Sup y'all, I've got some questions about out-of-school activities. Do they weigh as much as academic performance or official extracurriculars in the application process? How do I highlight these activities in my application? Looking forward to your insights!
Hi there! Great question. You're spot on to be considering how out-of-school activities factor into college admissions, as they can play a significant role.
Colleges often look at out-of-school activities because they provide additional insight into your interests, personality, and commitment. These activities fall under what is commonly referred to as extracurriculars in the college admissions process. While your academic performance, including grades and test scores, is still a key factor in college admissions, these additional activities help paint a more well-rounded picture of you as a candidate.
Out-of-school activities are usually assessed by their depth, defined by factors like the level of your involvement and the length of your commitment. They allow admission officers to see how you might contribute to their campus, beyond academics. The emphasis isn't necessarily on the number of activities, but rather the quality of your engagement and the impact you've made.
Each school has its sections within the application where you list your extracurricular activities. For instance, in the Common Application, you'll see a section devoted to extracurriculars where you can list up to 10 activities, providing a brief description for each.
When filling out this section, it's important to detail specifically what you did in the activity rather than simply naming the activity. Be sure to emphasize your level of commitment, leadership roles, awards or recognitions earned, and any tangible impacts or results of your participation. The more specific you can be, the easier it is for admissions officers to grasp the depth of your involvement.
Hope this clarifies things for you. Best of luck with your 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.