Hi, I’m a Highschool Freshman and I don’t take any extracurricular activities through my school. The main reason for this is my very severe anxiety, but a lack of transportation further solidifies my position. At this point, I would say that I am pretty much unable to take extracurriculars like clubs and sports. I think that it is important that I stand out from my peers because I plan on doing Early College starting my Junior Year.
Despite my lack of activities, I am a very dedicated and passionate student. My assignments are always completed on time, I have a 4.0 GPA for this year as well as some classes with Honors credits (AP is not available for Freshmen at my school). Currently, the only things I am doing that might qualify as extracurricular activities are classes on Coursera, writing, and visual art.
Over the summer, I have opportunities to work at the family restaurant, take an extra credit online via my state’s online academy, and shadow a veterinarian for a week. Would any of these look good on an application if I were to follow through with them?
Secondly, what are some things I can do from home entirely independently that would be admirable on a college app? Specifically, I plan on going through with a biology and veterinary science pathway so things related to that would be especially helpful, but at this point I am really looking for anything at all. Please keep in mind that at the time, I am not able to join clubs or sports teams.
You will get into a college.
Be sure to continue to work on your social anxiety as it could severely hinder your success in college.
Some colleges base admission and even merit solely on grades. I do agree with @2plustrio to focus on overcoming your anxiety so you can optimize your life experience.
Keep up the great school work.
The other part. Yes there are things you can do from home. Perhaps a charity or your church needs some admin help or otherwise. You are just a first year. You have time.
I just stumbled upon your post. It think it is very thoughtful, honest, and open and I commend you for reaching out on this forum, especially as a freshman. And great work keeping your grades up.
First, I think the things you described in your post ARE extracurricular activities: taking extra classes like Coursera, working, writing, visual art, etc. Extracurriculars don’t necessarily need to be done through school or be a sport or club. When you apply to college, you will have a chance to explain how you spent your time outside of your classes and how your activities relate to your passions and interests, as opposed to just “checking a box” by being involved in XYZ clubs, etc. Do you things you love – even if not based at school – as opposed to what you think looks good on an application.
Some ideas given your interests in biology and veterinary science that you could do independently from home:
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Many non-profit organizations like humane societies and animal welfare organizations need help with their social media presence and maintaining their web sites. Perhaps you can offer to help with a local non-profit’s Facebook or Instagram account or web site? This can easily be done from home.
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Our local humane society writes really fun profiles of animals available for adoption for posting on their web site. Given your interest in writing, perhaps that is something you could help with? Or maybe drawing or painting adopted animals from a photograph as a “gift” to the adopting family?
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Fostering an animal for a local organization (for example, in our community we have an organization that raises dogs for individuals with physical or psychological disabilities and they often need help fostering puppies until they are ready to enter their training program). Some may need a family to foster a puppy for a week, a month, a few months. You may find that this experience also has the added benefit of helping you with anxiety.
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Volunteering in some way for a veterinary office – they may have tasks or clerical kinds of things that you could do from home.
Maybe spend some time just brainstorming ways that you could connect to things you are interested in BUT in a way that fits what you are comfortable with. Over time, you may develop a connection with a local organization such that you feel more comfortable with your level of involvement and take on additional roles. I guess my point is: there is no shortage of things you can do if you let your mind wander outside the box of thinking only sports, clubs, or school-based things “count”.
Good luck to you!
That is not the right question. The right question is: will you enjoy doing any of these?
Both working at a family business and shadowing a veterinarian are very respectable extracurricular activities.
Since you are interested in veterinary science (at least for now - as a freshman things can change), shadowing a veterinarian may be the best thing for you. Not “the thing that looks best on your application”, but the thing which you are most likely to enjoy, the thing which will do the most to help you to become a veterinarian, and it also seems to be the activity which may work best with your anxiety. The best thing is that, if you discover that you are not interested in that work, your family will always welcome your help in the restaurant.
Clubs and sports teams are just a few of the activities which are considered to be “extracurricular activities”. They are good for a certain subset of students - those who like engaging in sports, or those who have interests which are easier to pursue in a club setting. many students have interests and passions which are best pursued in different setting, or, like you, do not thrive in those settings.
All that being said, most colleges students attend colleges which do not have “holistic” reviews, and many more attend colleges which focus mostly on academics, and place little importance on things like ECs.
Both medication and therapy can help a lot with anxiety. Please make that your top priority to avoid suffering in the future. College will fall into place depending upon how or if you resolve your anxiety.
One thing that can help with anxiety is exercise.
Our local humane society has an annual 5k walk and fun run to raise money for animals. Training for and doing something like that could be an interesting EC, especially if you were comfortable volunteering to do other tasks for the event.
Or, if you can get transportation on the weekends or something, you could be a volunteer dog walker for a shelter or kennel.
Best wishes.
Take a deep breath. You’re 15. There’s a WORLD of difference in emotional/physical/mental growth from 15 to 18. You have all the time in the world to figure that out.
There are things that you don’t have control over. That’s OK. Just do the best you can. Most importantly…STAY BALANCED…even if it means doing fewer ECs or taking less rigorous classes. The demands on yourself need to be reasonable. This kind of workload could challenge most fully grown emotionally mature adults. For a teenager with severe anxiety, it’s a mental breakdown waiting to happen. On a personal note, many years ago, my wife was valedictorian of her high school class. She also was anorexic and was extremely underweight during her speech.
