High School Extracurriculars Simplified

While a transcript is a key element of any college application, interests outside the classroom can be as important as the grades themselves. A well-rounded schedule with commitments both inside as well as outside the classroom shows that an applicant has developed both as an individual and as a student. 

Participation in a sports team or club is also an excellent opportunity for your child to enrich themselves and explore areas, creative or otherwise, that they may not be exposed to within their current course load. These experiences can be illuminating, character-building, educational, or simply fun.

With so many choices available at most clubs fairs, it is hard to know what extracurriculars to sign-up for. Here are some popular choices to keep in mind:

 

1. Student Government

If your child shows an interest in getting directly involved with their school, a possible path is student government. Acting as student body president or treasurer, your child will learn to work in a political setting and gain practical experience organizing activities, such as service trips, spirit days, and school dances. Moreover, the election process will also allow your child to practice public speaking and leadership skills as well as give them an opportunity to show their commitment to their community.

 

2. STEM Clubs

Depending on their school, your child may have the opportunity to join a club in the STEM field. Robotics clubs, science bowls, coding clubs, and mathematics teams can provide both supplemental learning as well as allow your child to explore a burgeoning area of study. Especially for students who are curious and show a passion for STEM, clubs are a great avenue for them to explore all the niches, such as web design, that they would not otherwise be exposed to in their curriculum. These clubs also often participate in competitions on state and national levels, which will challenge your child to hone their skills and develop pride in their work. 

 

3. Athletics

If your child shows an aptitude for physical challenges or works particularly well in team settings, sports are an excellent outlet that illustrate dedication, skill, and time management. Whether it’s swim team, baseball, track, hockey, or even something more obscure like fencing, athletics allow your child to build friendships with teammates as well as exhibit their skill on the field. Sports teams teach students how to compete with themselves as well as others. Additionally, earning a position, like team captain, not only shows a commitment to the team, but also helps develop leadership skills. If your child’s interest extends beyond high school, most sports can also be pursued at the college level sometimes with recruitment and scholarship possibilities available. 

 

4. Arts

Participation in drama club, jazz band, chorus, or school literary magazine is a great way for high school students to explore and develop creative interests outside the classroom. If your child wants to learn photography or an instrument, groups like an orchestra or arts club allow them to explore that new interest no matter their age or skill level. These avenues of creativity can also be an well-timed opportunity for your child to destress. Additionally, participation in the performing or fine arts may give your child an opportunity to develop a portfolio.

 

5. Volunteer Work

Community service roles or weekend volunteer work are outstanding ways to show that your child is civic-minded, compassionate, and involved in their community. By working at a shelter, a food bank, or nursing home, they will also be exposed to the world beyond their classroom and garner a greater understanding of their role in it. With some research, it’s easy to translate existing interests into volunteer work given that most organizations regardless of the field welcome high school participation. Moreover, most high schools already require a set number of volunteer hours as a graduation requirement. 

 

It’s important to choose an activity that your child finds interesting. Allow them to try different groups early on during freshman year and then decide. They shouldn’t stick with an activity or half-heartedly attend a score of them just to bulk up the resume; it’s more effective to really commitment to one or two. Once your child chooses where to focus their energy, use the next three years as an opportunity to illustrate what your child is passionate about. Extracurriculars are also a great chance to display leadership skills as well as demonstrate further commitment to academic interests. 

Overall, the most important thing to remember while researching what clubs or teams may be a good fit for your child is that these groups are meant to enrich your child’s educational experience. While participation in certain organizations or competition at certain levels may seem tempting with the college application process only so far away, your child shouldn’t sign-up for anything if they’re not also thinking about the present as well.

 

 

Download our High School Extracurricular Activity Guide to help your child find the right activities to get involved in.  From brainstorming ideas to comparing schedules, this series of worksheets is meant to help students identify their interests and find extracurricular activities to pursue in high school.

 

For additional information and insights, check out our blog: 

Meaningful summer activities that enhance college application

Parenting Advice: How to Help Guide a Child to Find an Interest

The Inside Scoop on Gap Year Programs: Stories from Parents Whose Children Took Time off Before College

Versed's Academic and Summer Programs Opportunity Guide Makes Finding the Perfect Program for Your Child Easy (Bookmark It!)

 

 

If you are interested in speaking with one of our Advisors about helping your child with extracurricular planning, you can schedule a free consultation here. 

 

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