Should students choose extracurricular activities with university applications in mind?

High-school counsellors often face the question from students and parents: “Should extracurricular activities be chosen with college applications in mind, or should students just pursue activities they enjoy?”

While it might seem like a simple choice between strategy and passion, the answer lies somewhere in the middle. Both aspects matter, and students can in fact attain a balance between doing what they love and boosting their future university applications.

Extracurricular activities: do they matter in college applications?

Extracurricular activities play a significant role in college applications. Universities, especially selective ones, look beyond academic achievement to see how a student engages outside the classroom. These activities provide a glimpse into a student’s character, leadership abilities, time-management skills and interests.

Admissions officers often look for students who demonstrate:

Commitment and growth: consistency and depth matter more than a long list of activities. A student who spends four years dedicated to one activity, progressing in roles or developing expertise, shows perseverance.

Leadership and initiative: colleges appreciate students who take on leadership roles or start new projects, clubs or initiatives. This demonstrates initiative, problem-solving and the ability to make an impact.

Diverse interests and well-roundedness: engaging in a variety of activities shows curiosity and a well-rounded personality, but it’s important not to spread oneself too thin.

These factors show that extracurriculars are important for college admissions – but students shouldn't base all choices solely on strategy.

Why you can’t fake passion

Colleges are not just looking for students who check boxes on a list of activities – they want to see authentic passion and drive. Admissions officers can usually tell when a student is genuinely enthusiastic about an activity, rather than simply participating for the sake of enhancing their resumé.

Pursuing activities that align with a student’s interests has multiple benefits:

Happiness and motivation: when students enjoy what they are doing, they are more likely to stay committed and excel. Enjoyment brings out the best in students and encourages them to dive deeper into their passions.

Natural growth and leadership: leadership often arises naturally from passion. A student who loves art may organise a local art exhibit or start a club without feeling forced to do so. Passion projects show authenticity and self-motivation.

Unique personal story: students who follow their passions can often present a more compelling and unique story in their college essays. An admissions officer will be more interested by a student who has a deep and personal connection to a hobby or cause, rather than someone who participated in multiple activities just to boost their application.

A fine balance: taking a hybrid approach

So what is the best approach? Ideally, students should pursue activities that genuinely interest them, while keeping long-term goals in mind. Here are a few tips to help students strike that balance:

Start with what you love: encourage students to explore a variety of activities early on in high school. They should sample different clubs, sports or community projects to discover what excites them. Once they find something they enjoy, they can begin focusing their time and energy there.

Be strategic about depth: students should aim to develop depth in a few key areas, rather than spreading themselves thin across many activities. A deep commitment to two or three extracurriculars over time often stands out more than shallow participation in a dozen.

Consider leadership and impact: while passion is crucial, students should also think about how they can grow within their chosen activities. Taking on a leadership role, initiating a project or contributing to an activity in a meaningful way can enhance their extracurricular experience.

Link activities to future goals: if a student has a strong interest in a particular field of study or career path, they can look for extracurriculars that align with that passion. For example, a student passionate about environmental science could join a sustainability club, lead an environmental campaign or volunteer for an ecofriendly non-profit.

Don’t ignore fun: while it’s helpful to be mindful of college applications, students shouldn’t forget that high school is also a time to explore and enjoy. Encourage them to balance their more strategic extracurriculars with activities they do just for fun – whether that’s theatre, gaming, baking or something entirely different. These hobbies can also add personality and dimension to their college applications.

Make good use of summer and holiday periods: suggest internships, volunteer work or research projects during these periods, to build skills and experience.

The counsellor’s role: guiding without over-structuring

As counsellors, our role is to guide students toward making informed decisions without imposing a rigid structure on their high-school experience. Here’s how you can support them:

Ask open-ended questions: encourage students to reflect on what they enjoy, what excites them and how they want to grow. This helps them choose activities that align with their passions and their future goals. Use surveys and discussions to help you understand students’ passions.

Help set realistic goals: guide students in setting reasonable goals for their extracurricular involvement, helping them to prioritise depth over breadth. Introduce a variety of activities, from academic clubs to service projects. Promote deeper involvement rather than a higher number of activities.

Be wary of over-planning: educate parents on the value of extracurriculars, and collaborate to ensure balanced engagement. It’s easy for students (and parents) to get caught up in the pressure of planning every activity with college admissions in mind. Remind them that authenticity and personal fulfilment matter as much as strategy.

The peaceful coexistence of passion and purpose

Ideally, students should pursue extracurricular activities that resonate with their personal interests, while considering how these pursuits can enhance their university applications.

Our guidance is key to helping students find the right balance, ensuring that they build a well-rounded profile that showcases their strengths, passion and potential for success. Our role as counsellors is to help them have a rich and fulfilling high-school experience: one that stands out on college applications and in life.