<p>How important are extracurricular activities for graduate school acceptance, particularly for programs in International Relations/Studies? Are certain activities valued more than others? Which of the following are most respected: Honor Societies, Greek Life, Student Government, Sports, Community Service Organizations, Religious Groups, Academic Organizations etc.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>They don't care about any of them.</p>
<p>The only way it would matter is if they directly relate to your research or can tie in to what you want to be doing for grad school.</p>
<p>In addition to RacinReaver's comments, some fellowships care about your extracurricular activities. You should definitely apply for external fellowships while applying for graduate school, because winning a fellowship can be your ticket int</p>
<p>For example, as an IR student you could apply for the NSF GRFP. For that fellowship, it would be great if you had extracurriculars that fit these descriptions:
(1) effectively integrate research and education at all levels, infuse learning with the excitement of discovery, and assure that the findings and methods of research are communicated in a broad context and to a large audience;
(2) encourage diversity, broaden opportunities, and enable the participation of all citizens-women and men, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities-in science and research;
(3) enhance scientific and technical understanding; and
(4) benefit society. Applicants may provide characteristics of their background, including personal, professional, and educational experiences, to indicate their potential to fulfill the broader impacts criterion.</p>
<p>Look up the fellowships you can apply for and participate in activities that might help you win them. (But put your research and coursework first.)</p>
<p>OP,</p>
<p>In my field (and in most humanities fields), we don't care about ECs. We care about your specific preparation for your intended subfield of interest (research, publications, languages, writing skills, etc.).</p>
<p>In my experience, Professor X is correct. ECs have little effect on graduate admissions but they can have nice side benefits.</p>
<p>For example, one of the graduate schools I applied to has a fellowship for people who had shown a commitment to diversity (through ECs) or had come from diverse backgrounds. It is a nice little award for students who have worked as teachers or health-care workers in low-income areas. The stipend is slightly higher than the department's and it offers additional summer funding for travel and research. </p>
<p>Students who are accepted and subsequently win this award also free up a funding line for the department. It doesn't have much effect on admissions because the department fully funds all of their students who don't have outside funding and will have to pay for the student if they don't win. They don't have telepathy or any other special powers so they can't tell if the student will the award in advance.</p>
<p>I do not think that they really care about ECs, but some fellowships do. I want to be a biomedical researcher. I wrote about my ECs that showed my teaching and leadership skills, since I think these skills are important for success in science. I was asked about my leadership ECs at 2 of my 7 interview weekends. I dont think they helped me get in anywhere.</p>
<p>A lot of my programs wanted students that had other interests outside of science (it makes happier and more productive graduate students), so ECs are a great way to display your other interests. It is also a great way to show that you are passionate about something.</p>
<p>I do not know what ECs would be good for IR, but I would try to pick up some that show schools that you can have a successful career in IR. I am sure leadership ones are good for every field. Maybe some that show you can communicate with different types of people and that you understand different cultures might be helpful. Again I dont know anything about IR, so you will need to figure out which ones are the best. </p>
<p>I also would not do any ECs merely because you think graduate schools will like them. Do ECs because you are passionate about them.</p>
<p>I agree. I had an interview with someone and not once did he bring up anything. I couldn't care less- there's a reason why ECs get tucked in the back of the CV.</p>
<p>I chose my ECs because I need a LIFE outside of my research. I actually did unrelated ECs. I'm a history major but I tutor math to 5th/6th graders and do some SAT math tutoring, participate in my sorority (minimally...), and I'm a serious runner. I do get involved in my Jewish student group that's related to my area of study... but still, none of my ECs have direct relevancy to my research.</p>
<p>Really do it because you need a life and you actually care about doing these things, not because grad schools tell you to.</p>
<p>The only relevant EC you might do is study abroad...</p>
<p>Would something like Psi Chi (psychology honors society) be looked at? It's the only thing I'm involved with on campus but it's something that reflects achievement and has to do with my major. (I see it as something different from, say, intramural soccer, which anyone can join).</p>
<p>Enjoy: Yes, I would think something like that would be at least looked at. At the end of my CV I list together "Honors and Activities" in which I included my undergrad honorary frats (like Phi Beta Kappa and Psi Chi) as well as professional groups to which I belong (like AAAS, even though everyone belongs to it if you subscribe to Science). Those kind of things show that you are active and excel in what you are interested in doing.</p>
<p>I do not think they are anything that will make or break you, but I do think they are a fair deal more important than playing soccer.</p>
<p>Getting into Psi Chi at my school is about as tough as getting a loaf of bread at Kroger; you just state your major, wait a semester and show up to the meeting. There are consequently hundreds of psych majors running around campus with membership listed on their resumes who don't deserve much more than a free lollipop for their efforts--but if you were really involved in the society, held a leadership position and ran events and whatnot, it would matter. All the better if it helped you make solid ties to the faculty. They hold the power of the recommendation, after all.</p>