The college admission process continues to evolve, and many students wonder how to make their applications stand out. Apart from handling AP course loads and other academic demands, you should be focused on the importance of extracurricular activities to the admission process.
Colleges are most interested in extracurriculars that allow students to explore their interests, give back to society, and hone transferable skills. Dedication to these types of activities can make your high school résumé truly stand out. Here are the best ways for students to prep for college and engage in extracurricular activities that enhance their applications.
Extracurriculars that foster passion and pursuit
If you’re unsure of what extracurriculars you want to take up, start by curating a list of clubs offered at your high school that also match your interests and pursuits. Exploring activities that align with your passions can help you discover new skills and future career paths. It can also be helpful to ask your parents or high school counselor to share their own professional wisdom and introduce you to platforms such as LinkedIn so you can begin building your own professional profile and connections. Networking early can open doors to internships and mentorship opportunities that align with your goals.
Another great way for students to diversify their skills and knowledge base is by engaging in their areas of interest outside of school. Many different colleges offer Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), and you can also try looking into other academic and skill-developing platforms like , , and . E-learning platform is miles ahead in preparing students for the unpredictability of high school, online learning, and extracurricular activities. Myntor students pass AP Calculus five times faster than those at a traditional school and work on projects like robotic exoskeletons and heart failure modeling.
Related: How to Discover and Pursue Your Passions as a Student
Extracurriculars that give back
Volunteering is a powerful way for students to demonstrate their commitment to their communities while developing valuable skills. is one of the largest volunteering networks for nonprofits and volunteers to connect and collaborate with each other. Students can also explore the social issues they’re passionate about and do their part. Organizations such as the offer easy ways to advocate for global poverty reduction through their Action Center, where students can email Congress, sign petitions, and learn how to engage in political outreach effectively.
You can also use your talents and skills as a student to give back. For instance, organizations like connect students in California with virtual and in-person volunteer opportunities, including tutoring, mentoring, and supporting community programs. Based in Massachusetts, a similar organization called connects students with both in-person and remote volunteer opportunities, including roles tailored to specific academic majors.
Extracurriculars that build transferable skills
Developing transferrable skills is crucial for college success as well as future internships and jobs that may utilize skills and applications like Python, coding, web design, and more. Dominic Harvey, Director of the UK IT jobs site CWJobs, calls online education platforms “modern masterpieces of world literature” given what they’ve done in revolutionizing education.
Platforms such as and offer strong foundational courses on a variety of topics and skills as well as certificates of completion, which are always good to have to boost your résumés or a college essay. On the foreign language front, and are great ways to begin learning a language from scratch; Italki even offers students the opportunity to take one-on-one classes based on language level.
Related: Our Best Advice on Building Important Skills as a Student
While every student’s path is unique, pursuing immersive and enriching extracurriculars can foster personal growth and strengthen your college applications. By engaging in extracurricular activities that align with your passions, build valuable skills, and give back to the community, you’ll not only stand out to admission officers but maybe even discover new interests and opportunities for the future.
Did you know you could turn your extracurricular involvement into free money for college? Read our article on How to Turn Your Hobbies Into Scholarships With Ease to learn more!
