<p>How important are they exactly? I will be a junior in September and these are the extracurriculars I've done so far.</p>
<p>9th
Costumes-2 plays, 1 musical
Small role in a one act play (non speaking)<br>
Sound Board Op for 1 play
Student Gvt
NaNoWriMo
Script Frenzy
Jewish Youth group</p>
<p>10th
Costumes-2 plays, 1 musical
Assistant House manager-1 play
NaNoWriMo
Script Frenzy
Improv Club
Poverty and Hunger club-Treasurer (didn't really work out)
Jewish Youth group
Abridged version of The Tempest (Nymph)</p>
<p>11th
Stag Manager for a play (hopefully, haven't heard yet)
Youth Group General Board
+ more (probably costumes again and probably will start a club)
NaNoWriMo
Script Frenzy
National French Honor Society (hopefully)</p>
<p>Summer
Explo-camp (summer after 9th + 10th)
Youth Group week long camp (after 10th grade)</p>
<p>Other
Avid writer/reader/baker (almost every day)</p>
<p>So are these enough? What are colleges really looking for?</p>
<p>Yes, they are important because they demonstrate your passions and being involved indicates that you are not an idle bum who stares at the wall. Also, winning awards shows your excellence and dedication to a certain area.</p>
<p>They are Pretty important because they are a way to differentiate yourself from the droves of other high scoring applicants at the top of their class.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>For both questions, it depends on the college you’re interested in. Members here will usually assume that you are talking about the 50-100 most selective schools out of the 3k in the country.</p>
<p>Um I guess I’m looking at the top 100, but I can deal with slightly less selective if need be</p>
<p>“Enough” depends on where you’re applying. HYPSwhatever require* that you take your interests and pursue them ENDLESSLY. This means getting awards, doing big things, etc. Most people won’t have this.</p>
<p>But yours look good for most other schools.</p>
<p>*not trying to discourage you. You can certainly get in without, but it’s much more difficult. If you’re considering applying up there I would encourage it.</p>
<p>At the very top of the college selectivity scale, extracurriculars’ importance gets magnified due to all of the applicants who are near maximum in academic credentials (course rigor, grades, rank, test scores).</p>
<p>But at the moderately selective colleges, academic credentials become a more effective differentiator between applicants, so extracurriculars’ importance is typically less, especially at high volume state universities.</p>
<p>It depends on what your extra are. You seem to have a good standing seeing that there are many on your list. I personally only do a few because i have had a time extensive club sport i was involved in.</p>
<p>The small LAC’s and really top schools scrutinize them. Aside from that, most big state schools care mostly about the numbers.</p>
<p>To my eye, it looks as if you have ongoing involvement in three primary types of groups - theatre, writing and the Jewish youth group - with increasing levels of responsibility in at least two of them. You have also explored some interests in other areas, which looks positive. Assuming that
wasn’t due to anything negative on your part, I think it looks strong - especially if you plan to continue any of those activities in college or major in a related area.</p>
<p>Somebody may suggest you do a sport to look well-rounded, but I know a significant number of students who did no sports and still got accepted to great schools. (However, if you do “independent” sports like running/hiking/rock climbing/skiing for pleasure, you could still add those to your list.)</p>
<p>For top-20 schools: yes.</p>
<p>But numbers (GPA & test scores) will honestly always trump them in importance at any school.</p>