Do Extracurriculars Really Help You Get into College?
Most students have heard somewhere that their extracurricular activities are important when it comes to applying and getting into college. What they may not have heard are the reasons why. Consequently, some students mistakenly believe that when it comes to extracurricular activities, the more you do, the better your chances of admission to college. But that’s not really what colleges are looking for……
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College admissions people know what it takes to be successful on their campus. While good grades and challenging classes in high school are a big piece, they’re not the whole story. Colleges look for students who have something special to bring to their student body besides just their good grades. So, how do they get that from the list of activities you put on your application? Here are a few things they can learn about you just by looking at that list:
Leadership. There’s more to leadership than just being elected to a position. It’s about consistency and commitment. A person who’s been a club or sport team member through thick and thin is leading by example whether they know it or not. The leadership skills you’ve learned in high school, while in the in the spotlight or behind the scenes, have helped prepare you to be involved and make a difference at the college you decide to attend.
Responsibility and empathy. All the time you’ve spent volunteering speaks volumes about your dedication, generosity and willingness to keep coming back even when it’s not easy or fun. Whether you’ve assisted the elderly, walked dogs, or tutored younger students, people have depended on you to use your best judgment and to be responsible. Someone who can be depended on like that tends to make a good classmate because they know how to put the needs of someone else before their own.
Cooperation. Whether you’re a member of an athletic team, cheer squad, choir or band, you have had to learn how to cooperate with others in order to reach a goal. You have learned how to do your part to contribute to the success of everyone. College is all about cooperation. Whether it’s in the classroom, the lab, planning an activity or playing intramural sports, a student who knows how to work well with others is an asset to a college’s student body.
Diversity of perspective. Theater, anime, hip hop, politics, rodeo, youth group, GSA. Whatever they may be, your activities tell a story about how you are different from your classmates and how you will contribute to the diversity of a campus. By getting involved in activities that are important to you, you develop your own individuality and unique perspective. The uniqueness students bring to campus tends to make a college vibrant with lively discussion and new ideas.
Passion. The most successful college students tend to be passionate about something. They aren’t afraid to put their heart into things and rarely watch from the sidelines. Whether their passion is about academics, the arts, sports, a certain subject, career path, or something else, a student with passion can be contagious. They fire people up and make them think. Pursuing things you’re interested in outside your high school classroom, prepares you to do the same in college.
In all of this, it is crucial to remember that the real value of extracurricular activities is in how they help you discover your strengths, expand your skills and explore your interests. So, when choosing what to be involved in, don’t worry about what colleges will think. If you get involved in something you really enjoy, the things listed here will follow naturally.
