Planning extracurricular activities in college can be tricky, especially if you have a particular career in mind. But contrary to what you might think, your extracurriculars don’t have to match your chosen field of study.
In this article, we’ll explore how colleges evaluate your extracurricular activities, how these activities affect your chances of admission, and tips for selecting extracurriculars that will impress admissions officers.
Extracurriculars in the Holistic Review Process
Colleges consider all aspects of an applicant’s profile when making admissions decisions. This includes grades, test scores, extracurricular activities, essays, interviews, and more. While each of these factors is important, some carry more weight, especially at selective schools.
Extracurricular activities are a key part of what colleges look at. They help your application stand out and give colleges a better sense of who you are beyond just your grades and test scores. When colleges review extracurricular activities, they consider things like:
- How long you’ve been involved in a particular activity.
- How your interest and involvement in an activity have changed over time.
- Any leadership roles you’ve taken on.
- What your extracurricular activities say about your motivations and abilities.
- How your different activities connect to give a fuller picture of who you are.
- The story behind your extracurricular activities.
Answering these questions helps colleges build a complete picture of each applicant, which is crucial for making successful college applications.
The Candidate Profile and Extracurriculars
Your candidate profile is a brief summary, usually one to two sentences long, that outlines who you are, what you’re involved in, and why universities should accept you. Whether you’re talking about your entrepreneurial endeavors or your part-time work in a lab with hopes of pursuing a career in medicine, the key is to present a compelling reason for admissions officers to consider you.
Extracurricular activities are entirely your choice and offer a chance to stand out in the application process, unlike academic achievements, which may be limited by your school’s offerings.
Choosing the Right Extracurricular Activities
Extracurricular activities can be tough for high school students, especially if they’re not sure what they’re really interested in. Sometimes, students feel pressured to do things that they think will look good on college applications, even if it’s not something they truly enjoy doing.
Imagine you’re a high school student who’s aiming to become a doctor and also loves competing in dance competitions. It might seem like dropping dance to focus on medical-related stuff would be the smart move. But it’s not always that simple. Colleges understand that students have different interests and talents. Your involvement in dance can actually be just as important as any medical-related activities, especially if it’s something you’re passionate about. And who knows, maybe you can even find a way to tie your love for dance into your application!
But it’s also important to remember that extracurriculars can’t make up for poor grades or test scores. Even if you have impressive activities on your resume, struggling academically can hurt your chances of getting into certain schools.
In the end, colleges want to see that you’re both dedicated and well-rounded. So, it’s important for your academic performance and your extracurriculars to show that you’re growing and learning over time.
Final Thoughts
When choosing activities outside of your regular school work, focus on what you love rather than just trying to make your resume look good. Look for ways to get more involved in the things you enjoy doing. You could start a club at your school, take on leadership roles, or compete in local or national events.
Showcase your interests and passions in your applications. Instead of trying to fit into a mold, be yourself and show Admissions Officers who you really are.
