sample college admission essay

sample college admission essay

The Importance of Extracurricular Activities in College Admission

1. Introduction

The college admissions process has become a force of nature that requires high school students to not only perform well academically but to also participate in specific activities to even be considered for acceptance at these colleges. This process has many parents questioning if they should advise their student to participate in extracurricular activities in school and whether these activities will have an impact on the college admissions process. According to an article in the New York Times by Jacques Steinberg, “The notion that a high school student, in this day and age, might graduate without having been a member of at least one club or a sports team is almost unheard of” (New York Times). Guidance counselors everywhere are faced with stressed out high school students who are trying to balance an active social life with work and extracurricular activities all in the hope to be accepted into a top university. This process has students participating in these extracurricular activities for the sake of their resume and not for the enjoyment of the activity, leading the student to be stressed and overworked. This issue has created a stereotype that the top university spots are only reserved for these overachieving students, steering kids away from this notion and causing them to aim lower in choosing a college (New York Times). This is an issue which strikes close to home for me, having been a high school student in the East Bay Area who watched the college admissions process at my school reach extreme levels of pressure and competition. This essay aims to discuss the importance of enrolling in extracurricular activities in high school in regards to not only the college admissions process, but also for personal benefit.

2. Section One: The Role of Extracurricular Activities in College Admission

The college application process is “particular, interested, and thoughtfully developed” and one of the elements of an application that is thought upon the most is a student’s extracurricular activities. Admissions officers know that past success in activities claims a lot about a student and can showcase special qualities that may not be evident through just GPA or test scores. In an interview with students at a local high school, a group of seniors – specifically – that it is normal for students to feel like a “dart on a board” when an acceptance or rejection letter comes in the mail. They also claimed that students who have exotic or unusual extracurricular activities (i.e. not something common like a club, team, or community service) have a higher chance of getting accepted because an uncommon activity might catch the eye of an admissions officer. But in general, an activity that is done over a long period of time, shows commitment, leadership, and passion will sprout the interest of an admissions officer. An article on college admissions said that students would claim involvement in an activity for eight weeks – when in reality, it only lasted two – and admissions already know this so it is pointless to lie. Therefore, showcasing these rare qualities through long-term activities or commitment to a particular class/group is important to do on the application.

Many people have experienced that one day of nerve-racking terror as they applied for college. Whether it is the worry of rejection or the overwhelming feeling of nervousness in the years leading up to decision day, applying for college is a difficult process. Part of the ordeal is due to the unknown future of the applicant. An applicant can increase their chances of getting into the college of their choice by knowing and doing certain things – extracurricular activities are one of the more obvious means to do this. This is evident by the fact that the majority of college admission boards look for students with well-rounded personalities.

3. Section Two: Benefits of Participating in Extracurricular Activities

Finally, and most importantly for the college admission process, participating in extracurricular activities can help with career development. An activity can lead to a potential career, and in today’s job market, experience and contacts are everything. A student can find a job doing something related to their activity and can use this experience on their resume to give them an advantage over others. For example, a job as a waiter might not seem related to an activity in a music program, but it could teach a student many managerial skills which they could use later on in their career. Of course, having a career in the same field as the activity is an added bonus.

Extracurricular activities promote social and academic skills. Meeting with others to reach a common goal is an experience found in most clubs and teams. This is a joint effort to achieve something, where all members must give a strong commitment. This is an invaluable experience which is not found in the classroom. It also teaches an individual how to work as a team, a key skill in life which will make the difference between success and failure in many situations. The activity an individual has participated in has the potential to teach them a myriad of new skills which could be academic or otherwise. For example, a student who takes up an after-school job at the local pet store walking dogs has learned a great deal about responsibility and pet care, even though this is not an academic activity. From an academic perspective, participation can increase a student’s interest in a particular subject and can raise their grade point. Many activities have competitions and require that a student maintains a minimum grade to continue.

Participating in extracurricular activities has many positive effects on an individual. It can build self-esteem and confidence, promote social and academic skills, and help with career development. By taking part in extracurricular activities, a student can build their self-esteem and confidence. This is because each activity a student participates in shapes who they are. It gives them a sense of belonging and individuality. Self-esteem and confidence are important for a child to develop, as they are key building blocks for success in the future.

There are many reasons why students take part in extracurricular activities. It is important to understand why the college may ask you about these activities. The college admission officers are looking for students who have made a commitment to an activity or cause and who have shown they can be well-rounded.

4. Section Three: How Extracurricular Activities Demonstrate Skills and Personal Growth

Participation in extracurricular activities has helped students develop a wide array of skills, as well as helping them mature and grow into a young adult. There are many productive activities that provide solid skills; debate is a perfect example of such. Many students start debate in high school to enhance their speaking and persuasive skills. A high school student that excels in debate may find school work in the communications field easier than someone who did not advance these skills. Public speaking can be a daunting task for many people, but debate students who have been consistently practicing and competing have no qualms about it. These students are applicable to a communications career where their public speaking and persuasion might be put into practice. Any medical or law school would also find these skills of a suitable nature. This is also a great example of how extracurricular activities can help define career goals. Any student aspiring towards a career in law would benefit from the skills learned in debate and may even find an interest in it through debate in the first place. Set a leader and an excellent role model for all this can be seen in students who participate in the Scouting program. Whether in Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts, involvement teaches valuable skills through its various activities. A student who advances to the rank of Eagle Scout or Gold Award in the Girl Scouts is regarded highly by many colleges for the strict requirements it takes to complete any such project. A scout project must be planned, carried out, and documented extensively and is held to high standards. Scout projects typically help better the community and show initiative and leadership. Any student who has achieved such a high rank has gained knowledge of leadership and must show adherence and perseverance to have completed the project. These students are deemed excellent role models and have learned skills that will be beneficial throughout their entire lives.

5. Conclusion: The Impact of Extracurricular Activities on College Admission

A time length for this act should also be implemented. Colleges don’t want to see that this act in high school had taken up the most of the student’s life. It is reasonable for an hour or two in a week. It will not disrupt the student’s studies and give a large time cushion. An activity should not interfere with studies. An incentive for participating in this act can be that this will look good on a resume and will benefit the student later in life. This is definitely true because students must be well-rounded. An activity can help further develop a person’s empathy, willpower, leadership, and social skills. It’s also good to note that the current job market is tough and this experience would be beneficial in acquiring a job later on.

The grading for this activity can be credit/no credit. This makes it simpler for the counselor and less of a headache for the student. Credit will be based on effort and participation in the activity. This means the student must attend a certain percentage of meetings and/or events. The time length for this activity can be once or twice a week. This will not consume the student’s time and will not give them an excuse of being too busy. The activity can still coincide with studies. An activity should not hinder the student’s availability to earn extra help in classes, which is what the student is here for in the first place.

Extracurricular activities should be made mandatory and the students should be required to choose at least one activity. This would expose the student to an extracurricular activity and give them an opportunity to explore their likes and dislikes. They should be responsible for participating in this activity for at least a year. It’s important for colleges to see the continuity and commitment in an activity. Being responsible for attending one activity looks a lot better than not being responsible for anything. Right now, only the students who are involved in activities and hear about the benefits are participating. How does this benefit the people who are unaware? By making it mandatory and allowing a choice, no one loses. Unlike right now, students who are uninformed do not have an opportunity to participate. How is this fair for college admissions to only see the students who were privileged enough to be informed?