Aug 27

Aug 27 Which High School Activities Really Matter for College Admissions?

Students may be wondering which high school activities really matter for college admissions. I often receive questions such as:

Does my music still “count” if I play with my band outside of school but don’t play in the high school orchestra?
Do I need to complete a certain number of community service hours to look good for colleges?
What if I have to take care of family members after school, so I can’t participate in after-school clubs?

The short answer to these questions is that these are all activities that colleges will appreciate seeing on the activities list on the Common App.

There are a few common pitfalls I’d like to warn you against as you go through high school:

Quitting an activity because you think it isn’t the “right” type of activity or important enough for colleges to care about -- Your activities are what make you “you;” quitting stage crew because you think you need to do something more important is usually a mistake. If you stick with your interests, you will grow into the type of person colleges are looking for, someone deeply passionate about and committed to your life.
Not tracking what you do each year-- As my college jazz band leader always said, “The difference between a professional [musician] and an amateur is that the professional writes it all down!” We all think we will remember everything we do, and I can tell you from experience that you won’t. Start a Google sheet freshman year (or now, wherever you are in the process) to jot down your activities, the time you spend on them, and your accomplishments and roles in them.
Doing something you don’t care about just to look attractive for colleges - I really think colleges see right through this kind of resume padding. It’s your life you are living, so I suggest you do so. Develop yourself in the areas you love, and you will come out ahead. If you are into service, do more; if it’s sports or music, then go for it. You don’t need a certain quantity or type of activity. What you need is to find yourself through the lived experience. Be creative; be yourself.