<p>It depends on what tier of colleges you have in mind. For the top, aim to cover 3 areas: what you do to pursue your personal interests or future plans, what you do for your “group” and what’s simply good, giving involvment in the local community. </p>
<p>The personal can be legit interests you’ve pursued that adcoms will appreciate (years of music lessons, ways you pursued your writing, the STEM who works research or volunteers at a hospital, or similar work related to the proposed major.) Your “group” is both your hs and any association you have with your religious organization or family culture; participation can be hs clubs/performance, sports, teaching asst, some local orchestra, work through your church, etc. And the last category is volunteering- anything from mentoring to a vol project or the more involved sorts of community service or community activities. Yes, there can be crossover. </p>
<p>Think hard about what you’ve omitted, assuming it doesn’t count. It’s not all about “passion.” As someone once pointed out, you could be passionate about Wii- and that’s not going to impress an adult adcom. When you make your list, include a job you held, longer term volunteer projects at school, look for examples of responsibilities you held and leadership you showed. (How you describe is important. Somehow make yourself look like the sort of kid who’ll be interested in- and engaged in- campus activities and willing to play a role.) You don’t have to have a title such as president or vp-- did you mentor math club or debate rookies? Any peer tutoring? Sing in chorus, act in a play, work a recycling project- think about it. Ever enter your writing in a contest or see it published?</p>
<p>Some kids don’t have this balance, but one or two things they did focus on make up for that. If you’re nervous, just take time to go back over what you have done and see how you can show you are a lively, engaged sort, able to get involved. Good luck.</p>