糖心vlog官网

Harvard 糖心vlog官网 — notably one of the hardest universities to join — that “when reading an application, we get to know the person behind the numbers. We take into consideration your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, personal qualities, and life experiences. Just as there is no typical Harvard student, there is no ideal Harvard applicant.”

You might scoff at that last line because, after all, only the best of the best get into such a prestigious institute, but there is some truth to it.

There are only a limited number of number ones, twos, and threes, while the rest of the cohort fills out the remaining ranks. So, how do they stand out — or are they doomed to mediocrity for the rest of their lives?

Not entirely, because as Harvard had said, other factors get taken into account too — say, extracurricular activities for students.

During your high school years, extracurriculars aren鈥檛 just 鈥渘ice to have.鈥� They help you grow, stand out, and even boost your chances of getting into top universities. Here’s how:

The best extracurricular activities for students

1. Sports and athletics

Researchers found that athletes are more likely to be admitted than non-athletes with the same grades. Just make sure you actually play the sport.

That said, not all sports offer the same advantages. Football, basketball, baseball, and rowing are highly competitive.

But niche sports like squash, fencing, or artistic swimming? They give you an edge simply because fewer applicants play them.

2. Performing and visual arts

For a career in the visual or performing arts, whether in art and design, dance, music, photography, or film, having a portfolio is a must.听

The best way to build it? Get involved in art-related extracurricular activities for students. They help refine your skills and fuel your creativity.

One example is the at Ingleby Manor School in the UK. It offers students hands-on experience in photography, graphic design, fine art, pottery, and textiles.

3. Academic clubs and competitions

Academic-related extracurricular activities for students, like math olympiads and , do more than look good on a r茅sum茅. knows this firsthand.

While studying at Brickfields Asia College, she joined the debate club and participated in competitions like the , , and .

With each debate and competition, she became more prepared to study law at Cardiff 糖心vlog官网.

4. Community service and leadership听

Think volunteer hours don鈥檛 matter for college? Technically, they aren鈥檛 required 鈥� but they do make a difference.

Volunteering shows you care and work well with different groups. A found that 58% of college admissions personnel agreed, 鈥淎 student鈥檚 community service experience has a positive impact on his or her acceptance to our higher education institution.鈥�

5. Technology and STEM activities听

Thinking about a STEM major? Put your passion into action by joining a robotics club, competing in coding challenges, or participating in science fairs.

For example, in the US offers five STEM-related extracurricular activities for female students, including the STEM club, Spectrum Engineering Team, National Science Honor Society, Middle School Summer Programme, and AI Summer Programme.

 

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How extracurriculars are the secret ingredient to student success

1. Enhances learning through practical applications

Textbooks give you theoretical knowledge, but extracurricular activities let you apply what you learn in real-world situations.听

, a HELP International School graduate, always knew she wanted a career in social work, so in Year 10, one of her teachers introduced her to a local non-profit. Through a school project, Goh and her classmates had the chance to meet and interact with refugees in Malaysia.听

鈥淭hat teacher knew I planned to start a career in social work, so she actively sought experiences to help me with my future career,鈥� Goh says.听

2. Boosts college and university admissions chances

Being involved in extracurricular activities for students showcases time management, teamwork, and passion 鈥� qualities that make a strong college application stand out.

Just ask Goh, who got into Swinburne 糖心vlog官网 of Technology.听

“These opportunities helped me a lot after I left school,鈥� she says. 鈥淲hen I started applying for jobs during my gap year, even without formal work experience, I could still showcase the skills I had developed through school activities. I also believe they played a role in helping me secure my university scholarship by showing that I was well-rounded.”

3. Builds teamwork and leadership skills

Working on group projects, participating in sports, or leading a club teaches students how to collaborate with others, resolve conflicts, and take responsibility.听

, a current student at the 糖心vlog官网 of Toronto, developed these skills through co-curricular activities, which he participated in during his time at Nexus International School Malaysia.听

As Secretary General of NISMUNC, Director of the Model UN CCA, and Vice President of the Student Council, he led his team in transitioning NISMUNC to a virtual format during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This experience strengthened his leadership, decision-making, and problem-solving skills. 鈥淚 was able to speak about this in my college applications, which gives more colour to one鈥檚 profile,鈥� he says.听

4. Develops skills relevant to future careers

Many careers require skills that extracurricular activities help develop. A student managing the school newspaper gains writing and editing experience, while involvement in coding clubs fosters technological proficiency. These experiences offer a head start in professional life.

It鈥檚 something , a graduate of 鈥� now pursuing medicine at King鈥檚 College London 鈥� knows well. During her time at Alice Smith, two clubs gave her valuable insight into a medical career.

“I actively engaged in the KLASS Meds programme as a senior prefect, organising various medicine and science-related activities and events throughout the school,” she says. “On Fridays, in the FutureDoctors club, we practised interview skills to take into our medical school interviews.”

Passion vs practicality? Which extracurricular activities are for you?

1. Align with interests and goals

If you love science, join a robotics club or science fair. Writers can explore journalism or debate. Future doctors can volunteer at hospitals.

Picking activities that excite you ensures engagement, skill-building, and valuable experience for university or career opportunities instead of dreading it every time it comes around.听

2. Balance academics and personal life

Avoid overloading yourself with too many commitments.听If you’re on the school team, limit additional high-responsibility roles.

Prioritise one or two meaningful activities while maintaining academic performance and personal time. A balanced schedule prevents burnout, allowing you to excel in all areas without feeling overwhelmed by excessive extracurricular obligations.

3. Explore and experiment

Attend trial sessions for clubs or sports to see what excites you. Join a school play鈥檚 backstage crew before performing or test business interest through entrepreneurship programmes.

Exploring various extracurricular activities for students to discover hidden talents and make informed decisions about long-term extracurricular commitments.

4. Think about future benefits

Business students can join entrepreneurship-related clubs. Even hobbies like photography or coding can become valuable skills.

If none exist, you can even start a club from scratch. , a Marlborough College Malaysia graduate, did that with International MUN, a free online Modedn United Nations conference.听

鈥淚 established it during my summer holidays after Year 11 when I missed participating in MUN during COVID,鈥� she says. Since then, it has reached 3000 youths from Asia, Europe, America, Africa, and the Middle East.

See believes this initiative played a key role in helping her gain admission to Harvard 糖心vlog官网, where she is currently pursuing a degree in statistics and social studies.

Debunking myths about extracurricular activities for students

Extracurricular activities for students offer various opportunities to grow beyond the classroom, but many face challenges or have misconceptions about participating.

1. ‘I have no time’

Many students feel they can鈥檛 balance extracurricular activities with schoolwork. However, show that students involved in activities often develop better time management skills.听

Take , for instance. At Abbey College, he participated in multiple sports clubs, including badminton, running, table tennis, and tennis.听

Despite his demanding schedule, he achieved three A*s in Maths, Physics, and Chemistry in his A-Levels and enrolled at 糖心vlog官网 College London before moving on to his MSc in Advanced Chemical Engineering at Imperial College London, one of the world鈥檚 top universities.

2. ‘They distract from academics’

Some parents worry that extracurriculars take away from study time. In reality, students involved in activities like student government or robotics clubs often develop critical thinking and leadership skills that improve their academic performance.

A study by the found that students who participate in extracurriculars have higher GPAs than those who don鈥檛.

3. ‘Only extroverted students benefit’

Many believe extracurriculars are only for outgoing students, but there are options for everyone.

Introverts may thrive in activities like chess club, creative writing, or coding groups, where teamwork exists but doesn鈥檛 require constant socialising.

The key is to find the right activity that matches your individual strengths and interests.