Are they really important? Like really?
My counselor recommend us to join 3 clubs, but I haven’t exactly been following her advice. Seeing others’ profiles now…I’m starting to get worried. I thought taking AP classes and getting good grades was good enough. 
I’m currently a sophomore.
Things I’ve done so far:
National Spanish Honor Society (which I may quit soon because I think I’ll not do spanish 4)
Beta Club ( just started this year. mostly volunteering at organic farm and thrift store)
Japanese Cultural Club (because of friend’s request)
Piano (7+ years with several awards)
I don’t hold any leadership positions…and my ECs aren’t related to my potential major (science). I’m currently applying to a program at a science place, but I don’t know if I’ll get in.
Yes, extracurriculars matter as much as your grades and test scores. Anyone can do well in school, but activities are what makes each applicant (hopefully) unique.
Join a bunch of stuff and find what you love but DON’T DO STUFF FOR THE RESUME. Activities don’t have to be college/career prep, but they should build up life skills which you will always use. Sorry to say that honors societies don’t mean much. Instead, look at volunteering, interning in a lab, working, etc.
Your ECs don’t have to be focused on school-based clubs. You can be involved in your community or church. And I agree with the poster above who points out that working is an EC.
I see…so I’m currently doing Spanish 3 at HS but have already completed duel enrollment Spanish 101 and 102.
Is it okay for me to stop doing HS Spanish? I heard that colleges like commitment?
The more competitive the college, the more important “focused” EC’s will be as will four years of a language. For National Spanish Honor Society, do you have to take Spanish 4 to stay in it? We have Foreign National Honor Society and once you’ve been inducted you are in. If you are currently in Spanish 3, how many years will your transcript show for Spanish with the dual enrollment Spanish? Ask your guidance counselor for a copy of your transcript, and google the colleges you’re looking to see how many years they recommend. It can depend on what you are majoring in, but look at it this year. I’m in admissions and the first application has 3 years of a language and the other 4. If the college recommends 4 year, who is the more likely person to gain admission? Note this won’t matter as much with state schools and several other good schools, but better to do the research now.
As for other EC’s, they don’t have to be school sponsored. Piano is a good EC and congratulations on the awards. If this in an area of interested, maybe look at teaching/mentoring others in piano or volunteering somewhere with piano? This could show leadership or lead to an essay later in applications.
I’m a sophomore and I have joined 2 clubs and left both of them because I simply did not enjoy them. I might start volunteering at my local redcross when my grades start to improve, but I see no point in doing something if I don’t have any interest in doing it. My GC wanted me to join all of these clubs that do not intrigue me whatsoever. I don’t care if colleges expect me to have a list of EC’s; I’m not wasting my time doing something I do not enjoy. I’ve heard that your GPA and SAT/ACT scores are 80-90% of your admission, and your EC’s are about 10%. I wouldn’t stress about your situation imo.
It is very dependent on the college. Some colleges do care a lot. Those colleges want students who are interested and interesting. If you are not engaged enough to find something to do with your time outside of studying, that will affect your chances at more selective colleges. They don’t want you to join a bunch of clubs you don’t care about. Make art or music or poetry, find a cause you care about and volunteer for it, do research on something that intrigues you, or take up a sport or academic EC that requires commitment to succeed.