I’m going into 11th grade after this summer and I have pretty much 0 extracurriculars… I didn’t realize until recently that they’re kind of important for college.
I haven’t taken ACT/SAT yet, but I’ve gotten straight As throughout 9th and 10th grade and I’m taking AP math and science as well as Honors Spanish III in 11th, so hopefully that looks good. But seriously, the only extracurricular I’ve done since I started high school was National Art Honors Society in 9th grade. Nothing else. I’m kind of worried. Is there enough time to get some relevant things done before I have to start applying for colleges?
I’m thinking about joining some of the following clubs next year:
-Math Club
-National Art Honors Society
-UNICEF Club
-School newspaper
-Spanish Club
-Model UN??
My hobbies/interests include art and sometimes self teaching guitar… no real instruments or sports. I don’t really do much. Should I start looking into volunteer opportunities or is it too late? Do I have a chance?
I don’t necessarily think it’s too late, but I will say that quality is better than quantity when it comes to ECs. I took guitar throughout all of high school just for the sake of having an EC, and I got absolutely nothing out of it. I also did some volunteering in 9th and 10th grade, but that was kind of out of obligation. In fact, for part of the CommonApp there was a section about extra-curriculars, and when I tried to write about my volunteering for that part, my GC told me honestly that she could tell from the way it was written that I didn’t really care.
But that’s okay, because what I did have was Politics Club. I joined at the start of my junior year (hence why I would say it’s not too late), and I really, genuinely got a lot out of it. When I filled that section of the CommonApp with a paragraph about Politics Club, the sincerity shone through and it made all the difference.
I managed to scrape together a list of things I had forgotten about but thought might be worth mentioning:
9th
-Participated in Northeastern Ohio Science and Engineering Fair
-Member of National Art Honors Society
-Won 2nd place in group IV (grades 9 & 10) for the American Legion Auxiliary’s Americanism Essay Contest
10th
-Participated in the 2016 Congressional Art Competition
-I won some sort of academic award for having a good GPA but I don’t remember the exact name; I’d have to find the pamphlet thing I got at the awards ceremony.
And for what it’s worth I won an album cover design contest in a smallish online community, but I doubt it’s worth anything.
@CheddarcheeseMN Yeah, probably… dang. Thanks for the tip. Do you think these would make any difference along with clubs/maybe volunteer work in 11th or nah
@Philpsych Thank you for the advice!! I hope I can find a club that suits me next year…
I think art is your EC. Quality does matter over quantity, and you have shown that you are passionate about art and it will be apparent in your application. Try to get a notable position (secretary, president, etc.) in NAHS and participate in more art competitions if possible. If you join a lot of clubs junior year then it will be obvious that you just did it for the application. I suggest you join no more than three or four clubs (including NAHS). Make sure that the ones you become a part of are enjoyable for you.