Importance of Extracurriculars After the Supreme Court Decision

Photo courtesy of Byram HIlls High School Facebook page

Summer is a great time to get involved with extracurricular activities, a crucial piece of the college application!

There are 3 components that are valued by the most selective colleges:

1. Metrics
   GPA
   Rigor
   SAT/ACT
   Recommendations
2. Main Character Essays & College Specific Supplements
3. Extracurricular Activities
   1. School-Sponsored Extracurriculars
      Sports, Clubs, Theater, Dance, Debate, Model UN, Band/Orchestra, Math, Chess, Robotics, Science Research, Newspaper, Yearbook, etc.
   2. Other Extracurriculars that are local, but outside of school
      Volunteer, work, internships, summer courses, research, starting something (business, non-profit or for profit), working on a political campaign.

For rising HS Seniors, summer is the time to start college applications and look back and compile their high school year extracurricular activities. And this time is not wasted as most colleges weigh extracurriculars as a key factor in their college decision.  In fact, most colleges look for student involvement in activities through a lens of longevity and leadership.

Extracurricular Benefits

• A robust extracurricular environment in HS bodes well for one in college and in the working world
• Communication and networking skills, boosted through extracurriculars, can distinguish individuals and result in future career opportunities and promotions
• It can help focus student interest
  • Getting involved with activities offers the opportunity for a student to delve deeper into an area of interest, or it can give the student an experience that dissuades them from making a greater commitment. And all the while, the student learns more about their interests and desires.

It is true that understanding the role of these extracurriculars as a key component of admissions is “smart”, but what may be even more important for the student’s future is to strive for the right balance for healthy extracurricular engagements.

One critical consideration is the amount of time a student spends involved in extracurricular activities. Most would agree that being involved affords students the opportunity to engage with others socially and gain both academic and life skills. But when a student is overscheduled, even with activities they enjoy, they may be spread too thin to have a substantive experience. The goal should be for individual student growth rather than quantity or what might appear to sound good on a resume or activity list.

When working with my college counseling students I have found that there is a wide spectrum of involvement–it ranges literally from non-existent to overscheduled

To drill down further, consider a spectrum that covers student involvement as follows:

• Student never started activity, or only engaged slightly (Failed to Launch)
• Only engaged to look good for college apps
• Naturally involved – just fits a student’s DNA – it’s who they are

There is also another type of student: one who is inconsistent with their activities, which can also impact a student’s application.

College admissions directors are experts in their ability to distinguish between those students that are genuinely involved with their extracurriculars and those that aren’t.

The activity list is an important component of many college application reviews and needs to be considered thoughtfully.

If you are looking for help with this, or other aspects of the overall college selection and application, reach out to us and set up an appointment. We can help support you through the college process with our academic tutoring, test prep, college selection, total application support and college decision making expertise. Give us a call today.