Giving your time and effort back to community rates high with an Ivy League. I would like to know if too many extracurriculars hurt my admission odds to elite colleges. Is that going to hurt me when I apply? Getting ready to write those essays? So The Dean" suggests that you let your colleges know why you've selected this field and that it's really your decision and not a parental edict. Chances are, even a senior with no extracurricular activities in mind has done something meaningful. It's fine for him to include winning a video game tournament on an Activities List. Over the course of four years in high school, what had started as a small website had grown to be a massively successful business where he connected people around the world over a shared passion. For instance, instead of just saying, "Baking," you might have room for, "Experimental pastry chef for family guinea pigs. Will it be an issue/red flag for colleges that I'm not involved in activities at school, or are my activities outside of school enough? If you love sports combine this with volunteering for the Special Olympics. The ideal is that over the course of your four years of high school, you will have explored different interests, developed them, and then decided to dedicate significant amounts of time to an activity. You should focus on music or sports. Something that surprised my son on the application was that some Ivys asked him to tally up the hours per day, days per week, and the number of years he consistently dedicated to that extracurricular. HI! Is it the right choice for you? I missed the deadline to join extracurriculars. What should I do? - Reddit I'm a junior at an affluent, suburban high school 4.1 weighted/3.8 UW GPA, 1490 SAT, will have 11 AP/DE classes when I graduate. But other students who are not financially strapped also choose to get jobs. How Many Extracurriculars Should I Have For Uc? b) Demonstrate your ability to lead and get results (titles matter less than your actual duties/responsibilities). Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. Recruited athletes usually get a big hook" in the admissions process, although it can be a quantum leap from being a successful high school athlete to qualifying for a college team. Extracurriculars. Extracurricular activities are one of the most important parts of your college application. Be on the lookout for our next newsletter. However, the fact is that few students actually achieve exceptional status (Tier 1 or 2) in music or sports. Do Extracurriculars Matter in the College Admissions Process? - USF We can help. Individual sports also demonstrate a whole different set of characteristics that you can work to your benefit. Ivy League Medical Schools: How to Get Accepted in - BeMo No Extracurricular Activities? Here's What You Should Do - PrepScholar College prefer to see a few activities that you have committed a significant amount of time to than a list of ten casual activities, or clubs you just joined. Discussion and tips for applying to top schools in the Ivy League and beyond. It counts. However, as you probably already know, the vast major of institutions even large public universities practice "holistic admissions." Instead, make sure that you present yourself as you are, and talk about your future goals and passions in your essays. hbspt.cta.load(360031, '4efd5fbd-40d7-4b12-8674-6c4f312edd05', {}); Have any questions about this article or other topics? That being said, for students who are trying to get into Harvard or other highly selective colleges and universities, involvement in extracurriculars is much more important. BY Paige Hagy. There are many different types of extracurriculars that a high school student can participate in. By sophomore year, you ideally should have some sort of idea about what interests you, and you should start to narrow your focus to just those activities. extracurriculars line up with with your intended majo, Here is an old but once very active College Confidential discussion thread, And here is a recent "Ask the Dean" question, Include activities that aren't organized or official. The obvious factor is getting good grades. Breaking Down the 4 Tiers of Extracurricular Activities Colleges Weigh High School Activities. But that's not all. The more Ivys you apply to the better chance you give yourself to get into one of them. Thus, as long as the college folks see that you engaged with others and using his free time productively, this is one aspect of the stressful admission process that you don't have to worry about. Can that count? This years AP Scores have been released and Trevor Packer, head of the Advanced Placement Program has shared the details of this, Summer is here, marking one of the best times for motivated high schoolers to enroll in summer programs where they can diversify , College-level STEM programs are notoriously rigorous, and getting off to a strong start can make a huge difference for students w, Building a strong personal rsum in your first years of high school is recommended by counselors, college & university admis, With a majority of high-school seniors accepted and enrolled into their respective colleges, it is officially junior season. According to a survey cited in U.S. News & World Report, 72 percent of admissions officers prefer that students be consistently involved with one issue over a variety of causes, so focus on quality, not quantity. High school students often wonder if extracurriculars matter in the college admissions process. It counts. This shows you arent just throwing anything on your application but something a student actually cares about. