Hey everyone, I'm currently working on my college applications and I'm a bit stuck on what I should list as my activities and honors. What types of things do colleges like to see? If you could provide some examples, that'd be really helpful! Thanks for your help!
Hello! It's important to emphasize your passions and strengths, so try to showcase a variety of activities and honors that demonstrate not only your academic achievements but also your leadership, talents, and initiatives. Here are some examples of extracurricular activities and honors that you might consider including:
Extracurricular Activities:
1. Club leadership positions, such as president, vice president, treasurer, or secretary.
2. Participation in sports, such as varsity, JV, or club teams. If you're a team captain, make sure to note that as well.
3. Community service or volunteering projects, such as work with local nonprofits, organizing fundraisers, or participating in service-oriented clubs like Key Club or Rotaract.
4. Participation in school events or productions, such as theater performances, choir, band, orchestra, or dance ensembles.
5. Involvement in academic or subject-related clubs, like Model United Nations, Science Olympiad, or Math Team.
6. Membership in honor societies, such as National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, or Mu Alpha Theta.
7. Part-time work or internships, which can show responsibility, time management, and real-world experience.
For perhaps the most thorough list of extracurriculars out there, check out this blog post from CollegeVine, which lists over 900 involvements that students might list on their college applications: https://blog.collegevine.com/your-complete-list-of-extracurricular-activities/
Honors and Awards:
1. Academic awards, including honor roll recognition, AP Scholar recognition, or achievement in subject-specific competitions (e.g., National Spanish Exam awards).
2. Local or regional level awards, such as first place in a debate tournament or placing in a science fair.
3. State-level recognition, like being selected for All-State Band or Orchestra or being named a state finalist in a competition.
4. National awards or recognition, including winning a prestigious scholarship like Coca Cola Scholars, earning a Gold or Silver Congressional Award, or being named a National Merit Scholar.
When listing your activities and honors, ensure that they reflect your genuine interests and commitment. Remember, colleges are interested in the quality and impact of your involvements, not just the quantity. To learn more about how colleges evaluate your extracurricular involvements, using a system of four tiers, check out this blog post from CollegeVine: https://blog.collegevine.com/breaking-down-the-4-tiers-of-extracurricular-activities
Good luck with your college applications!
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.