It is one thing I never understood in high school. I don’t understand how so many people did research, got into prestigious summer camps, win national awards, and so on. People say just generic membership in some club or organization isn’t enough, but people don’t understand how hard it is to just be a generic member.
At my high school, every single sports teams cut. Even track cuts. Lacrosse cuts 80% of the students who tryout. Yet, sports aren’t good extracurriculars to most people in this forum, and most student-athletes didn’t get into anywhere good. I don’t understand how people become team captains or win state awards and have time for research and STEM extracurriculars. Those people are a different species.
I just don’t understand how anyone is supposed to stand out.
Not that many high school students actually achieve to the national or large state level in extracurriculars. Lots of students go to college without having to be in the top 0.2% of extracurricular achievers.
That seems hard to believe. For example, Independence High School in San Jose has about 600 students for each graduating class. In 2024, 146 applied to UCs, 103 were admitted, and 64 enrolled. I find it hard to believe that 103 (or about one sixth of the graduating class) were state (or national) champions of anything.
At competitive high schools, a significant chunk have done things like research or other good extracurriculars. My main complaint is that it’s impossible to become even a generic member in things like sports
My three children were athletes and got into UC’s. All three of them did multiple ECs. I think the main difference is that they did things that they liked for their ECs.
They didn’t try to compete with other students who supposedly were doing research, when it was actually the parent that worked in research areas and had their kids help them do paperwork at work.
Not one of them started a nonprofit. They worked summer jobs because they were saving up cash for college. The colleges like students who work because the work environment provides training and discipline in balance, punctuality, decision-making and following directions from supervisors.
Plus, if they weren’t working, they sorted food at the local food bank. They learned to drive forklifts there, after they were licensed.
You are supposed to do things for you, and not because someone else is “beating you to the punch” in something that sounds grandiose.
I understand your bitterness, but you can channel that feeling into productive actions that will help you in college.
And doing things you are passionate about doesn’t help when you are competing for limited opportunities. Your kids were athletes, but a ton of kids who love sports can’t pass JV tryouts
I don’t understand why you are competing for limited opportunities. You move on and find something else that you really like.
I know the teams at our kids’ high school had limited space. There is only so much space in a transportation van. They have to pick the students who put in the time.
The coaches have to access a bus, a driver and they have to make sure that the liability insurance on the van, school, and the students, covers the travel and sport.
An athlete requires a lot of balance and hours of practice. That meant summer practices, evening practices, early morning 5 AM wake up practices, and those rituals show in the sport.
Just because you’re not on a school team doesn’t mean that you can’t be doing the same activities outside of school utilizing community travel teams, league and sports teams. Saying that you didn’t have equal access and opportunities means that you didn’t look outside the box.
I don’t know why you keep saying such ridiculous things. Every single opportunity is selective and limited in high school and the world. There is nothing that is open to everyone.
Just because you’re not on a school team doesn’t mean that you can’t be doing the same activities outside of school utilizing community travel teams, league and sports teams. Saying that you didn’t have equal access and opportunities means that you didn’t look outside the box.
Travel teams and clubs are just as incredibly selective.
That was not my daughter’s experience at all. There will be plenty of non competitive clubs and activities but in the end what matters most will be your grades and work experience in college.
Guessing there were MANY other less competitive clubs in your HS that you did not consider. You also could have found volunteer opportunities in your community and/or worked a part-time job which also would be considered excellent ECs.
Again, HS is almost done. Take this lesson and do not only focus on the highly competitive clubs in college.
As one example, a student I know did not get into a competitive business school club in college. Instead, the student joined a non-competitive community service club and worked up to be Treasurer by junior year. So be creative, seek out different paths when necessary, and move forward.
There are often different levels of clubs and sports in college. For example, my daughter was into theater. Not good enough for big main stage shows but her school had a student run club that anyone could join. Not everyone was cast in every show but there were always things to do to help backstage, with music, sales, etc…. She had a friend who didn’t make it into the marching band but did pep band. Same with sports - there are all kinds of levels of clubs in college.
My daughter is a senior in college now. She just received a senior leadership award for her college ECs… which were primarily in community service. Working with the campus food kitchen that provided resources to the local school system and community shut-ins, volunteering with a free health clinic, etc. She is drawn to service activities (and also was recognized for similar volunteering in high school). She wasn’t an athlete or the “star” of any of her other activities, but she was active in the things she enjoyed (drama, chorus, etc.) and distinguished herself as a leader by supporting those clubs initiatives.
I encourage you to seek out your interests in college and make an effort to get involved in any way you can. You don’t need to be the “star” to be a valuable part of any organization.