I'm a bit confused about what qualifies as an extracurricular activity for college applications. Can anyone give me some examples of extracurricular activities that I can include on my application?
An extracurricular activity is any organized, structured, and often voluntary activity that you participate in outside of your regular school coursework. These activities can showcase your interests, talents, and commitment, as well as develop important skills like leadership and teamwork.
Here are several examples of extracurricular activities across a variety of categories:
1. Clubs and Organizations: Student government, National Honor Society, debate team, robotics club, yearbook committee, or your school's newspaper or literary magazine.
2. Sports: Varsity, junior varsity, or club sports, such as basketball, soccer, tennis, swimming, or track and field.
3. Fine Arts: Participation in school or community theater, dance groups, music ensembles (band, orchestra, or choir), or taking private lessons for a particular art form.
4. Community Service: Volunteering at a local food bank, homeless shelter, or animal rescue, participating in community clean-up events, or organizing charity fundraisers.
5. Academic Programs and Competitions: Science Olympiad, Math League, Model United Nations, history contests, or creative writing competitions.
6. Work Experience or Internships: Part-time jobs in retail, food service or other industries, or internships at companies, non-profit organizations, or academic institutions.
7. Independent Projects and Hobbies: Personal hobbies like photography, painting, writing, or programming, or launching your own initiative, such as a YouTube channel, a podcast, or a community outreach project.
Remember that colleges value the quality of your involvement in these activities over the quantity. It's crucial to show your dedication, achievements, and the impact you made in the activities you choose, rather than simply listing a large number of them.
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.