Choosing the Perfect Extracurricular Activities for College Admissions

If you're like most American high school students, the subject of college admissions is often on your mind. Chances are, the question of which extracurricular activities will have the most positive impact on your college application has often entered your thoughts, too. The basic answer to that question is simple: unless you're a stellar athlete, you should choose an academic or artistic focus and have all or most of your extracurricular activities revolve around that focus. Here are some tips for increasing your probability of your favorite school choosing you while still enjoying your high school experience:

1.Begin by choosing your focus: If the answer to what your focus should be isn't immediately obvious, being by asking yourself a few key questions. What are your favorite subjects in school? In which classes do you have A's and high B's? In which subjects have you won awards or recognition in the past? Are you in your school's gifted and talented program for a specific subject? If you're like many people, you probably have several interests, but it's important to select the dominant ones. Chances are that you fall until one of three broad categories: 1) Math, Science, and Technology, 2) Humanities or 3) Arts and Media. Obviously, there will be some overlaps in these three categories, but try to commit yourself to one of these categories. Then start your quest to selecting one to three activities in which you can participate all four years of high school and then some supplementary ones for the summertime, weekends, or school breaks.

2.Think about relevant clubs at your school: If your school has clubs, determine which ones best fit your focus. If you're a category 1 person, join the school science or chess clubs, for instance. Category 2 students might try debate and speech club or Model United Nations, while Category 3 students would probably gravitate towards the school literary magazine or the art club. If your school does not have any clubs, ask your principal if you can start one, but if that's not an option, look to see what your local community offers.