Hi everyone! I'm trying to plan my junior year and I'm curious about how many extracurricular activities Ivy League schools typically expect from applicants. I don't want to spread myself too thin, but I also want to show that I'm well-rounded. Any advice would be super helpful, thanks!
Hi there! It's great that you're thinking about how to balance your extracurricular activities for your college applications, especially for Ivy League schools. Keep in mind that there isn't a specific number of extracurricular activities you should participate in to get into these schools.
Most students with competitive profiles have 8-10 extracurriculars on their application, but a lot of these are seasonal, and many are dedicated to 1-2 specific interests.
Quality is more important than quantity. Admissions officers value depth and commitment to a few activities rather than surface-level involvement in many. They want to see that you are exceptional in your chosen field, rather than being well-rounded. It's better to focus on 1-2 interests and show significant growth, leadership, and impact in those areas.
Take time to reflect on your interests, and choose activities that align with your passions and future goals. Do you enjoy helping others? Get involved with community service or volunteering. Are you passionate about a specific subject? Join a related club or pursue independent research in that area.
Overall, it's more important to pursue activities that genuinely interest you and make a meaningful impact than trying to build a long list of activities just for the sake of your application. Here's a blog post with more info that may help: https://blog.collegevine.com/extracurriculars-for-ivy-league
Good luck with your junior year!
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