The 5 Best Extracurriculars for College Applications

Extracurriculars are one of the most important parts of a college application. They help showcase your unique passions, talents, and your engagement with your community. But are some extracurriculars better than others? What are the best extracurriculars for college applications?

In this article, we’re going to break down exactly what kinds of extracurriculars colleges are looking for so you can choose activities that make your application stand out. We’ll also answer the most frequently asked questions about extracurriculars, including how to choose the right ones for you.

Let’s dive in!

What Are Extracurriculars? 

Extracurriculars are any activities that you do outside of the classroom—they’re “extra” things you do in your spare time. They can be formal activities, like joining your school’s robotics team, or informal, like teaching yourself how to play the guitar. 

Colleges care about extracurriculars because they want to see that you’re more than just your academics. Colleges want to admit well-rounded students who are ready to be part of their campus community. 

In order for an activity to be considered an extracurricular, it should help you learn and grow, develop skills, or contribute to your community. So cleaning up hiking trails to make them more accessible could be an extracurricular, but binge watching your favorite TV series…not so much. 

A common misconception is that extracurriculars have to take place at your school. While school activities are some of the most common, there are plenty of other options for extracurriculars, like part-time jobs, internships, and community events. 

Here’s a chart breaking down just a few examples of extracurriculars:

As you can see, there are many extracurriculars available to help you stand out on your college applications. Although it’s normal to wonder, “what are the best extracurriculars for college applications,” the truth is there are no one-size-fits-all answers. 

If you can earn a gold medal in an activity, there's a good chance it will make a solid extracurricular for your college applications.

The Best Extracurriculars for College

Just like there’s no definite answer to what the best extracurriculars for college are, there’s also no strict formula for figuring out what makes one “good” or “bad.” For example: someone who hates aren’t probably shouldn’t join the art club, but they could be a great fit for a more academic interest like academic decathlon. 

With that said, there are a few things you should keep in mind when picking the best extracurriculars for you. 

Quality Is Better Than Quantity 

One of the biggest mistakes we see students make is taking on too many extracurriculars. That’s right: you can go wrong with overloading your college apps with too many activities. 

While 5-6 extracurriculars is often seen as the “golden number,” our guide on how many extracurriculars you actually need explains that you really only need one solid extracurricular, even if you’re applying to the most competitive colleges. 

This might sound a little counterintuitive—don’t colleges want to see that you’re well-rounded in the things you spend your time on? Not necessarily.

The truth is, many students will have similar extracurriculars as you. They played on the school football team, joined honors societies, and volunteered in their communities. How are you supposed to stand out from them when you have essentially the same list of activities?

That’s why you need a spike. 

A spike is an activity or extracurricular that you’ve chosen and spent a lot of time participating in to develop your skills. It shows that you have a truly exceptional talent, keep your commitments, pursue your passions, and are intent on making an impact on the world around you.  

If we had to give one clear answer to the “what are the best extracurriculars for college applications?” question, it would be this: choose an extracurricular that helps show colleges that you’re extraordinary. 

A spike doesn’t just make you unique—it makes you unforgettable. 

So, it’s okay for your extracurriculars to seem unbalanced if you have a big spike. According to a Harvard alum, however, many of the most successful people are incredibly unbalanced. People who make the greatest impact in the world are those who focus on something specific they’re passionate about. 

Pursue Your Interests

It’s easier to stay involved in extracurricular activities you’re interested in. So before you start joining things willy-nilly, ask yourself a few questions: 

• What am I passionate about? 
• What are my talents? 
• What do I care about the most? (Friends, family, political issues, etc.) 
• What do I think I might like to study? What careers am I interested in? 
• What would I be sad to give up if I didn’t have the time? (Hobbies, Sunday TV nights, etc.) 

Everyone’s answers to these questions are different, so what’s good for you might not be good for your friends or classmates. 

For example, if you’re athletic, joining a school sports team could be a great extracurricular. You’d be able to show commitment by sticking to the team year after year, and working your way up to team captain could help you build your leadership skills. 

But if sports aren’t your thing, there are plenty of other activities like joining a community choir, volunteering at your local animal shelter, or picking up shifts at the downtown grocery store. Additionally, if you know you want to major in science or become a doctor, participating in pre-med summer programs or volunteering at a free clinic can give you a leg-up on your future goals.  

