Choosing the Right Extracurriculars And Maximizing Their Value in University Applications

Maintaining a strong GPA in school is important, but so is being involved in extracurricular activities (ECAs), which is a crucial element of your university application. American universities typically require applicants to demonstrate their experience, successes, failures, and reflections, all of which can come from participating in a variety of activities.

Additionally, the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IB DP) includes the CAS (Creativity, Activity, and Service) criteria, which requires students to focus not only on their academic studies but also on areas such as music, sports, and community service. This program emphasizes the importance of a well-rounded education and encourages students to participate in extracurricular activities that develop their skills and interests beyond the classroom.

With this article, our goal is to guide you through the various activities you can take on during your high school journey and provide tips on how you can elaborate on them in your university application essays. We are confident that you will find at least one activity below that suits you the most!

1.Student Club

Getting involved in extracurricular activities during high school is a great way to showcase your interests, skills and personal growth to universities. One of the easiest ways to get involved is through your school’s student clubs, which offer a variety of opportunities to pursue your passions and develop important skills.

For instance, sports clubs like basketball can help you foster teamwork and self-discipline, while also demonstrating to universities that you are a well-rounded person. Joining the student council is another great way to showcase your leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills by organizing and making improvements on school issues.

In addition, academic-oriented clubs can help you deepen your knowledge in specific areas and show universities that you have a strong interest in the subject. When writing your university application essays, be sure to highlight your motivation for joining the club, your experience, role, time commitment, and any results.

2. Model United Nations

Model United Nations, or MUN, is a simulation of a United Nations conference. Students are assigned to represent different countries and are required to speak up for their designated country and work towards resolving global issues with other representatives.

Through participating in MUN, students can foster their analytical skills and broaden their horizons by focusing on global topics. Furthermore, students can also develop their communication, organizational, critical thinking, and conflict management skills. 

When writing your application essays, you can showcase your MUN experience by explaining the topics you discussed and how you demonstrated your critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills.

3.Academic Competition

We highly recommend that students with a strong interest in specific subjects participate in academic competitions, such as the Olympiads. This experience allows you to refine your knowledge and skills, and adds value to your application, regardless of your competition results.

When writing your application essays, you can discuss the new knowledge, skills, and abilities you acquired while preparing for the competition. Try to relate these experiences to the subject you are applying for as much as possible. This will demonstrate your passion for the subject and dedication to academic excellence.

4.Winter/ Summer Program

Making use of your time during winter and summer vacations to attend study tour programs or camps is an excellent decision. This provides you with the opportunity to gain new skills, deepen your knowledge in specific areas, broaden your network, and step out of your comfort zone. For instance, attending a programming language camp can allow you to learn programming from scratch and design code for robotics.

When writing your essays, it is important to discuss the topics you learned and explored during the camp, as well as the significance of teamwork and communication in this activity. You can also highlight how this experience has influenced your future decisions, and demonstrate your ability to collaborate effectively with others and your commitment to continuing to learn and grow in your chosen field.

5.Volunteer Work

Universities in the United States highly value students who have volunteer experience, as it demonstrates their ability to utilize their skills to benefit the community. Moreover, volunteering can also provide valuable experience for students to enhance their future careers. 

There are various types of volunteering activities, including environmental advocacy, community service, education, and environmental protection. Students are recommended to choose activities that align with their interests. 

In 2016, Harvard University published “Turning the Tide,” which provides advice for high schoolers on the college application process. The section on community service recommends that students choose projects that align with their passions and devote themselves to the project for at least one year. Students should also choose projects that help them learn about the diversity and inclusion of the community, working with groups of different nationalities, races, and religions. Finally, the focus should be on developing gratitude and a sense of responsibility for the future, emphasizing qualities over quantities.

Source: https://www.transizion.com/volunteering-in-high-school/ 

Volunteering in High School: The Ultimate Guide – Transizion

 

6. Internship

Students are encouraged to seek out internships that align with their interests and passions. Internship opportunities like laboratory tours or programs offered by companies such as Microsoft can provide valuable experiences that can help students gain a better understanding of their intended major. Additionally, programs like the Raffles Medical Experiential Camp for Kids, the Student Historian Internship Program, and Microsoft’s High School Discovery Program can provide opportunities for students to explore various fields of interest. 

However, it is important to note that many overseas internship programs have specific requirements regarding nationality and age, and some may not provide compensation. Therefore, it is crucial for students to carefully review all the requirements before applying to ensure that they are eligible for the program.

https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/articles/how-to-find-a-high-school-internship 

7. When writing your application essays, consider the following areas to focus on:

  • Role: Describe the role you played and the responsibilities you held in a particular experience. 
  • Accomplishment: Regardless of whether you achieved your desired outcome, explain what you gained from the experience and how it positively influenced you. 
  • Failure: Reflect on a time when you faced a challenge or failure, and describe how it helped you improve your teamwork and communication skills while gaining a clearer understanding of your strengths and weaknesses. 
  • Ability: Discuss the skills and abilities you developed during the experience, such as leadership, communication, and teamwork skills. 
  • Link: Explain how this experience has shaped you and how it will contribute to your undergraduate studies or future career.