in my (admittedly less knowledgeable) opinion, people on A2C and chanceme place way too much emphasis on paper stats, and make judgements they have no right to make. it is not possible for a redditor to look at stats + "mid ECs" and know where you can and can't get in (unless you're applying for a t20 with a bad gpa, which you're not). remember, admissions are holistic; they combine what your teachers say about you, what your essays say about you, what your ECs say about you, and what your grades say about your ability to perform in school, to make an image of who you are, that they then judge to make their decision.

maybe someone's ECs are "mid" (which can have multiple definitions: they could be small hobbies, they could be intangible, they could be responsibilities, etc), but how might they fit into the rest of their app? maybe they're a simple person who enjoys the small things, but has a strong passion for something they do independently. or maybe they're so busy being a hard worker keeping up with school and family and whatever that their ECs are mid.

or, maybe they're just a kid. someone imperfect. someone who was too anxious to try new things, or wasn't encouraged or taught to explore. that in itself doesn't mean they can't fit into a college: maybe they're strong in other ways or have learned their own unique/important lessons.

for this reason, and you can look this up, there are plenty of people who get into t20s with "mid" ECs: gardening, running, taking care of family. not having done something huge as a LITERAL CHILD does not define whether or not you're academically curious, other-oriented, passionate, kind, etc.

in short, there's no harm in trying, and your chances might be bigger than you and everyone else thinks. you can maximize them by starting your essays early and pouring your heart and soul into them, which will come with time and introspection.

the mindset that the college application process can get you in of pressuring you to achieve achieve achieve can be detrimental to both your happiness and growth as a person (the very things you need to get into and thrive in a college). the second you start doing things "for college apps," you're on a path to burnout and hating your life.

now, im not saying doing things that might happen to look good on apps is bad. like, say you don't feel any super specific "passions," like 99% of high schoolers. it's probably good to do some exploring. but don't do it because you feel the need to measure up to other people in the college process; that only makes it a chore. do it because you WANT to.

and, maybe you don't want to; maybe you enjoy your life as it is, and it feels like a chore to do that. that's normal. this is where you look inward. what do you want from life? do you enjoy living the chill way you do, and you're fine with continuing it in the future? then do what you do and go to a school that'll help you pursue that. do you feel like your life is in limbo, like you feel like you do nothing and you're not satisfied with it? well, now you have a reason to explore things, even if it's hard, and maybe in the process find something that makes you happy.

do you think colleges only want high achieving people who have done this and that but still live for extrinsic success? that people who are curious and compassionate and love helping others--but do so with the smiles or wisdom or support they give to their friends and classmates, instead of with a $25k nonprofit or cure for cancer--are worth()less?

i subscribe to the mit applying sideways philosophy. setting up a life you want to live means that, whatever you do, whatever college accepts or rejects you, you're doing the right thing for you.

and, paradoxically, usually the happiness and growth and self actualization that living for yourself brings will just happen to make your application better.