<p>Are they important when applying for grad school, to have ECs in a similar field (ie Model UN for int'l relations), and hold leadership positions in less substantial organizations?</p>
<p>I've only had one application ask for extracurriculars. The rest don't even have a space to write them.</p>
<p>So in college, joining clubs and extracurriculars is mostly for fun - unlike high school?</p>
<p>That would be correct. clubs and extracurriculars are pretty worthless when it comes to supporting your graduate school admission packet.</p>
<p>Your statement is correct...they are for fun and also personal development. Don't worry about building your resume full of what the "right" activities are in college. Choose things that you are genuinely interested in and could add to you as a person. In all honestly, I learned as much or more from my extracurriculars in college as I did in the classroom. I learned how to work with and lead other people. I learned how to plan events and also how to speak in front of large groups of people. Make smart choices and your ECs in college will be another part of your education.</p>