Extracurricular Activities — showcase your talents
Beyond grades and scores: demonstrate initiative, leadership, creativity, and impact.
Why activities matter
Your application isn’t only academics—it’s also the experiences that make you you. Use activities to reveal your interests, values, growth, and impact.
- Community service: commitment to causes and real-world contribution.
- Sports & clubs: dedication, teamwork, and pursuit of interests.
- Leadership roles: initiative, responsibility, and influence.
- Artistic pursuits: creativity and craft—music, art, design, writing.
Be specific, authentic, and reflective—own the story and outcomes of your work.
Ideas & examples that stand out
- Launch a community drive or teach a weekly workshop (in-person or online).
- Lead a club competition team; document goals, metrics, and results.
- Produce a portfolio: performances, exhibitions, or published work.
- Build a tool or app that solves a local problem; collect user feedback.
Track hours, roles, outcomes, and what you learned—these specifics power your application and essays.
Online opportunities & resources
- Volunteer & tutor online: VolunteerMatch, DoSomething, UN Volunteers
- Academic competitions & programs: Math/Science Olympiads, National History Day, Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.
- Online courses: Coursera, edX, Khan Academy—earn certificates; turn projects into portfolio pieces.
- Create & publish: Podcast, blog, or digital magazine—share consistent, quality content.