Extracurricular Activities and College Admission: Do They Matter?

Many students and parents alike underestimate the importance of participating in extracurricular activities in order to appear a well-rounded and intelligent student, an asset to any college admissions official. Not only do extracurricular activities help students to appear more well rounded and increase their chances of getting into the school of their choice, but they also help to create a more well rounded individual and better prepare students for the college world and what it is like to have to work with and around others.

Sports Teams

Being part of a team is something that admissions officials look kindly upon, and sports teams are definitely a good type of team to be a part of. Not only do sports teams and good grades prove that students have the makings of true academic success, but some sports teams can increase the likelihood of a student getting accepted to school, especially a school where they might be an asset to one of the sports teams.

Clubs and Campus Activities

Being in campus related clubs and participated in campus activities helps to promote leadership in students, and help them to learn to take responsibility for some things themselves. College admissions officials see this, and it can really help a student's chances of being accepted to the school of their choice. Leadership is a quality that college admissions officials and employers alike take great consideration into, and every student should demonstrate some type of leadership skills; clubs help students to not only demonstrate these skills but develop them as well.

Volunteer Work

Being an active part of one's local community is something that is to be respected, by prospective employers, peers, and college admissions officials. Volunteer work can be anything, from helping in the classroom at your old elementary school to cleaning up the park, to working at the zoo or the aquarium in your local community or anything of that nature. In most cases, volunteer work is unpaid so it is important to keep that in mind but even spending time with younger siblings can count as volunteer work; it is all a matter of how you spin it.

Extracurricular activities are an important part of the college applications process, so for all those parents that feel like their students should focus solely on their grades and not other things is wrong. Volunteer work, clubs, and sports teams are a great and valuable, constructive use of spare time and they look great on college applications.