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. I will be applying to college this fall. We enable strictly necessary cookies to give you the best possible experience on Education.com. If your grades are not high enough for Ivy League standards they will likely not even move on to look at your extracurriculars. is difficult because you need more than just extracurriculars to stand out. If you are already a senior, there's not much you can do about your grades (it's a bit late to turn a 2.0 into a 4.0)but you can definitely impress with a top SAT or ACT score. Extracurricular activities are supplement ways students can be active outside of the classroom setting. College Confidential, April 3, 2023 | Extracurricular activities can be almost anything you've done outside of the classroom that doesn't count for school credit. The key is that you get actively involved and make an impact with your involvement. Writing for a literary publication and competing in a science competitiondo countas extracurricular activities. These numbers are achievable for most students and would not make them feel overwhelmed. Some of the best extracurricular activities for the Ivy Leagues are those that instill and hone leadership, teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills. It is not necessary to pay anything to support a nonprofit, and your resume gets no extra credit if you do charity work overseas in an exotic location. Can High School Extracurriculars Get You Into College? All rights reserved. And Voss adds, "At the universities here, GPA is certainly more important than extracurriculars.". Out of these five sports, you can demonstrate the following qualities for your resume. Contact us at 813-974-3350 or admissions@usf.edu 4202 E. Fowler Ave., SVC1036, Tampa, FL, USA Copyright 2023, University of South Florida. College folks do respect students who make a commitment to sports, but when it comes to doling out admission hooks," they are largely focused on the athletes who are strong enough to contribute to the college team and are recruited by a coach whether by being a star on a school team or by moving up the ranks in competitions outside of school. Many less competitive schools will accept students based just off of grades and test scores. Students should participate in as many extracurricular activities as possible. 3 were organized clubs, 2 were summer programs. those who have good grades in high school, characteristics you will add to their student body, students be consistently involved with one issue, hobbies actually can merit extracurricular status, Concentrate on a small number of activities. While it can be daunting to hear war stories from the extracurriculars arms race, which can make even the busiest students fear that their activities aren't up to snuff, the truth is that admission officers are looking for commitment and leadership in such pursuits and not for quantity. As you can see, there are a lot of things that count as extracurriculars. I have also babysat my brother but not for money. If sports isnt an interest, the other activities that should be considered are government internships, innovation experiments, and charity work. 1. 12 Best Extracurricular Activities for Ivy League - SmarterHomeMaker.Com You also need great grades, to test well, and more. Extracurricular activities can be almost anything you are productively dedicated to. But that's not true! Learn more about how to choose these activities in our guide. How many extracurriculars should you have for Ivy League? Your coding sounds like the most unique of your activities so perhaps that's something you can continue and develop, assuming that you find it satisfying. You can volunteer with your local Parks and Rec and who knows you may just turn into the next Leslie Knope. Amelia Leone. Of course, you should use your own judgment when you decide which of your individual enterprises are application-worthy. Ask questions; get answers. While college admissions officers realize that students can't do everythingand in fact, it's better if you don't try to do everythingyour application will be much less competitive because you have chosen to do nothing. For students who just can't get enough academics, the math or science team, the debate club, or even time spent tutoring can add valuable knowledge and experience. If the Activities section of an application doesn't offer sufficient space to clarify what you've been up to, use Additional Information" or even an extra unsolicited letter or email to provide details. What do you do after school? As your high school career progresses, you will become aware of a low-grade maniato accumulate a long brag sheet of school-sanctioned activities, such as yearbook staff and cross-country team. Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here: PrepScholar 2013-2018. Ideally, choose an activity that you will be able to continue into college. Generally speaking the best extracurricular activity for an Ivy League is participating in sports such as tennis, football, crew, and more. Do you like anything unconventional, like playing the bagpipes? The study states "Repeated records of high school students across the United States have shown that those students who become heavily involved in extracurricular activities tend to be model students and seldom get involved in delinquency and crime. Given your strong academic record and testing, and the size and selectivity of your arget colleges (i.e., large and competitive but not hypercompetitive), your extracurricular activities sound fine. While it can be hard to decipher exactly what the meal ticket is into the Ivy League, doing a little research on the types of people that have graduated there can allow you to understand what they look for. College admissions officers like to see these kinds of activities because they say a lot about what makes you tick, and what kind of person you are when you're committed to something. For instance, if you compose flute solos in your free time, correspond with a pen-pal in a foreign country, and play daily heated chess matches against your dad, this is all legitimate application fodder and might even be more interesting to admission officials than the predictable school endeavors. (, There's no need to explain why you don't take part in school endeavors. While it is not impossible it is unheard of. And the benefits of being involved in athletics go beyond just improved physical fitness and health. The 7 Best Extracurricular Activities for College Applications. Likewise, while "The Dean" isn't quick to endorse an essay about gaming, of greater importance is how well your son writes and what, specifically, he writes about. David Brunson, June 2, 2023 | Organizing a community festival andparticipating in a city orchestrado count as extracurricular activities! You have a lot of time to develop your extracurricular list. