10 Extracurricular Activities that Look Great on College Applications - (2024)

FAQs

What is the most impressive extracurricular? ›

There really isn't a limit to the number of ECs you do--but as many others mentioned above, quality is always regarded over quantity. Show admissions officers how committed you are to certain clubs (leadership positions, etc.)

Extracurricular 1 Activity Levels, known as Tier 1 activities, are exceptional and rare, like being a nationally recognized athlete or attending a top-tier summer program based on merit.

Strong Extracurriculars

Extracurricular activities can consist of community service, athletics, music, theater, or any other passions and commitments that students pursue outside of school. High school students who get into Harvard tend to have leadership positions when applicable.

Strong applications tend to have between 8 and 10 extracurricular activities. This sounds like a lot, but many activities are seasonal, so it's possible to fit, for example, three to four sports into one year. That being said, the most important thing to keep in mind is quality over quantity.

The most common “weak” extracurricular profile is simply one that is nonexistent or bare bones. Admissions officers don't want couch potatoes; they want to accept students who will become involved in the learning community. A student with little or no extracurricular involvement is undesirable.

If you have more than ten activities, you do not need to list all of them. In fact, on this part of the application, you can make a good argument that less is more. Instead of having a long list of activities, it's much more important to be able to show significant involvement in a few activities.

Is it OK to have no extracurriculars? ›

While extracurriculars are beneficial, they are not the sole determining factor the admissions committee will consider. If you have other outstanding qualities and a compelling application, you will still have a chance of getting into your dream school!

Students want to display juxtapositional depth to colleges. They can do this by focusing on two or three extracurricular activities that they can fully commit to and succeed in, and that highlight their different attributes as a student.

Sports might be the most common extracurricular activity that springs to mind. Almost all high schools offer athletic programs, whether varsity, junior varsity, or club sports.

Extracurricular activities that fit the bill include Model United Nations, student government, debate team and coding clubs. Likewise, Ivy Leagues love elite sports such as fencing, horseback riding, water polo and lacrosse. Leadership positions look particularly good to Ivy League institutions.