I'm trying to build up my college application and want to add some extracurricular activities. Can anyone give me examples of what schools like to see or what you've done personally that proved to be valuable in the application process? I'm open to any suggestions!
I'm glad you're looking to expand your extracurricular involvement! Here are some examples of various extracurricular activities from different categories to help give you an idea of what might be interesting to pursue based on your interests:
1. Academically-focused clubs: Debate Team, Math Club, Science Olympiad, Model United Nations, Quiz Bowl, etc.
2. Leadership and service organizations: Student Government, National Honor Society, Key Club, volunteering at local non-profits, organizing or participating in community service projects, etc.
3. Arts and performance: School plays, musicals, choir, band, orchestra, dance team, creative writing club, art club, etc.
4. Athletics and sports: School sports teams (soccer, basketball, track & field, etc.), intramural sports, club sports, martial arts classes, etc.
5. Cultural and diversity clubs: Black Student Union, LGBTQ+ Alliance, Model United Nations, Spanish Club, cultural associations, etc.
6. Hobby or interest-based clubs: Environmental club, chess club, robotics team, film club, book club, etc.
These are just some initial ideas, but there are many more quality options out there. For perhaps the most comprehensive list of potential extracurriculars to include in your college applications, check out CollegeVine's blog, which provides over 900 ideas of activities to get involved in: https://blog.collegevine.com/your-complete-list-of-extracurricular-activities/.
It's crucial to remember, though, that colleges often prioritize quality involvement over quantity. So, instead of trying to do as many of those 900 activities as possible, try to find a few that you are genuinely passionate about and then actively engage in those. Ideally, you'll want to aim for a mix of Tier 1-3 activities (you can read more about extracurricular tiers on CollegeVine's blog: https://blog.collegevine.com/breaking-down-the-4-tiers-of-extracurricular-activities), and take on leadership roles or make significant achievements within particular organizations.
In addition to participating in pre-existing activities, you can also consider starting your own club or organization, especially if there's an unmet need or interest in your school or community. In addition to allowing you to pursue your true passion, this could showcase your initiative and leadership skills to colleges.
Lastly, don't forget to consider your particular skills and talents – if you have a unique ability (e.g., playing a niche musical instrument, being an excellent knitter, having a remarkable green thumb), make sure to highlight that in your applications as well, even if it may not fit the box as a conventional or "formal" extracurricular.
Good luck with your extracurricular pursuits!
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