Extracurricular Activities—Choosing the Best Path to College

As high school seniors everywhere can tell you, applying for college starts much earlier than your final months of high school. Applying for college is a lengthy process best parsed out over a well-structured timeline. Part of the reason behind a lengthy application process is that it allows the applicants to gain experience, which gives them an advantage over their competitors. It may sound unnecessarily competitive to speak of college application in these terms, but this is the reality of the current state of getting into higher education. So, take the time to make sure you, or your children, are well-rounded and experienced. Of course the best way to go about this is through extracurricular activities.

Colleges don’t simply look for candidates who are “smart” on paper and when testing. Rather, schools want to attract real people with real interests and passions in life. It’s no secret that where you spend your time is where your interests lie. In other words, it’s a known fact that many people have interests outside of going to school. So, when applying for college, keep in mind what your extracurricular activities say about you. 

The Huffington Post wrote an article on this very subject last year. They wisely remind us that the quality of your extracurricular activities is more important than the quantity. It’s better to do one or two things for a number of years, rather than many things over the past few months. Further, it’s best to engage in activities where you have a chance to show your leadership qualities, or unique skills. This means that community service based activities are a great way to show your initiative and concern for others. Alternatively, sports are a great way to show leadership skills, athletic interests, and team member skills. The same goes for playing in a band, or any artistic endeavor, inside or outside of school.

 
Keep in mind that what separates your application from everyone else’s is you. You are a unique person with a lot to offer your prospective college, so be sure to choose activities that convey your distinct personality and interests. If you’re still stumped as what the best option is for you, then call a college planning advisor such as www.Collegemadeeasy.org .