Updated: Monday, December 2, 2024
By Rachel, IvyWise College Admissions Counselor
“But what about the kids who start charities and do cancer research?” a mother asked me recently. She, like many others, was concerned about how her daughter’s list of extracurricular activities would stack up next to a group of lauded, accomplished high school seniors on her college applications. The truth is that there will be those occasional applicants whose reach extends well beyond their high school community — Guinness World Record holders, inventors, policy changers — but they are certainly not the norm. Perhaps more importantly, in this case, is how these applications are viewed in the admissions process. As exciting as it may be to see one of these students come across your desk, it is by no means the expectation of any reader that all students will have taken their activities to this level.
Before we dig too deeply into the details of extracurriculars in the college admissions process, it’s important to step back and think about the big picture here: Why do extracurriculars matter at all? College is higher education. Education is primarily associated with academics. But a college is more than an academic institution — it’s a community. Colleges want to bring people to their campuses who will contribute beyond the classroom.
By putting an emphasis on your activities, the admissions process acknowledges the value of what you do when you’re not attending classes. Anyone can tell you that the things you learn from community service, playing sports, or the spotlight onstage can be greatly impactful, and college is no exception. When admissions committees take an evaluative approach to your list of extracurriculars, they’re looking first for your potential to contribute.
Here are some categories that can help a reader or committee understand how great that potential is:
It’s easy to assume that when a college admissions officer tells a room full of people they want to “see leadership by senior year” that this means they want you to be president or chairperson of the clubs you’ve been involved in. For some students, this will be an easy path to follow. For others, leadership doesn’t necessarily mean being out front conducting meetings — it means supporting the club’s forward momentum in different ways.
In any extracurricular activity, there are behind-the-scenes students who hold everything together. In committee we used to call these high school students “gluey kids.” It’s important to recognize that people in positions other than president can be leaders, too. The other piece that factors into titles and leadership positions is your school culture and size. Context can inform every piece of the college application. It is often much easier for a student in a small school with lots of activities to have a full list of extracurriculars and titles than it is for a student applying from a large high school. Not all schools will have the room in their reading process to examine your extracurriculars with such depth, but everyone will be aware of the different possibilities for leadership.
Demonstrating an instance of a time or way you showed initiative is important in a college application. If an opportunity doesn’t exist for you and your peers — such as a specific extracurricular activity — did you start your own club? If you’re in a club right now that’s not very active, what can you do to make it more interesting and extend its impact? If you and your friends are interested in poetry and photography, can you start a literary magazine? While these may seem like big undertakings, they don’t have to be. A lit mag can be an annual publication — and instead of worrying how to pay for the printing, why not make it digital? Invite students from journalism courses or the yearbook club to help you with layout. You likely have quite a few resources available to you. Taking initiative does not mean you have to do it alone!
One way for colleges to gauge how important your commitments are to you is how long you’ve been involved with them. This is not to say that you should choose not to start something new your senior year — if you want to pursue something new, go for it! You should also have a few activities that you’ve stuck with over the years. This could be soccer, debate, a religious youth group, Key Club, or a job. It’s nice to see a list that encompasses commitments within and outside of your school community. Committees can assume that if you’ve been involved with an activity for a while, it’s something you genuinely care about.
You can help college admissions officers understand just how important something is to you by being very thoughtful when describing your activities. The Common Application asks you to list “Details, honors won, and accomplishments,” and I would argue that the most important word here is details. Don’t write simply “Was elected class president.” Tell us the details of what your responsibilities are.
These details help the reader picture not only what you do, but why it matters.
I had a colleague who used to say, “We want to admit a well-rounded class of individuals, not a class of well-rounded individuals.” It’s okay if you have one passion that you’ve pursued to the max. You can be what we call a “pointy” kid, who is essentially the opposite of well-rounded. If debate is your thing, make sure you find lots of ways to explore it — Model UN, Debate Club, competitions, mentoring younger debaters, writing an opinion column in the paper, etc.
