Hello! I’m a current sophomore who was wondering whether commitment to extracurriculars that don’t align with my career interests will cost me during college admissions.
Right now my most “prestigious” leadership position relates to journalism, while I’m planning to go into a neuroscience or psychology career. I’m very committed to my journalism activity and will be in the leadership position for my entire high school career, so it will likely be a big part of my college applications. I also want to continue the activity in college on even though I don’t want a writing career. If I don’t have a similarly “prestigious” position related to science, will colleges count it against me? I read that colleges want students who have a “spike” in a certain area of study and my spike might not be in the right area. However, I’m in high-level science and math classes, and I’m searching for science internships and the like. I would love to hear some perspectives about this. Thank you!
If you enjoy journalism and can demonstrate accomplishments and leadership, it will help your application. Colleges are not looking for 1 dimensional career focused kids. Being a good writer is an important quality for almost any course of study in college.
@BKSquared Thank you very much! That’s such a relief. Do you have any advice on getting more experience in science? Since I’m on the younger side for a sophomore, I’ll be too young for most opportunities until the summer before senior year.
Start with the opportunities in your school. Are there academic teams/competition in areas that interest you? How about clubs like robotics, computer/programming? If you live in a city or town with a college, university, medical center, maybe there are opportunities there as well. Lastly there are summer programs for HS students offered by many universities. Most require some amount of tuition, many may be competitive to get into. I wouldn’t recommend those just to burnish your resume for college, but if you are really interested in say Astrophysics, and there is a great program at U of X and your parents can afford it, it could be an option. In the great scheme of things, colleges are probably going to be more impressed by things you do with resources in your school and community than most pay to play summer programs.
@BKSquared Thank you for the advice. I found it very helpful.
I doubt that they will count it against you that you don’t have a STEM position, it just may make you less of a STEM oriented candidate. I would honestly push for your journalism and see where it takes you 