Extracurriculars

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

I just finished my freshman year of high school, and I feel my grades were pretty good (4.2 W GPA). I take academics pretty seriously.

However, my extracurriculars were weak. I was in Key Club, which is for voluntering- I racked up an unimpressive 12 hours. I also participated in soccer and was on the C-team, but really enjoyed it for the most part. Plus, I was a part of the Honors Diploma program, but I don’t know if that would be counted as an EC.

For sophomore year, I’m planning to join DECA and the Speech & Debate team, but I don’t know if I’ll follow through, because I’m somewhat shy. I just feel as though I’m late because I’m going to be a sophomore and people at my school have been doing these things since freshman year.

Does anyone have any advice or tips for someone who is barely starting their high school career who wants to go to a selective college? I would like to attend UCLA, NYU, or even Duke (I know, it’s a reach haha).

2

I don’t know about what select schools require - but my recommendation would be to pick some things you really enoy and stick with them. If you are working hard in school then having a physical outlet like soccer - even if you aren’t on the top team - is great. I know that is how I got through highschool - my sport was an outlet and then let me go home and approach homework. I would expect that it is more important to be invested in your activities than to be partially involved in too many. But I feel that way about life to - if everyone does something, and what they enjoy and are good at, to the best of their ability then really cool things happen. Best of luck to you! I have one that just finished freshman year too!