Is it bad to quit a club?

TheGreyKing
Sun, 11 Feb 2018 01:43:48 +0000

No. Colleges want to see people who contibute meaningfully to activities, as compared to people who just pad their resumes with a bunch of clubs where maybe they attend one or two meetings just for show. But making a meaningful contribution does not require a four year commitment to everything you ever try. Admission officers know that high school students are learning about themselves and their world. There are no “rules” for how many years you need to engage in any one activity or what positions you need to hold. That is one of those admissions myths that should be buried.

My son tried out clubs in 9th and 10th grade and dropped some of them because they did not inspire him. Some interests, like tennis and tutoring, he continued through all four years. But two of his major interests and involvements even started later. He did not get involved in Mock Trial until 11th grade, but then he became super-involved in it. And he did nothing with music for the first three years of high school, and then suddenly, in senior year, he joined a band with his friends, as the singer, and then took up playing the bass because the band needed a bass player!

He was admitted to Williams College early decision.

I always worry when high school kids fear they need to tailor their lives around a college application, especially when it comes to how they spend their leisure time. Do what you love! Then you will have something interesting to write about in applications and talk about in interviews. Besides, part of growing up is exploring diverse interests and discovering your passions along the way. Enjoy the journey.