What extracurricular activities are more important to get the kids into top colleges?

[fireandrain]

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Debate is one activity that is very costly in terms of effort (equal to research) but returns are not similar. If you don’t win any national awards your effort is more or less wasted.

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<p>I know I might be talking to a brick wall here, but I just have to disagree with this. There is so much to be gained from debate and lots of other activities even if you don’t win national – or state or even local – awards. Life is not all about getting into prestigious colleges. My daughter did debate for just one semester and learned enough about research and speaking and talking in public to make it an invaluable activity. Her time was not wasted. Trophies had nothing to do with it.</p>

<p>I also disagree with this:</p>

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So rule of thumb with extracurricular activities is that if your child is not gifted, in some area like music, sports etc., planning the activities over following the child passion is more important.

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