How to Use Extracurriculars to Help With College Admissions
College admissions are one of the greatest sources of stress for high school students, but extracurriculars are a secret weapon that students can use to improve their odds of admission.
Freshman school counselor Nathan Burns, Speech and Debate coach Kathy Tobin, and FCCLA advisor Judy Medders from Willard High School have some advice on how extracurriculars can help students with their college admissions.
Quality vs. Quantity
When it comes to extracurriculars, there are a lot of options to choose from. While it may be tempting for students to join as many clubs and organizations as possible, excelling in one is just as beneficial as simply participating in multiple.
“In my experience, students who are committed to one or two organizations and are genuinely passionate about the mission of the group have received more scholarships in the past,” Burns said.
He also said that finding something you’re really passionate about and a group or club that is also committed to that cause is important, because you can really enjoy being involved in that group.
“Serious involvement in a few clubs is better. You can commit more and have more of an opportunity in those clubs,” Medders said.
She then said that being dedicated to a club doing something you care about will show through in the things you do.
As both Medders and Burns mentioned, being really involved in and passionate about one or two extracurriculars can benefit students more than just participating in a few. Colleges will recognize that drive and appreciate it.
Leadership Roles
Most clubs or organizations offer leadership roles to students, such as officers in FCCLA or section leaders in band. Those leadership roles can add something extra to make your application stand out from the crowd when applying to college.
“Being a leader in your extracurriculars shows that not only are you a participant but that you can influence people and that you have some management skills,” Medders said.
Medders also mentioned that being a leader in your extracurricular shows that you have more to offer, and that’s important for college admissions.
“Leadership roles are beneficial for students because they can evaluate what they have done as a leader and where they need to improve,” Tobin said.
Having a leadership role has even more benefits both for college applications and the individual. Colleges are looking for students who not only participate in extracurriculars, but who excel and lead in them.
Shows Good Values
When students are involved in extracurriculars, whether or not they have leadership roles, it shows good personal values that are important for college admission.
“Being involved shows dedication, perseverance, teamwork, cooperation, and leadership,” Medders said.
She also said that being involved in extracurriculars shows that you’re a more well rounded person and not just focused on one thing.
“True leaders stand apart by commitment, by showing up consistently, by being involved, going above and beyond, and they are great communicators,” Burns said.
Those are the kinds of values that students can gain from extracurriculars.
Burns also said that students who show those skills and other good values often receive scholarships and recommendations for college applications. Being involved can show that you possess those qualities and leads to more opportunities.
“Pick extracurriculars that not only you enjoy but that will also help you to achieve the degree you are working towards,” Tobin said.
Most clubs and organizations in high schools are available at little to no cost, simply requiring dedication and hard work from students. In exchange, they offer good personal experience and a way to stand out on college applications.
