Pursue a Passion

Colleges, like high schools, would be no fun if students did nothing but study. Colleges need oboe players, midfielders, class presidents, and newspaper reporters. Virtually all college applications ask you to list your achievements outside the classroom, as an athlete, musician, class officer, or community service volunteer, and to indicate the extent of your involvement. Of course, the very best reason to pursue an extra-curricular activity is because you like it and because it rounds out your development as a person, not because it will “look good” on your application. The truth is, however, that extra-curricular achievement can do double duty, making your high school years more fulfilling and serving as a plus in college admissions.

There is a balance to be struck, however. You shouldn’t join a bunch of clubs that you’re not particularly interested in, or try to take on so much that you compromise your academic record. Concentrate your time, energy, and enthusiasm on a few well-chosen activities, demonstrate commitment over time, and assume a leadership role in some areas. This more targeted approach has the advantage of actually being more satisfying for you while also helping in college admission. Extend your involvement with summer programs or employment in related areas. Senior year is a time to choose especially wisely – you’ll need to set aside extra time for completing applications, drafting essays, visiting colleges, and attending interviews.

Help Your Community

Community service is often required for high school graduation, but colleges also are interested in how you have helped your community. Consistent, long-term involvement in a community organization or project obviously demonstrates your concern for others better than a scattershot approach undertaken at the last minute.

Choose a Job Wisely

A student who can carve out a stellar academic record while holding down a school-year job is an attractive candidate for any college. For students from families of limited means, employment can be a necessity, but for many students, school-year employment in the retail or food-service sector has become a way of providing money for “extras” – clothes, entertainment, and recreation – and this may unfortunately come at the expense of academic achievement. Recent research has demonstrated that working 20 hours a week or more is likely to compromise school performance. Choose your school-year work experiences carefully.

Summer jobs are always a good idea for high school students, especially if they connect to skills and talents or relate to an academic or extra-curricular interest. It’s a good time to make money that you can bank and use throughout the year for the “extras” you might want to buy! If you do work, most college applications provide a space for you to detail your employment experience. Check out these summer ideas.

 

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