My advice…enjoy being a teenager! Live a little…eat dessert first! Get the best grades you can and stay mentally balanced. You’ll change your mind about your profession 100 times over between now and when you graduate college. That’s a good thing, because you’re happiest when you discover your real passions.
First, I think it’s great that you are attending in-person school, and that your grades are so good. I like everything you’re already doing. I understand about lack of transportation - so will colleges. You don’t have to follow the typical “president of three school clubs” pathway. Your ECs can have nothing to do with your school.
Working in your family’s restaurant sounds like a great idea! There are so many things that one can try out, working in a restaurant, and some of them might help you to deal with social anxiety. For some people, it’s easier to deal with social interaction if you are playing a role (like hostess, or even waitress), than in the crucible of high school social life.
Yes to shadowing a vet. If you get the opportunity to do weekend work at a vet’s office, that would be great, too. And meanwhile, if what you love is to work with animals, how about starting up a pet sitting/pet feeding/pet walking business of your own, within walking/biking distance of your house? People always need a reliable person to take care of their pets, in their homes or yours, and a high schooler who isn’t super busy with clubs and sports would be available.
In general, the recommendation is to do what you love doing, for your ECs. If that means working with animals outside of school, that’s fine.
First, please go to your settings and change your user name.
I suggest you seek professional guidance to help you deal with anxiety.
You will need to be able to deal with anxiety if you plan to live on a college campus. If you intend to be a commuter, it’s not such an issue, but college can be an intimidating place if you are not prepared to put yourself out there. The colleges will have counselors who can help you, and I would also ensure you have someone lined up who can help you manage your anxiety.
Personally, I would not mention anything about anxiety on your application. That can be a red flag, because colleges want to admit students who they feel will succeed in that environment and contribute to campus life.
Luckily, you’re only a freshman so you have time to be proactive before it’s time to apply to college. Any summer activity is good, whether it’s working in a restaurant or shadowing a vet. Shadowing a vet seems to align with your interest, so I would try that.
From what you’ve written, I get a strong sense that you feel your conditions for ECs are non-negotiable. As in, you are not prepared to do anything that involves being sprung other people. How will you reconcile these feelings when it comes to thinking about attending college as a resident, if that is your plan? Please take steps to find a therapist.
@Lindagaf
Thank you, I didn’t realize that my name was visible.
@CMA22
I love the idea of excercise, I’ve been trying to get a lot more in! Such a great way to help with both mental and physical health 
@roycroftmom @2plustrio
Thank you for the concern, but don’t worry because I am already taking the necessary steps for my anxiety. I am on medication and going through therapy and have been working on it since my diagnosis in second grade (though medication was a recent thing). But at the moment, I’m stretching myself as far as I can and I really can’t see clubs or sports as being helpful right now- I think that it might tip me over the edge. My journey with anxiety has been very long and there is nothing I wish for more than to overcome it.
What about participating in some citizen science projects from home?
This one requires monitoring fireflies near your home and submitting data: Firefly Watch Community Science Project
Forgwatch USA is another citizen science project: https://www.aza.org/frogwatch?locale=en
Other projects can be found here: CitizenScience.gov
These could be great ways to participate in the field of biology with no transportation or crowds required.
That sounds so neat! I’m so sad that I live in one of the only parts of North America without fireflies though 
The frogs would be interesting. Thank you so much, these projects are definitely something I’d love to help with.
You can and you will. Keep on getting the help that you can.
Music helps a great deal. This is obviously before your time, but John Lennon’s song “Instant Karma” has this great line:
Why in the world are we here?
Surely not to live in pain and fear?
Why on earth are you there when you’re everywhere? Come get your share!
[Chorus]
Well, we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun
Yeah, we all shine on
Come on and on and on, on, on
Play it REAL LOUD when you’re exercising! (Which reminds me I need to do a bit myself!)
In no way am I intending to disrespect any of those who have posted thoughtful comments above. However, in my opinion, on this forum I think we should stick to posting advice and feedback related to the original question about extracurriculars and the college journey and avoid posting advice or commentary related to how an individual should address their personal struggles with anxiety.
@mynameiswhatever
Thank you so much for the encouragement. It means a lot!
Thank you, I agree and would appreciate that. Getting tips for management and encouragement spliced in with ec advice is great, but I would prefer if discussions were mostly around ecs. At the moment I really don’t appreciate any comments suggesting that I will not be able to go into, thrive, and manage college with anxiety since that is essentially confirming my worst fear 
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It is NEVER wrong to suggest to someone that they seek the help of a mental health professional.
EDIT: I see the OP provided information that provides context and so I have edited this post.
I don’t want to come off as rude, but I would like to make it clear that I am not looking for medical and mental health advice. I am currently participating in therapy, taking medication, and I have been doing everything I can to combat this horrible condition for years. I understand that this is an obstacle I need to overcome- I have been told and noticed from my own experiences that I will not be able to lead a happy life without getting my anxiety into a good place many times. It is not a revelation to me. I already understand this and am asking for EC advice.
Thank you and I apologize for getting off topic here.
Glad to hear that you are proactive. Hopefully you’re going to have many wonderful opportunities.
You can look at United Way to see if they have volunteer opportunities for students under the age of 18. Find a Volunteer Opportunity Near You | United Way Worldwide
You can volunteer to help out at your local library, a local museum, or try exploring the Smithsonian Digital transcription program. https://transcription.si.edu/
I worked with a student who did this precovid and found it very interesting.
I don’t know if you are interested in foreign language or feel comfortable talking to others via zoom or similar, but there are multiple foreign language apps that enable you to practice your language skills with a foreigner. This is one example: