I’m currently a sophomore taking a rigorous courseload. I’m involved in DECA, Mock Trial, Key Club (volunteering), and the Honors Diploma Program at my school. However, I feel like that isn’t enough for college admissions. Does anyone have any suggestions on what else I should do? Or would you recommend only staying in those clubs and getting leadership positions in all of them? If I were to join more clubs, it would probably only be one or two. I really enjoy everything I’m involved in, but want to know what would be best for colleges.
Thanks in advance!
It depends on the college. For 99% of the colleges in the US, your activities sound fine. Generally the most important thing with ECs is to do what you enjoy.
Quality over quantity. In my opinion, it is much better to excel in a few clubs than to spread yourself over a bunch of different activities you aren’t interested/invested in.
If you do feel like you need to add something, remember to get involved in things because you actually want to spend your time there, not just because “it looks good on college applications.”
I would say that what you are doing is good. Go with your gut, but make sure to leave yourself enough time to focus on getting good grades and doing well in your classes.
Most importantly, don’t overwhelm yourself! It isn’t worth it!
I would use these clubs as a starting point…can you get more involved? Show leadership? Lead an activity?
Also Check out “How to be a High School Superstar” by Cal Newport.
“The basic message of the book is this: Don’t wear yourself out taking as many classes as you can and being involved in every club and sport. Instead, leave yourself enough free time to explore your interests. Cultivate one interest and make it into something special that will make you stand out among the other applicants and get you into the toughest schools, even if your grades and scores aren’t stellar. Newport calls this the “relaxed superstar approach,” and he shows you how to really do this, breaking the process down into three principles, explained and illustrated with real life examples of students who got into top schools: (1) underscheduling—making sure you have copious amounts of free time to pursue interesting things, (2) focusing on one or two pursuits instead of trying to be a “jack of all trades,” and (3) innovation—developing an interesting and important activity or project in your area of interest. This fruit yielded by this strategy, an interesting life and real, meaningful achievements, is sure to help not only with college admissions, but getting a job, starting a business, or whatever your goals.”
http://www.examiner.com/review/be-a-relaxed-high-school-superstar