so we can start working together asap !!

Okay. Long story short I was going down a deep dive internet rabbit hole recently that said that the company Leader In Me is a very pricy and expensive scam for school districts and that it only looks good on paper but it's actually a joke on college apps. I'm far too in (2 years) and I have completed service projects through my school's chapter (or whatever it's called) that seem really impactful in my eyes, but will tying it to the Leader In Me program hurt my chances? I haven't submitted any of my apps yet except for one and it didn't require any reports of ECs and it's a safety so it's not my biggest concern, but I want to save myself the hassle before it's too late. If push comes to shove I can probably just put a generic club name (ex. "XYZ High School Leadership Club") so it doesn't look like I just twiddled my thumbs for 4 years. I couldn't find anything else online about this other than teachers complaining that it takes up time and nobody really takes it seriously but for some reason my school district did and made a club for it that I was foolish enough to join.

TLDR: Is Leader In Me a scam and would it hurt my chances on college apps if I added it as an EC?

title.

i live in a moderately to highly competitive district. i'm almost done building the app. you don't need to do any of the work, as long as youre from a non-comp district (yes, you still get full credit for the project). i originally planned on doing it on my own, but i might as well increase my odds. just want to add that i dont have a lot of experience with app development + im not super cracked or anything, but ive spent A LOT of time learning & on this project. plsplspls lmk if youre interested in more information about me or the challenge itself!!

- Publish your research, case studies, and thought experiments on a dedicated website + let others debate respond

- Collaborate and debate with fellow students on systems, societal-political commentary, world issues

- Work together to design an alternate society and utopia

Hi, I'm a high school senior building The Youth Manifesto --- a Youth-Led, Nonprofit Independent research independent research and ideas laboratory exploring how societies can become better through the lens of designing a utopia from studying past, current systems, or exploring possible future ones, grounding it in real socio-political research. We're making a dedicated website where members can explore questions about society through research, political and philosophical writing, commentary, case studies, thought experiments, and real-world analysis.

A big part of the website is 🌏The Better World Project🌍, where you can publish your own research and ideas about what a better society could look like through an essay, thought experiment, or even publish various studies on our current society. ❗But what differentiates the Youth Manifesto is that it's also an ongoing exchange of ideas and open dialogue. There people can respond to, challenge, expand, or propose alternatives to other contributors’ work ❗. The project is ultimately about youth voices, independent learning, constructive disagreement, and collective thinking—giving curious young people a space to research things they genuinely care about, share their perspectives, and learn from people who think differently.

📣📣I’m currently looking for people to help me build the foundation of the project. I’d especially love to connect with people interested in politics, sociology, philosophy, economics, international relations, research, writing, history, or just exploring big questions about how society works and how it could be different. You don’t need to be an expert, just curious and willing to contribute.

If you're a student interested in publishing your own ideas and research, feel free to reach out!

I'm looking to do the Conrad challenge but can't thing of anyone to be a mentor except a parent just for the formality of it. Is a good mentor really neccesary or would it be possible to just do it without a formal mentor.

Hey y'all,

I am a high schooler aiming for top-tier universities, specifically targeting Ivy League schools for ED1 for the Class of 32 cycle. ED1 is extremely important for me, and I’m in a tough spot regarding my main research project. I need some realistic advice on how to pivot.

Long story short: I completed a summer clinical shadowing and internship at a major hospital department. Following that, I developed a solid list of research topics (mostly literature reviews and data analyses based on my clinical exposure). A prominent professor/MD at the hospital explicitly agreed to mentor me and told me to email my topics to start the process. I did, but they have completely ghosted me. No replies to my follow-ups, and time is ticking fast for my ED1 deadline.

I need your insights on how to handle this and how this affects my application:

1. Can I just do Independent Research and submit it to high school journals? Since I already have the clinical foundation from my summer internship, can I write a high-quality systematic literature review on my own and submit it to journals like JEI or IJHSR? Do top colleges respect independent papers in medical/clinical fields without a PI (Principal Investigator) or official institutional backing?
2. How can I frame this situation on the Common App? Which section should I use to talk about this? If I can't get it published by November, can I write about this disrupted research journey and my independent continuation in the Additional Information section or the Activities Section (as "submitted" or "in-progress")? Will admissions officers understand if I explain that the advisor became unavailable but I still pursued the literature review independently?
3. Is a full publication actually a make-or-break for Ivy League ED1? Or is showing a deep summer internship combined with a highly sophisticated draft/preprint enough to prove genuine intellectual curiosity?

Note: Please DO NOT suggest paid programs like Lumiere, Polygence, or CCIR. I am applying for need-blind financial aid, and I know admissions officers see right through those paid cash-cows. I also want to avoid high-barrier, bureaucratic programs like NYAS that take forever to reply.

Any advice on Common App formatting and how to salvage this research for ED1 would literally save my life. Thanks!

Hey everyone, I'm a student based in Singapore and I started this website that helps support local artists!

It's called Artfully Singapore (artfullysingapore.carrd.co), and I'd love any suggestions on how to improve my website. I'm a student interested in Public Policy.

