Extracurricular activities are one of the many factors that go into admissions decisions. However, how exactly do universities consider those extracurricular activities? Do extracurricular activities help with university applications at all? It is better to be involved in as many activities as possible to show that you’re a well-rounded applicant.
Extracurriculars matter in the college admissions process. However, before we answer the longer answer about why they matter and what kinds of extracurricular activities you should pursue, remember that extracurricular activities do not outweigh what you do in the classroom or how you perform on entrance exams.
What is an Extracurricular Activity?
The definition of extracurricular activities is a flexible one. An activity does not need to be endorsed by your high school to be a legitimate extracurricular. Working a part-time job, caring for an elderly relative, volunteering, leading the debate club, or creating your own small business can count for a lot if you can describe why the experience was meaningful, pertinent to your academic interests, or important to your growth as an individual. Colleges and universities look to extracurriculars to determine the characteristics you will add to their student body and campus community, such as leadership and a thoughtful commitment to service.
How Many Extracurriculars are Enough?
There is no perfect number of activities to list on your college application. However, listing zero extracurricular activities on your university application is not the best option either! Hobbies actually merit extracurricular status. Describe three or four extracurriculars you care about deeply and don’t feel locked into the traditional troika of sports, student government, and community service. Teaching yourself a foreign language to help out immigrants counts as much as organizing a beach clean-up or working part-time to buy your first car.
Though colleges are not looking for a set number, they do expect you to articulate your purpose for participating in the extracurricular and the reward for those who benefited from your time. Emphasize the skills you learned and be specific, using action-oriented verbs and an economy of adverbs.
Examples of Extracurricular Activities
- Academics
- Maths club
- Chemistry club
- Debate club
- Student government body
- Community service
- Art
- Art club
- Painting
- Pottery
- Graphic design
- Ceramics
- Media
- School magazines and newspapers
- Photography clubs
- Film clubs
- Audio/Video newscasts
- Master of ceremonies (MC)
- Music
- Choir
- Orchestra
- Concert band
- Playing an instrument
- Ensembles
- Performing Arts
- Acting
- Dancing
- Stand-up comedy
- Film production club
- Slam poetry
- Sports
- Track and field
- Cricket
- Football
- Basketball
- Martial arts
- Swimming
- Rock climbing
- Tennis
Benefits of Extracurricular Activities
Undertaking extracurricular activities has far-reaching benefits that touch on many aspects of a child’s development. Check out these five key benefits of taking on something away from the classroom.
Teaches New Skills
Fundamentally, extracurricular activities allow your child to learn something that could stay with them for a lifetime. Directly, that skill could be the basis of a hobby or passion that enriches their life for many years. Everything from playing sports to learning an instrument could lead to hours spent doing something they enjoy.
These are skills that provide continued benefits long after their education is completed.
Beyond that, extracurricular activities instill key skills and personality traits that can be helpful in other walks of life. Using the same examples, sports are key to developing teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving skills. A musical instrument requires perseverance, hand-eye coordination, and, above all, creativity.
Aids Academic Performance
A lot of the skills that lie at the heart of extracurricular activities can be used during core academic subjects. Education requires solid problem-solving skills, memory, creativity, and critical thinking. To varying degrees, you can find an extracurricular activity that has an impact on these areas.
Broadens Social Skills
The nature of many extracurricular activities means that your child will be engaging with other children in a social setting. Away from the classroom, it’s a good opportunity for them to mix with like-minded children in something they all enjoy. This gives them a chance to develop their social skills, meet new friends and become more confident communicating in groups. Extracurricular activities can also aid in the development of self-esteem and confidence. Good self-esteem is an essential tool for positive mental health and wellbeing.
Improves Time Management
Extracurricular activities give children a great tool through which to learn important time management skills. Through the task of balancing school life and an after-school club, for example, students will begin to lay the foundations for skills that will benefit them at later stages of their education and in the steps they will take post-education.
Boosts University Application
Extracurricular activities are also a great benefit to a student’s resume when it comes to applying for universities or jobs. Universities, for example, love to see evidence from prospective students that they are willing to go above and beyond to develop new skills. Extracurricular activities also demonstrate that a student has varied interests and a curiosity to learn beyond the traditional classroom.
How to Find the Right Extracurricular Activity
Extracurricular activities can help children develop their intelligence — in more ways than one. The theory of multiple intelligences categorizes intelligence into separate types. Nearly all activities can help to develop at least one type of intelligence. Your child may pursue an activity that suits their intelligence and style of learning.
If you’re not sure which extracurricular activity to start with, try to focus on these four areas:
- Academic activity: Link the activity to your chosen field of study, such as volunteering at an animal shelter if you want to major in veterinary medicine.
- Service activity: Develop empathy and accountability, such as serving as a volunteer at an old-age home.
- Leadership activity: Hone your people skills and responsibility. For example, you can serve as class president if you’re interested in politics.
- Personality activity: Highlight your individuality. Join the physics club or dance team.
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. You can also create your own extracurricular. For example, become the founder of a campus club, neighbourhood program, or entrepreneurial enterprise.
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