You probably know that getting into the college of your choice involves more than just good grades and test scores. In fact, according to NACAC's 2014 "State of College Admission" report, over 50% of colleges attribute at least "moderate importance" to extracurricular activities in their admission decisions, and over 1 in 5 highly competitive colleges regard extracurriculars as an area of "considerable importance" when evaluating applicants.
The impact of extracurriculars on admissions evaluations makes sense. After all, college admissions reps can tell only so much using the numbers on your application. How you spend your time outside of class, on the other hand, helps admissions committees develop a holistic view of you as a person. The right extracurricular activities can paint a picture of your passions, ability to commit, leadership capabilities, or willingness to give back to your community—all personal attributes that colleges seek out eagerly in their future students.
So without further ado, here's some advice for how you can spend your time outside of class strategically.
What kinds of extracurricular activities should I choose?
Achieve depth over breadth.
It’s a myth that you have be “well rounded” (that is, participate in a wide variety of types of activities) to appeal to colleges. Volunteering just for the sake of volunteering is unlikely to enhance your application. With that in mind, 9th and 10th grades are a great time to explore a wide variety of extracurricular activities and find what makes you click. As you transition to the second half of your high school career, however, it’s completely acceptable (and is often strategically wise!) to consolidate your extracurricular activities to the handful of activities where you can be extremely engaged—whether that means taking leadership positions or completing meaningful projects with lasting impact.
By the way, remember that you're most likely to be able to go the extra mile in activities that you actually enjoy! There's no need to get involved in an extracurricular activity just because you think it will make you "look good."
Activities at school are a great way to get started.
If you participate in sports, music/drama, or clubs, you’ll eventually want to look for opportunities to take up leadership positions and develop relationships with teachers or coaches who might eventually write you a letter of recommendation.
After school, look for ways to discover or demonstrate your academic or career interests.
If you plan to major in medicine or biology, consider volunteering at Providence Alaska Medical Center. If you like designing and building things, seek out an internship or mentorship with an architectural or engineering firm. If you want to become a pilot, get a part-time job at the airport—and use your earnings to take some flying lessons!
You can use your extracurricular activities to go places—literally.
If you like to travel, but want more than a run-of-the-mill backpacking trip in Europe, try a Study Abroad trip where you can learn while you gain a unique perspective on new cultures.
How do I find extracurricular activities?
Ask your high school counselor.
Once you know what kind of opportunities you're looking for, your counselor and other school personnel can connect you with local school-business partnerships that offer internships or mentorships to high school students, among other programs.
Explore opportunities online.
Most organizations allow you to browse their programs and sign up online. You can try well-known global and national organizations like the Red Cross, National Peace Corps Association, or Americorp or some local and regional organizations like the Anchorage Museum, Anchorage Public Library, Volunteen (Parks & Recreation), or the Alaska Center for the Environment. Better yet, perform your own online research to identify opportunities that suit your specific interests and goals.
Tap family, friend, and other connections to create your own opportunity.
Not all potential extracurricular opportunities are formally structured and advertised to the public. If you’re interested in pursuing pre-med in college and your friend’s mother is a doctor, ask her if you can shadow a doctor at her practice for a week, or if she can help you identify or secure other extracurricular opportunities in medicine. Most professionals are happy to help the next generation discover their field—and if you take the initiative to craft an opportunity for yourself, you’re guaranteed to have a one-of-a-kind experience.
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