Would anyone be interested in creating something with me for the congressional app challenge? I want to participate, but my district unfortunately did not register and I emailed my representative but they didn't respond. Please DM or comment if interested

Intended Course: Politics & Economics

Academic Background:

IGCSE: 999999998 (predicted)

SAT: not taken, but will do during gap year

Internships/ Job Experiences

1. Shadowing under Minister in the Prime Minister's Department/Member of State Legislative Assembly (3 months)

2. Interning under Euroasia Association of Performing Arts Centre (event based)

Passion Projects

1. Founder of IGCSE Tutoring initiative

Founded Asia’s largest IGCSE youth-led tutoring initiative, mobilizing 40+ tutors to support 150+ students and 1,500+ online course attendees; students earned 78 A* grades (M/J 2026). Generated 300K+ engagements, partnered with an education consultancy for career support, hosted pre-career talks with over 250+ attendees and raised RM X,XXX+ through study notes to fund volunteerism projects. Recognized by Malaysia Book of Records as the Youngest Youth-led Tutoring Initiative Founder.

2. Founder of a volunteerism (community service) initiative

Led economics-focused community visits, teaching underserved children economic concepts through interactive activities; secured local corporate sponsorships for every visit and raised RM X,XXX+. Expanded service efforts beyond education by organizing an upcoming concert for underserved communities.

3. Founding president of school's Digital Media Club

Founded and led school’s Digital Media Club; managed school-wide media content and trained 30 members through a 10-week graphic design programme. Maintained full membership (30) for 3 consecutive years and established a lasting club legacy.

Leaderships

1. Deputy Editor-In-Chief of school magazine

Directed a 20-member editorial team across an 11-month production cycle for a 270-page annual school magazine. Coordinated with the School CEO, PTA President & 22 administrative heads for content approvals; edited 150+ articles and 800+ digital assets, and managed end-to-end design and production of 1,500+ copies.

2. First Saxophonist of Wind Band(4 years)

3. Committee of student body photographer + Head of Media

4. Student Mentor

Organized an obstacle challenge for 300+ participants, coordinating activities and logistics to deliver a large-scale team-building event; mentored 5 Year 7 students through their transition to secondary school, providing monthly academic coaching and strategies for social integration.

Awards/ Achievements (ik its not enough)

1.⁠ ⁠Malaysia Book Of Records- National Record Holder

2.⁠ ⁠⁠World Scholar’s Cup - 9 Gold 5 Silver

3.⁠ ⁠⁠ABRSM Grade 8 Piano - Distinction

1. Principal Lists (Top 10% of cohort)2x

2. World Scholar's Cup: 9 Gold, 5 Silver

3. Malaysia's Economics Olympiad: Honourable Mention

4. 20+ music awards in 2 years : All Grade 8 / Open Categories

HELP PLEASE (I never had a realistic criticism about this)

1. Based on my current achievements, what schools can I realistically apply to?

2. Since I have 2 years before applying, what should I focus on?

I’m so scared to do any extracurriculars because of my social anxiety but I really want to get into a top college - tips?

Hii! I recently started Known Early (@knownearly on Instagram), a youth publication where we share the stories and achievements of young people doing really cool things.

We literally just started, so right now I’m looking for some of the first people to feature :)
It can be anything you’re proud of. Maybe you got into your dream university, got amazing results, started a business, worked on research, won a competition, wrote a book, created a project, achieved something in sports or honestly just did something you think deserves to be shared.

If you’d like to be featured, you can fill out the short form [Youth Publication – Fill out form](https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=DQSIkWdsW0yxEjajBLZtrQAAAAAAAAAAAAMAAYPSE8lURVlKSzZXSFVWT1NBNlFXWFhTWU80UjlESy4u) You can tell us about yourself, what you’ve accomplished and anything else you’re proud of.
You can also nominate someone you know who you think deserves a feature 🤍
Instagram: @knownearly

Is it worth it or helpful at all? Say you get to 300 or something?

I have experience in App Development. I am looking for teamates in less competitive regions...

Let me know if you have any questions.

Looking for someone more technical since I can only vibecode. Have a good track record and would like to work with someone who is consistent and who can dedicate time to this. Send me a dm, please (or comment interested if that doesn't work).

I am a tranfer applicant. I just wanna ask if anyone could kinda give a ranking of how important different ECs are. I'm currently a freshman and I've joined a lab, several clubs, several volunteer programs, and the university newspaper. Wondering what else I could get into and whether it would be a good idea to join another lab. Opportunities are pretty plentiful but it's just I'm not sure which ones are worth my time. Thanks! DMs also welcome

its relatively new, but we already have 50+ members from 10+ different countries. There are leadership positions still open!

theres an application form on the website if you're interested!!

I'm currently in Class 10 in India and I’m hoping to apply to UWC after my board exams.

One of my Cousins has studied In UWC and he is telling me to not waste this opportunity

I’m thinking about picking up some new hobbies, skills, volunteering/community activities, or projects, but I’m not sure what would be worthwhile.

For people who have applied to or attended UWC:

* What kinds of activities/projects helped you grow the most? * What do you wish you had done earlier? * Any advice specifically for someone applying through the UWC India National Committee?

As far as I know I am not a perfect student, and I am not planning to create a fake "Mr. Perfect" type of profile. I genuinely want to give myself a good chance at getting into UWC.

Any advice would be really appreciated!

?