Learn about Extracurricular Activities
Colleges look for students who excel not only academically but also have passions they can share with the student community. Extracurricular Activities can include leadership roles, sports, clubs, volunteering, research, internships, jobs, or even family duties.
The Common App provides 10 slots for extracurriculars, allowing you to showcase many of your talents. Here are a few examples of activities Borderless members have done:
π£οΈ veronica says...
Veronica Lee
Admissions ExpertβMany students worry about not having fancy activities at their school. The truth is, the best ones are done outside of the school environment. Whether it is passion projects, internships, research work, activism, etc. - you don't need your school's permission to do them.β
What a good activity needs
While many things can be considered activities, not all are suitable for college applications. For instance, scrolling on TikTok or playing video games does not count as a meaningful activity. However, creating content or developing your own game does! Here's what makes a good activity:
Exercise: Rate this activity
Below is a description of a typical extracurricular activity of a high school student. Use the rubric from the last page to rate this activity as:
- Highly Competitive
- Moderately Competitive
- Not Competitive
Rate the activity based on the following criteria: Achievement, Authenticity, Commitment, and Impact.
Sample Activity: School Newspaper
ποΈ Duration: 3 months
ππ»ββοΈ Position: Editor I am one of the three editors
I am one of the three editors for our school's newspaper, where I cover topics on students' well-being as well as events at our school. So far, I have published three articles that were featured on our school's website. One of them included an interview with a psychologist from an American university and was very popular among students.
Achievement score
Uniqueness score
Commitment score
Impact score
Activity Evaluation
Achievement
Moderately CompetitiveBeing appointed as one of the three editors is a great achievement! However, the student can take it further and aim to become the editor-in-chief.
Uniqueness
Moderately CompetitiveThe student newspaper is a relatively common activity among high schoolers, making it harder to stand out among others pursuing the exact same activity. However, depending on the nature of the articles written, this rating can improve!
Commitment
Not CompetitiveThree months is a short commitment for this activity; however, if the student continues to actively participate until the application deadline, these three months can turn into a year!
Impact
Highly CompetitiveRaising awareness about well-being and reaching all students of the school is a great example of creating a positive impact. To scale it further, the student should aim to get more collaborations and increase the number of readers.
Send your activities for review
Itβs time to get feedback on your own activities to make sure that each one is meaningful and helps your application . Please fill out the form with details about your activities.
Bonus: List of global opportunities you can apply to
π£οΈ veronica says...
Veronica Lee
Admissions ExpertβI frequently hear international students say, "My school or city doesn't offer any extracurriculars. What should I do?" The truth is that the best opportunities aren't given; they're created by you taking initiative! Apply to global programs (see the list below), network with professionals in your field, and start your own projects.β
Below you'll find prestigious summer programs, competitions, and exchanges available to all international students. Be aware that most deadlines are often far in advance - for instance, YYGS, which takes place in July, has a January application deadline. These opportunities aren't last-minute options; they require early planning and can't be pursued just a few months before college application deadlines.
