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!

Summer programs provide high school students with opportunities to explore their academic interests and spark new passions. They also allow high school students to get a taste of college life and meet other students from all over the world.

In this article, I'll provide a list of over 170 colleges throughout the United States that host summer programs for high school students. Furthermore, I'll give you information about what pre-college summer programs are like and how you can select the right program for you.

Thinking about a career in medicine? I highly recommend trying out some medical experiences in high school before committing to a pre-med track. Many of my high school friends who hoped to go into medicine ended up changing their major during college when the pre-med courses got too difficult.

Doing a medical internship, summer program, or community service project in high school can help you decide if medicine is the right track for you before you waste time and money going pre-med in college. This guide will explain what experiences are open to you as a high school student, what those experiences involve, and how you will benefit from them.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Northwestern University gave its supplemental learning program for children and teens, known as NUMATs, a makeover. Now renamed the Northwestern CTD, this unique and challenging learning experience for gifted learners is back and waiting for you to apply!

The Northwestern Center for Talent Development (CTD) provides advanced tests to students to find their academic strengths and weaknesses and offers courses to help students prepare for their academic futures.

In this guide, we’ll answer all of your questions about the Northwestern CTD, including:

• What is Northwestern CTD? What do you do in the program?
• Why should you or your child participate?
• How do you apply?
• How much does it cost?

We'll also give you tips for getting in. That way, you’ll have everything you need to get your eligibility materials ready in time for Northwestern CTD Summer 2023. So, let’s get started!

Have you heard of the National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC)? Maybe you've heard that participating in NSLC is a great way to impress colleges, and you're wondering if that's true. Spoiler: If you're considering NSLC because you think it's prestigious, you're in for a rude awakening. Keep reading to learn why.

This guide will go over exactly what NSLC is, what its potential benefits and drawbacks are, and how you can decide if you should participate in one of its programs.

Have you heard of the National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF)? Perhaps you've heard that attending the NYLF is a great way to improve your chances of getting into top colleges, and you're wondering if that's true or not. Spoiler: If you're considering NYLF because you think it's prestigious, you'd be dead wrong. Keep reading to find out why.

This guide will explain what NYLF is, what its benefits and drawbacks are, and how you can decide whether or not you should participate in it.

Have you heard of the Yale Young Global Scholars program but aren't sure if it's worth attending? YYGS is a summer program for high school students run by Yale University. Some attendees love their experience, while others don't feel the program is worth its high price tag. So, should you apply?

This article will explain exactly what the benefits and drawbacks of YYGS are, as well as the questions you need to ask yourself before you make a decision to attend.

Are you a coder or computer science lover and want to show off your skills? Computer science competitions are a great way to do that! We've gathered information on 9 of the best computer science and coding competitions high school students can participate in. Look over the descriptions that seem most interesting to you, then keep reading to learn everything you need to do to make participating in these competitions stand out on your college applications.

Love reading, writing, and being creative? Then consider checking out summer writing programs for high school students! 

Whether you want to become a journalist or the next Poet Laureate, there are tons of summer writing programs that will help you achieve your goals. Participating in these programs can look great on college applications too! 

In this article, we’ll give you all the info you need to decide if creative writing summer programs for high school students are right for you, including: 

• A full description of 12 summer writing programs for high school students (including cost, eligibility, and what they cover!)
• A quick, five question quiz to help you decide if a summer writing program is right for you
• Three tips on how to impress colleges with your summer writing program

Let’s get started! 

The Inspirit AI Scholars program is an intensive, online course that teaches high school students about artificial intelligence (AI). In this program, students get to practice coding, designing, and implementing their own AI-based projects with web development experts. Additionally, participants learn tech skills that can set them up for success in school and beyond!

Below, we’ll explain you what you need to know about the Inspirit AI Scholars program, including: 

• What the Inspirit AI Scholars program for high schoolers is
• What topics the program covers and what projects are available for students 
• Answering the question, “Is Inspirit AI worth it?” by going over the pros and cons of the program along with real-life student reviews 
• How to apply to Inspirit AI
• What the Inspirit AI Scholars program for elementary and middle school students is

Let’s dive in! 

Want to be an engineering major in college? A great way to set yourself up for success before you even begin your freshman year is to do an engineering internship or camp as a high school student. However, summer engineering internships for high school students can be tough to find. That's where we come in! We've compiled a list of the 14 best engineering opportunities for high schoolers, including some that pay you to participate!

Considering majoring in business once you start college? Having some relevant knowledge and skills before you even graduate high school is a great way to set yourself up for success, and one of the best ways to get hands-on experience is through an internship or summer course. However, summer business programs for high school students that are both high-quality and affordable can be hard to find. That's where we come in! We've compiled a list of the 12 best business opportunities for high schoolers, including free summer business programs for high school students, so that you can begin college with excellent experience.

If you’re a high school student who’s interested in becoming a lawyer, you can actually start preparing for your future career now by participating in high school law internships and other law-focused programs. 

High school law internships, summer programs, and law volunteer opportunities for high school students all allow you to explore legal careers before you ever even get to college. We’ll explain everything you need to know about these programs, including:

• The types of law programs available to high school students 
• Real-life examples of law programs for high school students
• Tips for including your law experience on college applications 

Keep reading to learn more! 

Considering majoring in computer science or pursuing a computer science career? Having some relevant knowledge and skills before you even graduate high school is a great way to set yourself up for success, and one of the best ways to get hands-on experience is through an internship. However, computer science internships for high school students, as well as high-quality summer programs, can be hard to find. That's where we come in! We've compiled a list of the 15 best high school computer science internships and courses for high school students so you can start college on a strong footing.

Are you a student with a love for biology? If so, then you should consider participating in the USA Biology Olympiad, or USABO! Nearly 10,000 talented high school students participate in the Biology Olympiad each year, and it’s a great opportunity to build your science skills and your college applications. 

 We’ll teach you everything you need to know about the USABO, including: 

• What USABO is and who’s eligible to compete
• The content and topics that USABO covers
• The benefits of competing in USABO
• How the USABO competition works
• Four tips for getting involved in USABO

Let’s get started!