The best extracurriculars are ones where you can quantify your impact. 

Demonstrate Measurable Impact

There are so many interests, hobbies, and activities to choose from, it might feel like anything can be an extracurricular. And while you're not wrong...it's a little more complicated than that.

In order for something to count as an extracurricular, it has to have a measurable impact on your community or people around you. 

For instance, let's say you love to read. Spending your Saturday nights working your way through your stack of library books is fun, it isn't an extracurricular. That's because it isn't making a difference for people around you. 

Now, let's say you lean into your love of books and decide to spend your Saturdays reading to kids at your local library, or you start a book club to bring people in your neighborhood together 

Show That You’re Leadership Material

Strong leadership is one of the most sought-after qualities that colleges look for in their applicants, so it’s important to use extracurriculars to grow these skills. Admissions teams want to make sure they’re admitting students that are responsible, committed, and that will help make an impact on their campus. 

And remember, it’s not just the title of “leader” that’s important. Sure, “team captain” sounds great, but you can’t just drop that into your application and move on. You need to prove that your extracurriculars helped you develop valuable skills, like problem-solving, navigating challenging situations, and leading a team of your peers.  

You don’t need a fancy title to show that you have leadership skills, though. Leadership is about what you do, not the title attached to it. You can use all sorts of extracurriculars to show off your leadership skills, from organizing Dungeons and Dragons campaigns to picking up extra shifts for sick co-workers at your part-time job. 

Ask For Help 

If you’re still not sure about the best extracurriculars for college, try asking people for advice. Your teachers, parents, and friends know you well, and they can give you clarity around your interests. They may even know of extracurriculars that are perfect for you–but you just weren’t aware of! 

PrepScholar’s expert admissions counselors have also helped hundreds of students choose extracurriculars–and get into their dream schools. They’re up on all the trends so they can point you toward the best extracurriculars for you. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Extracurriculars

Whether you’re battling with limited time and resources or having trouble narrowing down your options, our expert answers to your FAQs can help you choose the best extracurriculars for college applications.

Are Extracurriculars More Important Than Academics?

No. While extracurriculars are more important than ever due to changes in standardized testing and affirmative action, extracurriculars are not more important than academics. 

Colleges are academic institutions. Grades, coursework, and test scores are still foundational to college applications, and it’s important to show that you can succeed in the academic community you’re trying to join. 

But the reality is that the college experience is much more than just academic coursework. You’ll be joining a campus community full of diverse people from all over the world with unique interests and skills. Colleges want to admit students who will become strong members of their campus community. 

So if you want to get into top schools, you’ll need to have strong academic credentials and stand-out extracurricular involvement. 

How Do I Narrow Down My Extracurricular Choices? 

You don’t need a list of hundreds of extracurricular activities to know that there are tons of options to choose from. Instead, focus on narrowing down your choices as much as possible. That starts with making a list of your personal interests and seeing which extracurriculars fit! 

For example, if you love learning about your favorite subjects, extracurriculars that challenge you academically and intellectually might be great for you. A few great options would be joining your school’s robotics team or STEM club, participating in science fairs, or creating your own website or app to share all your awesome knowledge. 

If you’re creative, artistic extracurriculars are an excellent way to express yourself and grow your skills. Options like joining a local improv club, editing your school’s newspaper or yearbook, or making prom dresses for charity are just a few ways to grow your creative and artistic side. 

Community service extracurriculars are great to consider if you’re passionate about helping others. There are plenty of places you can volunteer in and around your community, like your local food bank, animal shelter, or hospital. 

The key to narrowing down your list of options is to focus on the things you’re passionate about and how each extracurricular can help you achieve your goals. 

Should I Choose An Extracurricular That Matches My College Major?

Choosing extracurriculars that will help you with your college major can be a great way to show colleges that you’re serious about your academics and future goals, but it isn’t a requirement. Many students submit their applications without a clear idea of what they want to major in!

If you haven’t decided on your major, don’t stress about choosing extracurriculars that match it. Instead, focus on activities that help you explore your passions and grow useful skills. Who knows? You might even discover your perfect college major along the way!

