The chances of getting into a great college are getting tougher and tougher, as the stress of receiving a “dream school” invitation is becoming a great concern to students from all over the country.
Many colleges and universities are no longer looking for only the basic grades and test scores, but of the students who show dedication, leadership, and passion in extracurricular activities. In other words, it is what you do outside of the classroom, such as a sport, club, or position in student government.
Though extracurricular activities may sound like a burden, choosing the right kind of activity can make the experience fun and enjoyable. Here are some tips:
This may be a bit more challenging at first, so take some time – perhaps a few days – to research and come up with activities that may suit you. The goal is to find something that can easily fit into your academic schedule, as well as be a fun experience for you to enjoy.
Here are some examples of hobbies that a few peers of mine turned into great extracurricular activities:
Working and Volunteering: Although you’ve probably heard of this repeatedly throughout the years, working and volunteering can build great skills that show colleges the importance of getting a wage or helping others. In fact, even unconventional jobs such as babysitting and dog walking count as a work or volunteer opportunity that would be great on an application. With this in mind, a few friends were able to start their own “business” of dog walking through asking around the local neighborhood. They even got to choose the hours, which made it easier to balance school life with the various jobs.
Writing: This falls along my category, as I have always been fascinated by the writing process and saw a desire to learn more about good techniques in writing. Being in a rural area, there were little opportunities to go out and apply for a local newspaper, since any form of business was too far away (other than the grocery store). Doing some research, I found multiple sites looking for writers and decided to apply to a few that caught my eye (as this was literally my only option). A few accepted and I was able to work from home, which proves that you don’t need to travel in order to accomplish an activity.
Photography: Another very easy way to work on an activity in is through the art of photography. We all find the time to take a picture of an event we want to remember and can be a very efficient way in starting a new extracurricular, as my friend found out. She decided that creating an Instagram for her photography was a simple way to do something outside of school. To take it a step further, she made her work very professional and gained a strong following because of it.
These are just a few examples. You could also join a club, babysit, or even train for a marathon. It’s really up to you!
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