Can you all share some unique programs (may not be that unique) or after school activities that are quite valuable?
When I say valuable, I mean in terms of something that benefited both student and it also helped make the college application stronger.
example: my friend’s kid learned a foreign language and she had an exchange student stay with them for a few days when she was learning the language.
Friend’s kid really benefited from the program and understood the language, culture better. She added this to her college application and as per my friend, it made her application stronger.
Are there any other programs or after school clubs that add such unique experience?
I want my kid to try to participate in some such program, and right now we have no clue of all the program choices out there for a sophomore student.
There isn’t really a magic formula for this. Schools want students who are interested and interesting. Brainstorm based on your kid’s interest. If you could be more specific about what activities they do now, you might get some suggestions for extending those activities in different ways.
The most beneficial activities are ones your KID enjoys doing. If your kiddo has something they really like…and they do it because they enjoy it. They should not solely be doing activities to pad a college resume.
Having said that…once your kiddo has defined some interests, you may find some activities would be more beneficial to continue than others. For example…one of my kids had a lot of different things she liked. But in the end, she pursued her music ECs the most. She had leadership positions, was a state ranked musician, and did some creative work with her HS ensemble. It made more sense for her to continue this than to be on the track team.
student is learning the following things at school:
spanish level 3 (but there is no exchange program. There is honor society)
Precalculus
AP chemistry (tried out for chemistry Olympiad but not sure if made it to team)
orchestra outside of school
AP computer science
volunteers as a science mentor at a elementary school
volunteers at church
participates in school newspaper editor team and a chemistry club.
Your son or daughter seems to be doing fine. Every student learns a foreign language and I don’t honestly see how a foreign student staying with your friend for a few days could really enhance the other kid’s application.
If your son or daughter is very interested in science, say, or in music, or writing, or computers, whatever seems to rise to the top so to speak, you might look for summer programs or some activity outside of school to enrich and develop that interest and talent. But help your child with this for the sake of enjoying high school years, and growth, rather than admissions. it will work out.
Some people also perceive a single thing made a big difference in the application, but in the eyes of the admissions committee it may not make that much of a difference at all. Agree with what everyone else has said, the kid should be pursuing his or her own passions, whatever form that takes. There is no magic formula
Music. Groups at highschool and the community. My now STEM major child couldn’t get enough, was practicing 4 instruments a day (3 to 4 hours) junior and senior year in high school. Still plays in several groups in college. Several essays for admissions had to do with her music. I actually miss all of the practicing in our house (though I doubt our neighbors feel the same, we live in an apartment).
My kids have some unique EC’s but they started well before high school. DD was very active in Girl Scouts and was an “extreme” cookie seller to fund her unique experiences (lots of national and international travel not parent funded) and plays an instrument that not all orchestras have and few have more than one. DS blows glass as a hobby and has won some national awards but he’s been taking classes since he was 13. He also fences and is very involved in Model UN and has applied to nsli-y for their Chinese summer program. It really depends on what your child is interested in.
Because we are full pay and need big merit, my kids EC’s will likely not count for much at the schools they are applying to. DD was National Merit and EC’s only helped her with some outside merit. DS18 will hopefully be NM too, if not maybe his EC’s will help with scholarships but that’s not the reason he’s doing them.
I will say that Model UN has been a very transforming EC for my DS, it’s really taught him public speaking skills and a better understanding of international government relations. Plus he now knows several different ways to tie a tie;-)
Something else to consider: Can he use some of his skills and interests he has already to create an unique experience or startup project of his own? You are not limited by what programs are out there, only by your own innovation and ideas
If you are looking for something unique that will allow career exploration and provide leadership training/opportunity/skills, then I have to recommend the Sea Cadet program Sea Cadet program (official name is United States Naval Sea Cadet Corp or USNSCC). Since very few people have heard about it, I would consider it unique. I cannot speak highly enough about what a wonderful experience this has been for my S, and he has no intention of entering the military. The absolute best part of the program is the training opportunities. My son went to a medical training last summer in which they went to a university hospital and got to learn how to interview patients (with actors portraying the patients), went to the cadaver lab and held human organs, intubated dummies and so much more. All for $190 including room and board. They do have to go through a basic training (which my son enjoyed!) and then they can chose whatever summer and/or winter trainings they wish to attend. Some are very STEM oriented (learn to build and operate a radio, Sea Perch and Cyber Patriot) while others are oriented to the Navy (shipboard trainings, sailing, submarine stints and even shadowing the Coast Guard) and others are aimed at challenging the student physically (survival trainings, pre-SEAL trainings, underwater shipwreck exploration for advanced SCUBA divers). There are others for career exploration as well (medical, photojournalism, law enforcement, and culinary). And that’s just a fraction of what was available last summer. I would link to what was available last year, but unfortunately it is no longer available.
I don’t think it works for us to suggest specific “programs.” Your son or daughter should follow his or her interests and then as a parent, you can look for ways to develop them in the summer or during the school year.
And for more colleges, having a job at the local ice cream stand can be a respected EC these days: there is increasing attention to socioeconomic diversity and recognition that some kids need to work.
A lot of the answer depends on what colleges he might target. You can do some things based on your interests, some for other good reasons. Always good to get out of the hs rut, just what the hs offers, or the family is involved in. It doesn’t need to be a fee program. I’d agree, what’s listed in #3 is a good start.
VEX Robotics, FLL Robotics, FIRST Robotics, BEST Robotics. My daughters started going to these in elementary school, were super into it in middle school, and younger D still does BEST and FIRST in high school. Older D shifted over to pure programming competitions and animatronic building competitions in high school, but it’s a similar umbrella.
I got them into it because it’s more collaborative than competitive, and it requires them to work well in teams. They both tend to be “my way or the highway, I’m in charge 100% of the time” temperaments, so this was a good way to teach consideration and collaboration.
I have no idea if it helped older D with her college apps, (I suspect it was test scores more than anything else), but they both like enough to have stuck with it, and both plan on doing something with robotics/animatronics in college.
The OP’s kid is already doing orchestra outside of school…and volunteering at two places outside of school.
To @learning19 does your kid also take instrument lessons for whatever they play in that orchestra?
Your kid has these extra curricular activities outside of school: orchestra, church volunteer, science mentor at elementary school.
The kid has these school based EC’s: school newspaper, chemistry club.
In my opinion, that is plenty. If your KID favors any of these, perhaps you can find additional something for that to do.
Having an exchange student in your home is NOT considered an EC for a student. It’s nice…but that isn’t going to enhance a student’s college application. Now BEING an exchange student probably would. But YMMV depending on the actual programs.
My kids did not do anything out of the ordinary to make them stand out. They are just your typical hard working, good grades/scores, sports, volunteering, leadership, summer job kind of kinds. Some excelled in certain areas ( state champion in sport ) but everything they did was their idea. Of course, they are the type of kids to jump in and get involved but my point is they would never have wanted me to pick something out for them and why spend time on an activity just to look good on an application? Is that your true self? No! So, while it’'s helpful to share ideas ( I had never heard of the naval one mentioned up thread ) I don’t think it’s a good idea to have a goal of making the application look better/stand out by looking for unique activities. You really don’t know if that EC your friend told you about is what made the application stand out. Who ever really knows?!
My kids were accepted/attended/attending great schools, did very well, happy ( the best part in my opinion ), jobs in hand before graduation, etc. I know everyone has different goals but some of this ‘what looks best on application’ is ridiculous.
I’d focus on the activities she already has. If she has extra time, get more involved in the things she’s most interested in, take a leadership role on the newspaper or spend more time on music.