Are Extracurricular Activities Important?

By Alex Silva   , , , No comments

Volunteering is one of the most common extracurricular activities for students

Applying for college is one of the most stressful aspects of being a senior in high school. Although having ‘senioritis’ may be a fun alternative, it’s important to keep your priorities in check and maintain a balanced academic agenda. coque autres iphone Although senior year is one of the most crucial times for high school students, college admissions officers often look as far back as your junior and sophomore years when judging your qualification. Being that you will probably be accepted into a college by halfway through your senior year, there are certain preemptive steps you can take before becoming a senior to insure your acceptance, one of them being extracurricular activities. coque huawei p20 So to answer the question posed at the head of this article — YES, extracurricular activities are very important. One of the things many academic advisors push on their high school students is the importance of extracurricular activities. Extracurricular activities can range anywhere from volunteering to tutoring, joining a sports team, and just about anything that falls outside your standard high school curriculum. coque huawei p20 The catch, you can’t receive any monetary compensation; these activities must be in the form of volunteering, philanthropy or some other non-profit participation. Having a full or part-time job will demonstrate your diligence and goal-driven mentality, but it won’t make up for a lack in extracurriculars. Colleges usually prefer to see that you have a specified interest in one or two extracurricular activities, so don’t overdue it by joining every club offered at your school. Take the time to think about what really captures your attention and make an effort to include it in your weekly schedule. coque autres galaxy samsung It doesn’t have to be everyday, colleges understand that school come first, but a few times out of the week or even just on the weekends is enough to show your dedication. You want to show the colleges you are applying to that you are not just doing these activities to impress them but that you actually value your involvement.

“Colleges want students with extracurriculars not because it’s a requirement someone in a stuffy suit made up a long time ago — they want to see demonstrated passion, because people with passion are the ones that DO things and inspire others.”

—Forbes

Extracurricular activities not only look good on your application but they also have many personal benefits you can gain from your experience. They will expose you to new cultures and ideas that will help you develop relationship building, leadership skills, community-based skills and even help you create a better understanding of your own future career goals. These activities will also boost your self-confidence and surface some of the hidden talents you didn’t even know you had!

Learning to play an instrument is a creative extracurricular outlet for students to engage in afterschool

Students should begin their extracurricular involvements during their sophomore and junior years. By the time they apply for colleges in their senior year, the amount of time they’ve dedicated to extracurriculars will further emphasize their interest and value in the learning experience. Nonetheless, it is important to remember that extracurricular activities will not supplement or compensate for a poor GPA or bad grades, so make sure to balance out your time with your in-school priorities as well. coque huawei p9 It’s all about time management, something that colleges also look for in prospective students. When filling out your college applications, make sure to make note of the activities that have made the greatest impact on your development. In addition, make sure you explain how these activities inspired you, what you learned from the experience, and how you hope to implement what you’ve learned into future endeavors whether in college or in your career. coque iphone xr To sum things up, it’s all about being well-rounded because, ultimately, that’s how colleges want to label their students.