This article has been updated to reflect 2026 data and recent developments.
Every high school student in the country knows the word “extracurricular”, it is a word that strikes fear into the heart of many. While extra-curricular activities may seem like a fun way to kill some time after school, for many students they are much more than that. They are a gold star on a college application, something that has real implications for the state of their future. But just how important are extra-curricular activities for your college application, and are some better than others?
What Kind of Extracurricular Activities Are There?
When it comes to extra-curricular activities, the options are endless, but what really counts as an extra-curricular? Technically, it is an activity that doesn’t pertain to ordinary school classes. The activity itself may occur either in or out of school, though elective classes don’t count. For example, theater class is an elective because it takes place during school hours and it is an actual class. Theater club is an extracurricular if it takes place outside school hours and it isn’t technically a class. Volunteer work can also qualify as an extra-curricular activity.
Here are some examples of extracurricular activities you might consider joining:
Special interest clubs (clubs for like-minded students, often focused around a particular subject, activity, or interest)
School service clubs (clubs where students engage in projects to improve the school)
Scholarship clubs (clubs that exist primarily for prestige, though they may also offer scholarship awards)
Community volunteering clubs (clubs where students engage in projects to give back to the local community)
Other examples may include things like student government, school publications, music or theater programs, sports, internships, shadowing programs, and more. It is never too early to start getting involved with extracurricular activities; Some students start prepping for their college applications in grade school! Not only should you consider joining a few extracurricular activities, but you should really go for it! Get involved by participating in club events or becoming a member of the club’s leadership board. In the next section, you’ll find out what colleges are really looking for in an application. Public School Review also explores opportunities available through academic clubs in public schools.
This video lists five top extracurricular activities to enhance your college application.
What Are Colleges Really Looking for in Applications?
One of the first things college admissions officers look at is academic performance because it helps them determine whether students meet the school’s academic requirements. Test scores may also be considered, depending on the college's current testing policy. Next comes your transcript, which includes a list of your classes and the grades you got in those classes. The third is extracurriculars, how you spend your time outside of school. While extracurricular activities may not be the first thing college admissions officers look at, they are definitely important. The activities you take part in help the admissions officer to get a picture of who you are, what you do, and what your values are. But what they really want to see is not that you are involved in as many activities as possible, but that you are committed to those activities you choose.
While you are certainly free to participate in whatever activities you like, if you want your extracurriculars to have a positive influence on your college application, you need to be smart about choosing them. College admissions officers want to see students who are making a difference, whether it be by completing a specific project, giving back to the community, or participating in a competition or event. They also want to see students involved in activities where they can learn something new or develop a skill or talent. It doesn’t matter whether you are learning the Chinese language or learning how to develop a photo. Colleges also like to see students in leadership positions or gaining recognition for their work with the organization. If you can show the college admissions team that you are committed to the activity and that your participation in it is worthwhile, it can be a benefit to your application.
The admissions guidance from Yale University emphasizes academic strength alongside personal qualities, meaningful involvement, and contributions to the community. Students can also learn more about how public schools prepare for college in high school.
Top Extracurricular Activities to Beef Up Your College Application
Though every extracurricular activity has the potential to boost your application, there are three types of activities that college admissions officers may value. Don’t worry, they aren’t specific activities, per se, but specific types of activities, and the combination of all three can be effective. The three extracurricular activities to consider are:
Academic activities
Community service activities
Personality activities
More than test scores and grades, colleges want to find students who are mature, who have a sense of purpose and direction with their life, and who have a strong sense of self. You aren’t expected to have your entire life put together by the time you graduate from high school, but colleges like to invest their time in students who will work hard and make an impact. They also like to see students who are “well-rounded” and adding these three types of activities to your list of extra-curriculars can accomplish that. If you plan to become a doctor, it might seem like a good idea to load up your application with science-based activities and volunteer work, but colleges want to know who you are as a whole person, not just your academic or career-related aspirations.
Academic activities include things that are at least somewhat related to the subject you hope to study in college. For example, if you intend to pursue a degree and career in journalism, joining the school paper or the yearbook team could be a step in the right direction. Activities that relate to the subject you plan to study show college admissions teams that you really have an interest in your chosen field of study, which gives you a greater chance of success. They also want to see that a student is passionate and that he knows who he is and what he believes in. Performing acts of service for other people is a great way to develop skills like problem-solving and critical thinking; It can also help to shape your worldview.
A community service activity involves volunteering your time to work toward a cause or to work with people in your community. You can do anything from helping to build homes to mentoring a younger student. This kind of activity shows a college that you are a born leader as well as a concerned and active citizen. Finally, a personal activity is something that shows who you are and what you are passionate about. It could be joining a local theater group, walking dogs at the local shelter, or going to space camp over the summer. If it shows that you have other non-academic interests and that you actively pursue them, it makes you a well-rounded individual.
Students interested in community service can learn more about volunteer requirements for high school graduation. In its admissions podcast, Yale University's admissions officers explain why genuine involvement matters more than simply accumulating activities, while a September 2026 discussion from Yale University examines how academic interests and extracurricular experiences contribute to an application.
By now it should be clear to you that extra-curricular activities are certainly not the only thing that college admissions officers look for, but they can play a big role in helping colleges to really get a feel for who you are, to help you stand out from the crowd. Colleges want to enroll people, not just students, and they want to know that you are more than just an accumulation of test scores and grades. In the end, it matters more that you do the things you love, but if it can boost your college application as well, all the better.
