Ok, hey. SO I’m in a pickle here. I want to join some clubs but I know that I should be consistent throughout my 4 years of high school. Here is a list of clubs I did, and want to do. Please let me know what I should do so I can look like a well-rounded student on my college app. Mind you, my school doesn’t offer many clubs because of a lack of funds. I am also in 11th grade currently.
9th grade:
Karate (outside of school)
Student Newspaper
10th grade:
Model UN
Student Government
Outside leadership team
another outside leadership team
Didn’t do karate anymore because the teacher quit, and stopped student newspaper because they made me write articles they never published. I also took some pics but and they published them but put it under someone else’s name.
11th grade:
Model UN
Bowling
The same leadership team from 10th grade
Student Ambassador
I’m not doing student government anymore because the teacher wasn’t getting paid for overtime this year. Not doing the second leadership team because it was only a one-year thing.
Here is my dilemma.
I want to join student newspaper but I am worried colleges will wonder why I didn’t do it in 10th grade. (Every Monday)
There is also a UNICEF club at my school that I want to join
There is a key club that I could join and possibly get a leadership position.
Mind you, Tuesday and Thursdays are off limits since I have a college class.
Lastly, I was thinking of volunteering at my local library as a shelving organizer or homework helper.
So, my questions are:
Does the student newspaper or UNICEF Club look better on college apps?
Does key club (with possible leadership position) or library volunteer look better on college apps?
In my opinion, I don’t care whether I do student newspaper or UNICEF, as they won’t take up so much of my time. However, I could possibly, get a leadership position in the newspaper club but I don’t know because they don’t really do that so I’ve heard. Low chance of getting a leadership position in UNICEF but it’s ok. In regards to key club or library volunteer, I would think that key club may have a better rep, but I could be wrong. Please let me know your ideas and ask any q’s!
You may not be able to do the same activity all 4 years, but you could have a theme…
Student Government, outside leadership are all sort of activities that are looking to leadership
Model UN,UNICEF, are activities that look out to the world
Really you should do what you enjoy. Do you love hanging around libraries in a more individual capacity? Do that.
Or so you prefer working with others as a team in service? Then do that.
Student Newspaper gives you a chance to write…but is more writing about your school.
What does UNICEF club actually do? Would you be able to accomplish anything there?
None of these are “better”…you should do things that you enjoy, things that help others, and things that you can show leadership.
It might be safe to say that ECs are not going to be the strong part of your application.
If you don’t care what you do (as long as you think it looks good to colleges) you aren’t going to develop the level of interest or passion necessary to go into depth with it, to stick with it long enough to become proficient and accomplished at it, to care enough to lead and share your genuine interest and knowledge with others, and experience personal growth as a direct result of your participation. Keep in mind that colleges want students who will somehow contribute to their campus and community, and the best way to guess whether that might happen or not is to look at the applicant’s history of making it happen.
Pick clubs and/or activities that interest you. This is simplistic, but do something related to your possible major, something not related to your major, and some kind of sport or physical activity (bowling counts). Stick with them for the remainder of high school. Beyond that, explore. Attend a few meetings and see if anything clicks.
There are plenty of schools where grades and test scores matter more than ECs. Add a few of those kinds on your college list just in case the ECs don’t work out.
not to repeat too much what the two other posters said, but i actually think it was @bopper who initially posted in another forum about cal newport’s book “how to be a high school superstar”.
i’m not sure exactly what your goal is, but you’re doing a lot of “non-outstanding” things (for lack of a better term, sorry it’s so harsh sounding!).
no one club is “better” than another, do what you enjoy!
Check out “How to be a High School Superstar” by Cal Newport.
“The basic message of the book is this: Don’t wear yourself out taking as many classes as you can and being involved in every club and sport. Instead, leave yourself enough free time to explore your interests. Cultivate one interest and make it into something special that will make you stand out among the other applicants and get you into the toughest schools, even if your grades and scores aren’t stellar. Newport calls this the “relaxed superstar approach,” and he shows you how to really do this, breaking the process down into three principles, explained and illustrated with real life examples of students who got into top schools: (1) underscheduling—making sure you have copious amounts of free time to pursue interesting things, (2) focusing on one or two pursuits instead of trying to be a “jack of all trades,” and (3) innovation—developing an interesting and important activity or project in your area of interest. This fruit yielded by this strategy, an interesting life and real, meaningful achievements, is sure to help not only with college admissions, but getting a job, starting a business, or whatever your goals.”