A Guide to Extracurriculars

If grades and test scores were all that colleges looked at when making admissions decisions, history would look quite different. Ever heard of Charles Darwin? Winston Churchill? Albert Einstein? What do these famous minds have in common? They all got rather poor grades in high school. Now, it’s not that these men were not brilliant, obviously, but homework and tests were not their forte. They showcased their brilliance in other ways.

So, how can you showcase all you have to offer beyond just your GPA and test scores? One word: extracurriculars.

Extracurricular activities are arguably the most important part of your college application because they speak to what you choose to do with your own time. Everyone has to go to school, but not everyone has to participate in activities outside of the classroom. Extracurricular activities show your interests, your passions, your self-motivation, your leadership skills, and everything else those letters and numbers can’t. Let’s talk about some of the ways you can make the most of your free time throughout your high school years that will help you build an impressive college application (and, hopefully, fulfill you along the way)!

Freshman Year:

My advice for freshmen in high school is simple. Try things! You may not know what you like yet, and that’s okay. Take risks, make mistakes, and don’t be afraid to fail. If you sprint to catch the school bus every day, try out for the track team. If your mom yells at you for singing too loudly in the shower, audition for the school musical. If you find yourself doodling in the margins of your algebra textbook, join the art club. Better yet, do all of these things. Freshman year is about testing different activities to figure out what you really enjoy and want to continue pursuing.

Sophomore Year:

During your sophomore year you should focus your energy on the extracurricular activities that make you happy, while charting a trajectory that builds your hobby into something you can be truly proud of. Sophomore year is the year of practice and progress. Let’s say you joined the school newspaper, for example. You might not be an award-winning journalist yet, but you’re learning the ropes: interviewing subjects, writing articles, editing freshmen’s work, etc. You are building a skill set and steadily becoming better at the things you enjoy.

Junior Year:

I know junior year is already the most dreaded year of high school. Classes are harder. You’re taking your SATs or ACTs. It’s stressful. But junior year is also the year when you want to step up in your extracurriculars and become a leader. Let your coach know you’d like to be considered for team captain. Run for president of the student government. This is the year to take those skills you built sophomore year and put them to use. You will also want to look into regional or national competitions or contests you can enter where you would receive recognition for your work.

Senior Year:

The summer before your senior year is a crucial time to devote yourself to your extracurricular activities. Remember, jobs count! So don’t feel like you have to attend a fancy, expensive summer program. Having a summer job shows hard work and dedication, two incredibly valuable qualities for a college student. That said, if you can find work related to the extracurricular activities you’ve been involved in, that’s even better. Once the school year begins, you will again want to pursue leadership positions and also act as a mentor to younger students.

Now that we’ve looked at how you can develop your extracurricular resumé throughout high school, I’m going to answer some frequently asked questions.

How many extracurriculars do I need? The more the merrier?

There’s no magic number of extracurriculars that looks most impressive to admissions officers, but I would say that the number matters far less than the investment you make in each of them. Sure, being part of 15 clubs might seem remarkable at first, but if you didn’t really develop and deepen your involvement in any of them, it seems far less remarkable. I’d say quality over quantity when it comes to extracurriculars.

What kinds of extracurricular activities to colleges want to see?

Well, first of all, if you’re more focused on what colleges want to see than what you want to do, you’re going to drive yourself crazy and probably have a miserable high school experience. Second, colleges “want” to see what you want to show them. They care less about specifically which activities you do and more about your passion and dedication. So, discover what interests you and pursue it!

BUT… COVID?!

Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic has made it very difficult for any clubs, teams, volunteer groups, etc. to meet this year, and students are stressed about it. My advice: do what you can with the understanding that colleges are aware of your unique situation. Admissions officers will know that concerts and games and mock trials were cancelled. They will look to see how you coped with that loss and how you navigated this new world. Try to be innovative. Was your school play cancelled? Organize monthly Zoom readings with the drama club. Unable to hold a bake sale for the local soup kitchen? Sign up to deliver groceries to the elderly and immunocompromised. We have all had to find new ways of doing what we love, and colleges know that.