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What should I do if I am not involved in extracurricular activities?



QUESTION: I just moved to a new state a few months ago and I’m having trouble getting into extracurricular activities. At my old school, we didn’t have extracurricular activities so I wasn’t involved in any. I want to excel and get into a top school. I am afraid that I may not since I am not involved enough. Signed, Uninvolved

Dear Uninvolved: One of the misconceptions about extracurricular activities is that the only ones that count are those sponsored by your high school. The reality is that colleges don’t care whether or not you participate in school based clubs or sports. They care that you are interested and passionate about something outside of the classroom.

Even if you were at your old high school that didn’t offer any activities that would not be an excuse for not being involved. Colleges don’t want students who spend all of their time in the library studying. Colleges want students who are active and interested in something besides homework. It doesn’t matter what your interests are – they could be band, cheerleading, student film or human rights – the key is that you show the colleges that you have interests that extend beyond your classroom walls.

Since your current school offers extracurricular activities, one easy way to pursue a passion for writing, for example, would be to join the newspaper or contribute to a literary journal. But don’t limit yourself to only clubs and organizations on campus. If you are interested in something that is not represented by a club, then look outside of school. Or consider starting a club of your own. Remember that getting involved will not only help you get into college but will make your high school experience richer, too.

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Gen & Kelly Tanabe

Gen and Kelly Tanabe are the founders of SuperCollege and the award-winning authors of 11 books on college admission, financial aid and scholarships. Together they were accepted to all of the Ivy League colleges and won more than $100,000 in merit-based scholarships to graduate from Harvard debt-free.