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Being able to repair a car transmission definitely counts; reaching Level 68 in Grand Theft Auto not so much. Many students participate in music and athletics and find great community in them. Out of the top 60 extracurriculars that Ivy Leagues are interested in, I was able to narrow it down to the top 12 that your child should check out. One of the most harmful misconceptions about extracurriculars is that the more activities you participate in, the better. So I think he has some good opportunities in terms of college choice, except for one thing: His only interest is video games. It may be working with a youth team or helping clean up an old field that has been out of commission for a while. I'm planning to apply to larger state schools (NC State, Virginia Tech, James Madison University, University of Delaware and Clemson) that, according to Common Data Sets, put extracurriculars as "considered" or "important." Extracurriculars have to be sponsored by your school. If I like to bake can that go on there? When it comes to applying for Ivy League schools the extracurriculars you partake in make a difference. By Paul Arnold May 31, 2022. College admissions officers will appreciate your openness in discussing why you couldn't participate in what otherwise is a very important part of the high school experience. Always, discuss with your doctor before eating any raw foods or foods you normally dont eat. Sports allow athletes to find ways to give back to their communities easily. I watched a ton of YouTube videos of people who got to Stanford , Harvard and other ivy League colleges . Read on to find out why things might not be as bad as they seem and what you can do to make up for not havingextracurriculars. Ivy's are tough competition, and admissions committees will be examining every aspect of your application - even what you like to do for fun! This is demonstrated by the things you do and how you spend your time before college. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. If your interests seem similar to these sorts of things, try to see what you can do to takeyour passion beyondyou sitting alone in a room and turn it into something that allows you to inspire or teach others. Volunteering and fundraising. In fact, these sorts of activities are often highly regarded because they show a passion for an area of study. More. Bottom line: If there are one or two activities at school that you want to join because they call out to you, there's time. Impressive Extracurriculars Students Should Get Involved In The average acceptance rate among the seven Ivy League colleges that provided verified admissions data for fall 2021 was roughly 5.7%, U.S. News statistics reveal. But the fact that playing these games is your son's only extracurricular endeavor is going to be a greater negative than if his sole devotion were, say, volunteering at a community soup kitchen or leading the marching band. can go far when it comes to applying for an Ivy League. I decided to give up on my career in order to raise my own kids (as opposed to letting a nanny do it, no judgment here :)) I learned a lot and I love sharing it with other moms. The colleges with single-digit acceptance rates may be looking for class presidents who published novels or cured cancer, but the schools you're aiming for seek applicants who found any worthwhile pursuits outside of the classroom, even if this also means outside of school. There is no specific number or type of extracurricular activity that you need in order to be the "perfect" candidate. However, quality extracurriculars should not be taken as a hint to spend an exorbitant sum (or any money at all) for the privilege of the experience. Christina M. Burress, March 6, 2023 | Sally has appeared on NBC's Today program and has been quoted in countless publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Weekend, USA Today, U.S. News & World Report, Newsweek, People and Seventeen. In the Activities section, you get the chance to describe the breadth of your extracurricular life and meaningful . a) Are aligned with your future academic/career goals. For example, launch a Web site called something like All That Jazz," where members of high school jazz bands from throughout the country meet up to share suggestions, complaints, funny stories, and even college recommendations. Tryto completespecific, quantifiable goals that show that you have left the organization better than you found it. Starting a gaming club at school and organizing a gaming tournament for charitydo count as an extracurricular activity. This is of course if you play a team sport. If you wait until the application deadline for most schools, this will give you 5 months of an activity. Being able to be an independent leader always has been one of the strong characteristics that Ivy Leagues look for. While coursework and GPA are typically more important factors on college applications, extracurricular activities may still . Play in an orchestra or music group. The balance is similar to the extracurriculars in the regard that the letter must be genuine. Just because you are great at one thing doesnt mean you can mail it in. Top 8 Benefits of Extracurricular Activities for High School Students. I don't have any extracurriculars because I work or help out at home. This is because sports demonstrate all the valuable qualities Ivy Leagues are looking for such as leadership, team cooperation, and passion. You can put whatever you want on this roster and aren't limited to organized school clubs or teams. Ascent offers cosigned and non-cosigned student loans with exclusive benefits that set students up for success. