While assessing your profile, the admission committees seek semblance beyond academia; they gauge the extracurriculars, which you were indulged in throughout your high school. 

Your extracurriculars can help you be the center of attention among the admission committees. But, with no predefined expectations and wildly varying ideologies on the “most relevant” extracurriculars to engage in during high school, the matter of contention arises how are you planning to ascertain the most relevant extracurricular & what to do?

Extracurriculars! How essential are they?

There is no easy proposition as to how essential extracurriculars are on the college applications. But here’s a fact from an admissions officer, over 40% of the candidates are academically competent for admission, yet they are unable to accommodate all of them. That implies they seek attributes other than pronounced academics in order to compose a poised class. That’s where your extracurriculars will bail you out.

What counts as an extracurricular?

The dichotomy between extracurriculars and the activities that you contemplate to be extracurricular could be a little fuzzy. As a rule of thumb, an extracurricular is an activity that you indulge in on a frequent basis beyond your prescribed academic tasks.

What’s the impetus behind appraising a pupil’s extracurriculars?

One of the primary goals of extracurriculars on campus is to culminate a versatile persona & many outlooks that such activities can instill in a student’s psychological, intellectual, social, and interpersonal development. So, it makes sense to say that extracurriculars are an essential component of your college application since they portray who you really are as an individual. Admission committees aren’t just interested in your academics. In lieu, they are more intrigued by what sort of diversity you can bring to the classroom.

Furthermore, extracurriculars should be pursuits that you enjoy; admissions committees will see right through a fabricated application loaded with generic activities contrary to your interests.

Your extracurriculars should portray your inclinations, not what you believe the admissions committee would enjoy.

Remember all the confusion over picking extracurriculars relevant to your course? Here are five elements you should consider:

(1). Make a hobby out of it:

Customarily, anything you opt to pursue beyond your academics should be something you relish. So, why not pick something that would help you develop a skill, which compliments your future aspirations. For instance, if you are aspiring for performing arts, why not learn a new accent or language! Adhering to something you are fond of is a fantastic approach to explore your interests. And once you are associated with a hobby for prolonged periods’ you are bound to gain some insights.

(2). Do something that’s necessary:

Extracurriculars don’t have born out of interest only and might arise out of desperation to get something right! Perhaps you are looking to pursue an MBA, but you have poor communication skills. If that’s the case, you might want to work on that. So, why not look for an extracurricular that would hone your communication skills. This would epitomize your devotion and willingness towards an endeavor.

(3). Do something for society:

For the most part, the choice of extracurriculars to the nth degree depends upon your interests and how well it syncs with your aspirations. But, you might also bend your interests to do something that benefits your society as a whole. For instance, you can indulge in some fundraisers, be the voice for the needy ones, mentor freshman & sophomore year students, etc. Doing so highlights your leadership skills and your ability to take a stand.

(4). Try something obscure:

There’s no harm in trying something new! Perhaps a lesser-known or dubious hobby could make you stand out from the crowd. For instance, you might want to play an instrument. The admissions committees appreciate bootstrappers trying diligently to achieve something. Also, getting involved in something obscure keeps your mind active.

(5). Pursue your passion:

If you have a fascination with something close to your heart, you should pursue it. It’s nice to chase after your passion, but you can also find something on a profound level that would help you in your future aspirations. Perhaps, you are planning to pursue a computer science course, so why not learn a coding language now. Doing so will enable you to indulge more deeply with your future aspirations.

Inevitably, your extracurriculars must embody your morals and what’s valuable to you. While universities aim to accept bright kids, they want to build a rousing community of spirits who wish to contribute to the ethos of the campus. So, don’t be scared to exhibit your interests and achievements through your hobbies.

Want guidance regarding your college applications? When you sign up at our platform UniRely, our team of expert mentors who are actually students studying at your dream universities will guide you throughout the process and make your application stand out from the crowd. Hurry up! Sign up now.