Best Extracurriculars for College Applications

Your involvement in high school extracurriculars can help you gain a competitive advantage when applying to college. These activities can also show what makes you unique beyond your transcripts and test scores while demonstrating leadership ability and a willingness to serve your community. While different schools put different stock in extracurriculars, almost every college considers them when deciding which students to admit. The right high school activities can make a big difference during the admissions process.The best extracurriculars you can engage in that can significantly impact your likelihood of getting accepted are listed below.

1. Academic Teams and Clubs. When the committee reviews your college application, they will look beyond your GPA since they want to know what you can contribute to society. The simplest method is listing any clubs or teams you have been a part of. Academic groups are designed to deepen your grasp of a specific topic or interest. Your eagerness to develop your skills will be evident to the committee if you include academic groups in your college application. So if you haven’t been a part of any academic teams and clubs, it’s better to start now.

2. Internships. An internship shows that you have some experience relevant to your future field, which might be helpful when applying for a college. You must incorporate internships in your application because they distinguish you from other applications. Including them demonstrates your commitment to the field you’ve chosen, ensuring that your application is placed at the top of the pile at the admissions office.

3. Leadership. Leadership work may be one of the most important extracurriculars the committee will consider when reviewing your college application. Therefore, you may have an advantage over other applicants by mentioning that you have had a leadership position in the past. This includes holding a leadership role in student clubs, sports teams, or any other organization—as long as you possess the necessary skills.

4. Part-Time Jobs. Having a part-time job as one of your extracurricular activities demonstrates your capacity for effective time management between your college and your work. The committee will give your application more attention than others if you keep a good GPA while working a part-time job, demonstrating that you are hard-working. So make sure to include part-time jobs in the extracurriculars section of your application to increase the chances of being a part of that specific university.

5. Volunteering and Community Service. Volunteer work and community service symbolize humanity, empathy, and giving back to society, especially when you apply for a scholarship. It impresses the committee by showing that you can help the community without any form of compensation. You can volunteer at your local library or animal shelter, help those in need, and so on.

6. Cultural Clubs. Being a part of a culture club means that all students, without any exceptions, are welcomed to join to learn how to set goals, work together and feel proud of their accomplishments. Stereotypes are not approved in this club and will gain the committee’s interest as they want people who give a voice to the population, not people who limit it.

7. Travel. Traveling does not mean mentioning a trip you had with your family or friends. It implies an exchange trip where you go to another country to study for a whole semester. Traveling for learning purposes can be considered an extracurricular activity, so mention that on your application. While it has its benefits, you have also grown as a person and learned how to live independently, which interests the admissions committee; how far can you go on your own?

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services