<p>Although it would be beneficial to participate in a school sport, it’s not necessary. Colleges tend to offer athletic scholarships and favor student athletes in the admission process, probably because they don’t have very many athletes at said college. However, like I said, it’s not necessary. Don’t join a school sport just to say you did it. Do it because you have genuine interest in it.</p>
<p>Extra-curriculars are EXTREMELY important, I cannot stress that enough. A lot of people are intelligent students. If colleges were to base their selections solely on grades and test scores, then almost everyone would be admitted. What differentiates one student from another is their extra-curricular activities. This is the deciding factor. If you have amazing extra-curriculars then colleges will be VERY interested in you. </p>
<p>Colleges are looking for interesting people who can help them build and shape a growing community. They like people who think outside the box, people who have passion for what they do (Passion, that’s a word that is thrown around A LOT! Colleges LUURVVE passion :P). They like students who bring in unique qualities to their environment…And think of it this way. When you go to college, what kind of people do you want to meet? Who do you want to be friends with? The girl who spent her high school years surrounded by books and competing in math competitions, or the guy who built a canned food replica of the Eiffel Tower after persuading the entire school to donate them (which was then donated to the children in some other country)? The guy who got perfect scores on the SAT/ACT or the girl who got half her class to join her in the playstation 2 club? Haha, lame examples I know, but I think you get the point. 
Grades are important, yes, but extra curriculars are as well.</p>
<p>So don’t join a sport because you think you have to. Think about something that you love doing, or something that you think you might be interested in, and DO IT. Go crazy. Make love to it, haha you know what I mean. 
Join the school marching band. Compete in science fair and other competitions. Display something for an art exhibit. Then see what else you can do with that activity. Also, maybe conduct a special project and do something for the nursing home/hospital. Create a club that you (and others) would love. It doesn’t have to have a lot of members, just a good foundation with students who like the club and are willing to support it. (But please don’t create a club just for the sake of creating one, this will fail quickly. Do it because you want to.)</p>
<p>There are a lot of possibilities out there, many extra-curriculars you can do. Colleges like it when you pursue an interest and show how dedicated you are. So with that in mind, think about who you are as a person, think about the memories you want to make, how you want to be in the future. Think about the things you like to do, and just go from there. See what happens. </p>
<p>Best of luck! :D</p>
Just don’t screw up your finals and you’ll be fine.</p>