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Back in the dark ages when many parents of high schoolers applied to college, college-bound high school students strived to become well-rounded. Typically, this adjective applied to someone who played one sport, belonged to one school club, and was involved in some sort of community service activity. These days, however, the notion of the well-rounded student is as outdated as the typewriter or word processor on which many parents typed their college essays! In today’s admissions world, colleges are seeking to build well-rounded communities, rather than bring together a lot of students who are jacks of all trades and masters of none. They want students who are activists, writers, artists, musicians, scientists, philanthropists, actors, entrepreneurs, etc., all of whom will come together to form a robust college community. In order to identify who may fill these roles, colleges look to students’ involvement as high schoolers. The rationale is that students who are engaged and involved in high school will presumably continue on that path in college.
So, what does this mean for a high school junior with sights set on college?
First, quality beats quantity when it comes to extracurricular involvement. If you joined a bunch of different clubs early in high school and remain a “member” of many, take a moment to reflect on your activities. Determine which ones you genuinely enjoy and which feel obligatory. Imagine yourself writing an essay about each of your activities; there’s a good chance you may be asked to write about your meaningful extracurricular involvement. Would writing about that activity be easy or torturous? Would you be able to explain why you find it meaningful? Would you have more to say beyond the fact that you showed up to meetings on Wednesday mornings? So often, students tell us that X or Y club “isn’t really a thing” or is one where “we don’t really do anything.” If that’s the case, maybe you should rethink your involvement in that organization. If you’re staying involved solely for admissions purposes (a tactic we advise against), a college will likely be as unimpressed by the activity as you are! High school (and life in general) is far too fleeting to spend time engaging in activities you don’t truly enjoy.
As you audit your extracurricular involvement, stay engaged with the activities that you find most meaningful. Fundamentally, activities should be an enjoyable way to spend your time—as opposed to chores you are completing for the purpose of impressing some future college admissions officer. Focusing on the activities you truly love will naturally strengthen your college applications in an authentic way because your enthusiasm will shine through in your essays and activities lists.
Think about ways to deepen your involvement and find leadership opportunities. Students often associate leadership with formal roles, and being a team captain or club president are great outlets for leadership. However, official titles are not the only ways to demonstrate leadership. Look for ways to create your own leadership opportunities—maybe you could volunteer to spearhead a new initiative or perhaps you can mentor younger teammates or club members. Or, maybe you can build upon an existing interest or activity by creating your own initiative, either within an existing organization or as a new venture. In many ways, it’s easier (and potentially less impressive) to follow an existing playbook than it is to charter new territory. No matter what you do, remember that colleges are looking for authenticity and impact when they’re evaluating extracurricular involvement. If you suddenly decide to start a club, business, or a nonprofit as a high school junior, you risk becoming an admissions meme and conveying the impression that your “newfound” interest is merely an attempt to enhance your college applications.
Lastly, keep in mind that extracurricular involvement takes many forms. Organized teams and clubs are common ways for high school students to get involved, but other activities “count” too. Whether you’re teaching yourself to code or speak Norwegian or maybe you drive a regular carpool for your siblings or build model airplanes, colleges want to know how you productively spend your free time. Start making a list of all of your activities now, including the approximate number of hours per week and weeks per year you spend on each, and add to it as the year progresses. Under each activity, list a few bullet points describing your involvement, using as many specifics as possible. When it’s time to work on your college applications, you’ll be glad you did!
