Countdown to College Blog

Our counseling team has enjoyed being part of the JK-12 parent book study on our summer reading, Never Enough by Jennifer Breheny Wallace. As the book study comes to a close, we’d like to keep the conversation going through our blog and address some of the questions related to college planning that often come up as we talk with students and parents. We’ll start by answering FAQs addressing how extracurricular activities are used in college admissions in an effort to help families make wise decisions about choosing extracurricular activities.

Why do colleges ask students to list their extracurricular activities on the admission application? 

They’re trying to predict which activities the student will pursue on their campus. Colleges recognize that their students are on campus 24/7 and they want students to find success both in the classroom and in student life. Since the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior, they look to the student’s high school activities to predict their college activities. A student who enjoyed being in the high school choir is likely to join a vocal ensemble in college, just as a student who played sports in high school is likely to join an intramural or club sports team in college.

Do colleges expect applicants to have certain types of activities on their resume?

No. Rumors have circulated over the years that students must have leadership experience or play a varsity sport or be involved with community service in order to be admitted to college, but those rumors are not true. Students should simply do the activities that they enjoy and not overthink which ones they choose.  Do students need to start a club to get into college? No. Is it a great idea for students with a passion for leading and/or a specific interest that they’d like to pursue with a group of friends? Yes. Students should follow their genuine interests. 

So how many activities should students have?

Generally speaking, students should aim for two to three activities that they enjoy. They can be similar types of activities (such as a three-season athlete or someone who enjoys the fine arts and is in the choir, musical and on the Knights Knews team, for example) or they can be different types of activities altogether (Young Life, a sport and orchestra, for example). 

In deciding which activities to pursue, it’s also important for students to aim for balance between academics and extracurricular activities. In making decisions about which classes to take and which activities to pursue, be sure to allocate time for margin and rest. Sometimes students choose not to take a more advanced course load because they won’t have time for their classes and an activity they really love. The reverse is true too — sometimes students choose not to pursue an activity for a season because their course load does not allow time for both. Students and parents should work together on making decisions about the balance between academics and extracurricular activities.

What about a student who started an activity in ninth grade but no longer enjoys it in eleventh or twelfth grade? Does that student need to continue with it to show a long-term commitment?

No. Remember why colleges ask to see your high school activities in the first place — they’re trying to predict which activities the student will enjoy on their campus. A student who starts high school in the band but then decides they would rather spend their time on the robotics team should feel free to make that switch without worrying about it being negatively perceived by a college. The colleges will rightly assume that the student in this example is more likely to join one of their STEM organizations than a musical ensemble.

What about summer activities? What do colleges expect with how students spend their summer break?

Colleges expect a student’s summer break to be a mix of rest and relaxation, as well as productive activities. An overscheduled summer doesn’t help the student be more admissible to college, but neither does an overly restful summer. As one admission officer explained, the summer is a time for students to do anything of interest and what they choose to do is very telling about what they most enjoy.

Options for productive activities during the summer include working a part-time job, volunteering or participating in an academic summer program on a college campus. Some students also choose to attend or work at a summer camp or participate in an outdoors program like Outward Bound. Another great option for students age 16 and older is to take a class at Central Piedmont Community College, which is available to North Carolina residents tuition-free and allows the student to transfer college credits to the college they ultimately attend. 

Rising seniors are also encouraged to include some type of summer activity designed for spiritual growth. They’re about to embark on a year that will require leaning on God for wisdom and guidance, and that’s easier to do if they have some practice in recognizing God’s voice. The summer before senior year is a great year to go to Young Life camp or engage in the summer programming at a church. (Of course, we recommend this for younger students too!)

Do you have any additional or specific questions about how activities impact college admission? Feel free to reach out to your college counselor for help. We’re glad to consult on decisions about which activities to choose and/or offer suggestions of activities to meet a student’s interests.

Blessings,

Jodi Foxx
Director of College Counseling