we’ve all heard about the kids who get perfect SAT scores and have A+ averages and get rejected from their top choice schools and thought… why? well, between test prep courses and gpa inflation, it is easier than ever to look good on paper. but with college applicant pools being as competitive as they are, admissions officers are looking past grades and tests scores and further into a student’s background to see if they are qualified enough to be accepted. schools don’t want super smart people with no personality because those people don’t add anything to the campus community. admissions officers put together classes that will contribute positively to the school and make it more attractive to subsequent applicants. and, to put it bluntly, antisocial nerds don’t do this.
what this means that participation in athletics, music, art, and extra-curricular activities during your high school years can make or break your application. what this doesn’t mean, however, is that you should join a whole bunch of clubs that you’ve never heard of and try out for the varsity ping pong team senior year just to get into college. participation in nonacademic pursuits should involve things that you’re actually interested in for a few reasons. first off, if you’re going to devote your spare time to something, it’ll feel like less of a chore if you’re getting some satisfaction out of it. secondly, if you like what you’re doing then you’ll probably do a good job at it. this is good because when it comes time to get recommendation letters, the faculty advisor to the club (or the coach of your team) will be more inclined to write you something positive. also, since they can cite specific out-of-classroom experiences with you, these people can sometimes provide a better insight into who you are for an admissions officer than a letter from a classroom teacher.
extra-curricular activities can also help you out in the financial aid department. if you are athletically inclined, recruiters can get interested and their schools can offer up to a full ride. an addition, a number of after-school clubs offer scholarships to their members, especially those in leadership positions. the key is to make your activities work for you and your needs. if you’re not getting anything out of them, then you’re probably wasting your time, which is definitely not a good thing.