The only thing I would advise for the pointy kids out there is relay that you are still open to trying new things when you get to college. Curiosity and openness are traits that help a student to succeed on a college campus.
Do you look for ways to make an impact? Colleges value students who show dedication and a genuine passion for helping others, whether through volunteering, organizing events, or engaging in civic causes — this allows them to see how you might contribute to the campus community in meaningful ways. These activities reflect qualities like empathy, responsibility, and the ability to work with diverse groups. Find community service opportunities that match your interests and maintain your involvement for as long as possible.
Admissions committees also look for activities that show teamwork and discipline. Participating in sports is one way to demonstrate these qualities, of course, but taking part in team competitions and collaborating on group projects count, too. Highlight experiences where you collaborated effectively with others toward a shared goal. Showcase how you demonstrated discipline by committing time and effort, managing responsibilities, and overcoming challenges.
Activities that highlight real-world experience show practical skills, maturity, and readiness for challenges beyond the classroom. These include:
Admissions officers look for experiences where students have applied their knowledge, developed professional or interpersonal skills, and taken on responsibilities in real-world settings. Highlighting these activities not only showcases initiative and work ethic but also indicates how you can contribute to campus life and succeed in future career endeavors.
You bring a unique perspective and enthusiasm to your pursuits, which is something admissions officers like to see. They want to see what you’re passionate about, which is why it’s so important to uncover your passions as you progress through high school. Whether you’re involved in the arts, working on a passion project for college admission (what we like to call a purpose project), leading an innovative initiative, or pursuing a hobby with dedication, demonstrate your ability to think outside the box and deeply engage with your interests. Showcase your creativity and originality.
Pursuing a program in the arts? Learn how to create your art portfolio.
Demonstrating problem-solving and critical thinking skills through your activities list shows your ability to navigate challenges and think strategically. Whether through leadership roles, academic projects, or extracurricular activities, admissions officers seek examples of how you identified problems, analyzed situations, and developed creative solutions. These skills can be demonstrated through a variety of experiences, such as organizing events, initiating new programs, participating in competitions, or handling complex issues in a team setting.
If you’re a STEM-focused student, you may wonder what admission officers look for in STEM candidates. Show a proactive approach to learning by highlighting experiences where you applied analytical thinking, experimented with solutions, or worked through technical obstacles. Including participation in sciences fairs, robotics competitions, coding projects, or research initiatives demonstrates your ability to tackle complex challenges.
While academic success is hugely important in determining who to admit to an incoming class, the reality is that your time in the classroom is only a part of your college experience. Colleges want to bring students to campus who will help to not only make new things happen but also to keep current things going. That’s why it’s important to learn how to choose the right extracurriculars — ones that align with your interests and priorities.
Your activities are an indication of the potential person you could be in your new community, such as:
You have the potential to have an impact on your college campus in your own way. Help admissions officers see that by putting the time into preparing your activities list in a way that accurately shares what you’ve done.
Your extracurriculars are one of many parts of your college application. A stellar list of activities won’t make up for a weak essay, out-of-parameter testing, or a transcript riddled with poor grades. It can, however, enhance your fit at the right institution when everything else is in line. It is a part of the process to treat with care. Pursuing interesting and exciting activities is also an opportunity for you to find out what you love doing. As you investigate new opportunities in high school or how to frame the work you’ve already done for the application process, keep in mind the simple things colleges like to see, and get going!
Whether you need help choosing meaningful extracurriculars that align with your interests or paring down an over-full schedule of activities, IvyWise has the experts who know how. Learn how our counselors will help you explore your passions and achieve your goals. Contact us today to schedule an Initial Consultation.
When preparing students for the college admissions process, we place a lot of emphasis on identifying and developing students’ interests in addition to good grades and test scores. As we’ve said before, students’ interests are important because it helps colleges make admissions decisions and build well-rounded classes.
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