Key Takeaways
- When considering extracurricular activities in high school, it is all about quality over quantity.
- By participating in fewer activities outside of class, you can commit to staying involved.
- Don’t join a club or organization just to add it to your college application—admission officers are looking for dedicated students.
While applying to colleges, many students wonder whether their involvement in extracurricular activities will be sufficient. To this, we say: quality over quantity. There are no cookie-cutter criteria from a college or university about extracurricular expectations. However, they do like to see a commitment to involvement.
What Is an Extracurricular Activity?
An extracurricular activity doesn’t count toward an academic credit and is fulfilled outside of class. The list of extracurriculars to choose from is nearly endless! If you enjoy the academic side of things, there are clubs like the National Honor Society. If sports are more up your alley, there is a wide variety. Art clubs and even volunteering experiences also count as extracurricular activities.
How Many Extracurricular Activities Should I Be Involved In?
Colleges want to see the quality of your involvement as opposed to the quantity. They aren’t counting how many clubs you were in; they’re looking at how involved and committed you’ve been.
Let’s imagine that you list 15 clubs on your college application. However, you only attended a handful of meetings for some and didn’t stay committed to others. While it may look like you’ve been busy, it doesn’t show that you were committed or passionately involved. Instead, it may be more obvious that you joined for the sake of adding them to your application.
Admissions officers can see through this tactic. They know when students join only to bulk up their resumes. They are looking for students who have demonstrated a specific commitment to meaningful work. It is better to only have a handful of extracurriculars to list when you can show your diligence to them; especially if you have taken on leadership roles. This shows that you went beyond simple participation to find growth and responsibility within the group.
Of course, life happens—schedules change, clubs fizzle out, or interests evolve. But always remember this: quality over quantity. If you’re a junior in high school and wondering whether you’ve “done enough,” don’t rush to join more clubs. Instead, look for ways that you can become more involved in your current activities.
A Parents’ Role In Extracurricular Activities
Many parents rightfully boast about their child’s involvement in academics and extracurriculars. Meanwhile, students tend to worry whether they are doing enough. If you are a parent, remember to support and encourage your child. Remind them that it’s not about how many clubs or teams they can check off a list.
Students should enjoy the extracurriculars they choose by pursuing their interests. In this pursuit, they’ll gain important life skills and build lasting relationships with others. Activities beyond academics will also help develop time management skills. These opportunities are crucial for personal development. They also relay a strong message to colleges about a student’s level of involvement and commitment.
Encourage your student to choose at least a few activities and to pursue them in depth. When a student does head to college, they may want to be involved on campus in pursuit of a new level of independence. Having experience with extracurriculars can help them find a “better fit” when choosing a college.
So, Is More, More? Or, Is More, Less?
In the case of extracurricular activities, less can definitely be more. Fewer activities done with a higher level of commitment speak much louder to an admissions panel. Admissions officers want to see that you were able to maintain your GPA while diversifying your activities.
At the end of the day, your extracurricular activities should directly relate to your interests. Pursue those interests to the greatest extent you’re able. In most cases, this means being heavily involved in just a few organizations. But remember, a higher level of involvement and dedication will be distinguishable on your college applications.
Did you know that extracurriculars can also land you a scholarship? Some awards are dedicated to specific clubs that you might be involved in. Others are given by merit and a specific extracurricular could mean having the edge over the competition. Start with our Scholarship Search tool to find awards you qualify for without the hassle!