If you do already know your intended college major, there are still benefits to choosing extracurriculars that explore other interests and skills. For example, if you’re planning to major in engineering, your talent for playing the violin can help you stand out from other engineering applicants by showing your creative side. Colleges want multidimensional students, so don’t be afraid to explore extracurriculars outside the scope of your major!

That said, if you just live and breathe your major, building experience and relevant skills certainly won’t hurt you in the long run. For instance, a future journalism major might consider writing for the school newspaper, managing a social media account for a local business, or even writing their own novel or blog.  

No matter what, the most important thing to remember when choosing extracurriculars is to prioritize activities you care about. Doing what you love will help show admission committees who you are and what you care about, which is what matters!

Some extracurriculars, like sports or other travel-based activities, can be expensive. But there are other great, low-cost opportunities that can look great on an application, too. 

What If I Can’t Afford or Can’t Participate in Afterschool Activities? 

Not everyone has access to traditional extracurricular activities like school sports and clubs, and that’s okay! Colleges know that resources and opportunities differ from student to student, and they don’t expect everyone to have the same level of access or involvement. 

Take Leslie’s high school experience compared to her friend Lily’s. Leslie landed a part-time job as a lifeguard her freshman year to save for college tuition. Lily, on the other hand, was able to participate in clubs after school and was the captain of the varsity volleyball team. 

Both Leslie and Lily’s experiences are great extracurricular activities because they’re meaningful and help them grow. For students like Leslie, part-time jobs can show responsibility, commitment, time management, and leadership—all highly valued by admissions committees. For students like Lily, multiple extracurriculars can show those same qualities in a different way.

What Should I Do if I Don’t Have Any Extracurriculars?

It’s never too late to join an extracurricular. However, there’s a good chance that you’re participating in an extracurricular…but just don’t know it. That’s right: lots of students do extracurriculars all the time without realizing it!

Compiled in our complete guide on what to do if you don’t have any extracurriculars, there are a few questions you should answer to determine whether you have any hidden extracurricular gems lying around, like:

• How do you spend your time at school during lunch?
• Do you ever participate in specific activities with your friends, like intramural sports or magic club?
• What did you do last summer? Did you take classes that weren’t required for school?
• What is your favorite hobby?
  
  

You might be surprised at how many of these activities are extracurriculars, like babysitting younger siblings after school or organizing game nights for your friends!

If you still come up empty, don’t worry. If you’re a freshman or sophomore, you still have plenty of time to begin a new extracurricular or two. This is the perfect time to try new things and see what sticks, so don’t be afraid to branch out and find something you’re passionate about.

For juniors and seniors, time is running short, but starting new activities late is better than doing nothing at all. Ideally, you want to choose an activity you’re really interested in and that you want to continue into college. Also, what you lack in time you can make up for in enthusiasm!   

If you feel like you need to share a little more about your extracurricular—like why you’ve just discovered it—you can always use your application essays to give a little more insight. Talk about how you discovered the activity, why it’s important to you, and how it’s already helped build skills or how you hope it will in the future. 

Hear ye, hear ye! Here's what you need to know about extracurriculars. (Also, writing a newspaper for children could look great on a college application, too.) 

Recap: What Are the Best Extracurriculars for College Applications?

Choosing the best extracurriculars for college isn’t about finding a one-size-fits-all activity. Following your passions, using activities to learn and grow, and leaning into the things you’re especially good at are all keys to success. 

In this article, we broke down:

• What extracurriculars are
• What makes an extracurricular “good” or “bad”
• Frequently asked questions about extracurriculars
  
  

The best extracurriculars are those that show your unique skills and talents, your dedication and leadership skills, and your potential to continue learning and growing. It’s never too late to pick up a new extracurricular, but don’t wait—get started now to make the most of your college applications!

What's Next 

• Not sure how to incorporate extracurriculars into your college application? We'll walk you through how to write about them for maximum impact. 
• Did you know that there are some extracurriculars you can do from the comfort of your couch? Here's what you need to know about remote extracurriculars and how they look on college apps.
• Of course, not all extracurriculars are created equal. Here are the three best activities to add to your resume.