Extracurriculars & College

Hey all, first post/thread here. (Wasn’t sure if this was the correct place to put this thread - sorry if it isn’t; having trouble navigating the forums)

I’m a sophomore in high school right now (class of 2018) and I get good grades at the moment (straight A’s this year; by the end of senior year my accumulative unweighted GPA will easily be 3.9, maybe if I’m lucky round to 4.0) but I have yet to take any extracurriculars, sports, clubs, etc. nothing. (I was in the empower club for like three weeks but I wasn’t there long enough to be considered a member) I know this is a problem. The third term is almost over, and I was planning on maybe finally joining a club my junior year or something. I am not into sports at all and they definitely are not an option.

I guess if I were to join a club that had to do with my interests, maybe the STEM club (I think that’s what it’s called) because I really love mathematics and I really love physics (and pretty much have a decent-sized interest in anything STEM-related). I want to major in Computer Science and Mathematics (double major) in college. I don’t know, I guess nothing is concrete, considering I’m only in 10th grade (is it normal for me to have an idea for a major? not sure when I’m supposed to start thinking and planning for college). I’ve been semi-interested in the Universit[y/ies] of California but I really am not sure right now. I live in Utah, and everyone’s been telling me out-of-state tuition is a waste of money and it’s too expensive and I should just go to USU (they offer the majors i want and it’s a good college). And they have a point, I guess.

What I’m asking is a couple things: What should I do about my extracurriculars (what clubs to join? how many? I’m taking 3 AP classes and an honors class next year) and is it really that big a deal if I just go to USU instead of worrying about all these out-of-state applications?

Sorry if this post was too long. It’s late and I’m tired.

  • Thomas

You should become involved in activities that you find meaningful or you think will offer something valuable. Don’t do anything to have something to list on an application. Even if you have no interest in MIT, read this: http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/applying_sideways

Honestly I would keep it small for now - junior year is hard enough from what I hear and you shouldn’t spread yourself too thin.
I would definitely join the STEM club if it’s something you’re interested in. A sport or another activity would be good too, but I agree with @lostaccount - don’t join something just to join something!
Good luck :slight_smile:

OK thank you both, I’ll take it into consideration. I will probably join the STEM club (or at least check it out and see if it’s something I would be interested in) just because of my heavy interest in STEM.