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Before you raise your hand for the prom committee or audition for Little Shop of Horrors, consider if that extracurricular tells the authentic story of who you are. If you've realized that you do have extracurriculars, check out our guide for how to write about extracurriculars on your college application. If, on the other hand, your son is skilled at eSports, that's a whole separate conversation. (Who knew that chili sauce and chocolate frosting would be so compatible?)". Many students who think that they don't have any extracurricular activities actually do, but they don't think of their activities as "real" extracurriculars. If you can genuinely answer "yes" to this question, you will come across as more interested in your chosen activity and appear less like someone who just took up an activity to have something to put on your application. What kind of activities should you mention and which should you leave out? You need to have minimally two extracurricular activities. I have 7 extracurricular activities I have in mind that I would most likely be doing: Jazz Band, my church's band, my own band, track, cross country, yearbook, and some coding stuff that I like to do (possibly creating an app or website by the end of my junior year). Despite some students panic about padding their applications with dozens of club treasurer roles and church mission trips in the hope of being accepted by their top-choice school, extracurriculars stand as a single factor in the package of attributes an admissions officer considers: There is good evidence for basing admission decisions more heavily on academic performance than on how many hours you volunteered at a triathlon or how many weekends you devoted to building a homecoming float. I am a stay-at-home mama to three lovely girls, Sarah + Rachel + Hannah. So, if you don't participate in many official school clubs and sports, it's better to include recreational activities, part-time jobs, and other responsibilities like caring for siblings after school than leave spaces blank. Making enough money mowing lawns to buy your first car? Playing video games at home alone or with friendsdoes not count as an extracurricular activity. As I've already stated, colleges are very interested to hear about the activities of students who have to work to help support themselves and their families. If you end up appealing a rejection in the spring, it will work in your favor to have continued the activity. Generally speaking the best extracurricular activity for an Ivy League is participating in sports such as tennis, football, crew, and more. This is because if you are able to lead a team of individuals it shows promise that you will set an example for the school and in the workforce. If you love what you're doingand have time for everything without sacrificing grades or healththen there's no reason to cut back. High school students often wonder if extracurriculars matter in the college admissions process. Want to build the best possible college application? Schools consider extracurriculars only to learn more about you as a person, not to tally how many student council meetings or Brain Bowls youve amassed. The information contained on this website is not medical advice and only for informational purposes. If your school does not provide a range of excellent options to get involved in sports, academic competitions, visual or digital art, music, drama, dance, politics, speech, or service clubs, join a global movement or find a cause in your community. Do you cook or collect coins? Working a part-time job, caring for an elderly relative, volunteering, or creating your own small business dog walking, social media monitoring, selling your artwork online can count as much as if not more than French club and jazz band if you can describe why the experience was meaningful, pertinent to your academic interests, or important to your growth as a human being. Focus on all that you. What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? How many extracurriculars do y'all have : r/ApplyingToCollege - Reddit There are non-Ivy League medical schools that cost more. It is sure to make for a happier and healthier teen. Drive. Been there! 6 (fun!) But, before plunging into a longer answer about why they matter and what kinds of extracurricular activities you should pursue, consider that, for admissions officers, extracurriculars break into the Top 4 of must . Being well-rounded by doing community service and volunteer work is a great extracurricular because it shows that you want to give back to the world and are not set in self-serving ways. She also taught language arts, social studies, study skills and test preparation in 10 schools, including American international schools in London, Paris, Geneva, Athens and Tel Aviv. Bottom line: If you're aiming for Ivies and those other hyper-selective places where the lion's share of applicants have near-perfect grades and test scores and thus where impressive extracurriculars can help accomplished candidates stand out in the crowd, your own short list of more personal pursuits might hurt your acceptance odds. Nora Answered You should have five or six extra-curricular activities. What ACT target score should you be aiming for? The Common App offers only 10 slots for extracurriculars and has a character limit, so 10 seems like a good cut-off point for even overachievers. For instance, Harvard has been known to value those who give back to their communities so volunteer work is always a great thing for their application. If you have the time and affordability, apply to them all. What are your hobbies? Privacy Policy. Once I advised a senior who saved empty burlap rice sacks and turned them into fashionable purses lined with splashy fabrics. So your baking, babysitting, disc golf and tennis are all quite application-worthy. However, once you get above 200 hours, you should start to consider if your free time could be better spent doing something else. While not an Ivy, MIT looks for innovators. Sally and her husband, Chris Petrides, became first-time parents in 1997 at the ripe-old age of 45. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. And if you have a student who is interested in a highly selective school , not only should he be engaging in about 15 or more hours of activities per week, he should . The activity list helps admissions committees get a sense of how you spend your time out of school.