The Only Extracurricular Article You’ll Ever Need to Read

Written by Vidur, Princeton University

Extracurricular activities, commonly referred to as extracurriculars, ECAs, or ECs, are activities which students can participate in outside of their regular academic coursework. These activities can range to accommodate all interests, both academic and non-academic. Extracurriculars play a crucial role in the development of a student by facilitating their ability to explore passions, develop new skills, and engage with the community. These activities can take place in/be affiliated with one’s school, or they can be completely external. 

When colleges and universities are observing your extracurricular profile, they are looking for:

• Extracurricular Diversity: There are a broad range of types of extracurricular activities - try to spread your interests out across varying types of extracurriculars to be a more holistic applicant. 

• Voluntary Involvement: You are engaging in extracurriculars because you want to, not because your school mandates you to. 

• Skill Development: You have developed certain skills based on your engagement with certain extracurriculars. These may include leadership skills, teamwork, communication, critical-thinking, problem-solving, and more. 

• Passion Pursuit: You are engaged in certain extracurriculars because they align with your passions/interests, and you wish to establish a foundation in these areas.

• Exploration: Extracurriculars can provide valuable opportunities to explore potential career paths or areas of study. 

• College/Career Readiness: To colleges, engaging in extracurriculars demonstrates potential of the highest regard, especially depending on what you’re involved in. 

• Personal Growth: Extracurriculars often facilitate personal growth among students; facing challenges, accepting leadership roles, and overcoming obstacles all contribute significantly to character development. 

Don’t overstretch yourself when it comes to extracurriculars - being involved with too many extracurriculars and not being able to devote enough time/effort to some of them is very noticeable to colleges and universities. This can impact your college applications negatively, and should be avoided if possible. Instead, when engaging in extracurriculars keep the three Cs in mind. 

1. Commitment - How committed are you to this extracurricular? How long have you been involved, and how do you demonstrate your dedication to this extracurricular?

2. Consistency - How consistent are you with your engagement/involvement with this extracurricular?

3. Contribution - What have you brought or contributed to this extracurricular? Have you taken on any leadership positions to further this extracurricular?

There are many types of extracurriculars you can join or participate in. Some examples of types of extracurriculars include:

• Academic Clubs/Programs

• These are clubs related to your academic interests, such as science, math, medicine, history, or any other subject.

• This demonstrates to colleges that you have a passion for learning and are taking initiative towards the future of your education. 

• Sports/Athletics

• Participation in sports/athletic activities promotes and demonstrates physical fitness, teamwork, and discipline.

• This also often depicts acute commitment and apt time-management skills.

• Community Service or Volunteering

• Engagement in community service or volunteering helps you contribute to and connect with your community. This demonstrates empathy and fosters a sense of social responsibility, qualities many top universities are beginning to value more.

• Arts/Creative Initiatives

• Exploration of artistic pursuits such as music, theater, writing, and more demonstrate creativity and promote self-expression.

• This can be used to your advantage on college applications.

• Internships/Work Experience

• Internships and work experience (especially in fields of interest) provide practical insight into potential career pathways, and indicate to universities maturity in handling real-world responsibilities.  

• Research Endeavors

• Collaborating with mentors/faculty members or pursuing your own independent research project shows admissions committees that you are passionate about a certain topic, determined to explore it further.  

• Academic/STEM Competitions

• Academic and/or STEM competitions provide you with valuable opportunities to showcase your intellectual prowess, dedication to specific subjects, and acute problem-solving skills. Results of these competitions can also be used in the Honors sections of your college applications. 

• Language Clubs or Cultural Activities

• Students who are proficient in multiple languages or who develop a deep understanding of cultural diversity are valued for their global perspective, open-mindedness, and dedication to communication.  

• Debate/MUN/Public Speaking

• These types of extracurriculars often facilitate the development of communication and critical-thinking skills, as well as the capacity to articulate arguments/ideas efficiently. 

• Entrepreneurship

• Starting your own small business or joining entrepreneurial clubs/ventures demonstrate innovation and a drive. If you pursue this type of extracurricular, be sure to consider the scale of your initiative. 

• Student/School Publications

• Contributions to a school newspaper, literary magazine, yearbook, or journalism club demonstrate strong written communication skills.

• Publishing your own work takes dedication, but can be quite impressive on a college application. 

• Hobbies and Personal Projects

• Pursuit of your own hobbies or personal projects can showcase unique skills or interests you may have.

• These can demonstrate your individuality, especially if somehow paired/linked to another extracurricular.

This is not an exhaustive list - students are creating their own extracurriculars all of the time, so please feel free to do this as well. The more impactful, creative, and unique, the better!

Overall, extracurriculars are an extremely valuable and undoubtedly integral part of a student’s educational journey and their college application process. They contribute to their personal development, support academic success, and fuel future endeavors.