If you want to apply to top colleges, the clubs you take in high school matter. By participating in a club, not only do you stand out, but you show growth.
Grades are also important in this scenario, but according to the guidance department, colleges want to see you engaged with your community and making a difference.
“I think it’s important you get something out of the club,” said House A guidance counselor Susan Alicea. “You get good team experience from being a part of something.”
Participating in an extracurricular activity allows you to learn and collaborate with people on ideas. It also shows that you’re taking advantage of the opportunities your community is providing you with.
Studies show that being a part of a club can help improve communication skills with people. It also shows well roundedness. They help you figure out who you are and what you want to do with your life.
Now the question is, why do colleges look at extracurriculars so much?
“Colleges are a business. They want students to be a part of their campus for four years. They look at the extracurriculars as an example of how kids learn to put themselves out there and how they make connections,” said Alicea.
Also being a part of a club allows students to become creative and innovative away from the classroom. Colleges want to see students who, along with schoolwork, also participate in other things, making them a well-rounded person.
In some cases, the extracurricular activities students do can actually boost your application. For example if you want to be a nurse or a doctor and you don’t have the best grades, but you participate in a lot of extracurricular activities around the medical field, there’s a possible chance a school could accept you.
“Extracurricular activities are what help you decide what major you want to be in,” said Universitry at Binghamton’s Admission Officer Joel Tiesi.
For extremely competitive colleges, it’s best to apply to competitive extracurricular programs to improve your chances. But as you’re applying for these programs, you want to make sure that you’re doing activities to learn something important and valuable rather than impress a college.
It’s important to be open to new opportunities and to put yourself out there.
“I think students should do things they wouldn’t have thought of,” said Tiesi.