<p>I just started high school and im starting to get involved in clubs. I know that Harvard likes to see applicants show their passions and interests through their extracurricular activities but I'm not sure if mine counts. My passion is helping people and there are plenty of clubs I could join to help convey my passion but I'm unsure if the application reviewers would understand this. Is helping people a passion that is easily understood by the people? And is there a part on the Harvard application where I can explain my exrracurriculars?</p>
<p>Volunteering/community service is a good extracurricular to have. You’re a little bit vague about it right now, which is fine. Just go to a few more clubs than you actually plan on joining, and see which you like best. Maybe you’ll be called to help raise money for cancer, or fall in love with tutoring, or building houses with Habitat for Humanity. You cannot be a perfect applicant to Harvard as a high school freshman; that’s what high school is for. So don’t worry that you’re not yet. While trying to become a good applicant, make sure you’d still be happy with all your choices if you get rejected, though. If you make yourself miserable to get in, it’s not worth it.</p>
<p>So would you say that two or three clubs that you’re really into are acceptable for a Harvard applicant?</p>
<p>Nope. They want to see you can climb out of your comfort zone- do more than hs clubs. When you think about it, those are nearly handed to you- just show up in the right place at the right time. By December of senior year, they will want to see that you have developed some sense of your direction, taken on some responsibilities and leadership (which is more than a title) and had some impact through your activities. I usually say: things you do to pursue your own interests or future goals, things for the group (hs involvement) and things you do for others. Over the next few years, try to make it make sense. It’s not all about passions. That’s so narrow. Good luck.</p>
<p>ps- if you like helping people, try to increase your responsibilities over time.</p>
<p>So let me get this staright? I I have to get more involved in the clubs and take on a leadership role. I also need to do things outside school like charity work and international programs. I need to show the application reviewers what I care about and get involved in things that I might be interested in doing as a career.</p>
<p>Plenty of people will tell you not to just craft this just for college apps. It has to feel real and, in fact, be real to you.</p>
<p>Leadership isn’t just about winning president of this or that club-and then the club is really mostly social and does very little. It can be that you take one of your comm svc things and add more responsibilities- maybe recruit and lead a team. (It’s also more than a team that spends all year planning for one or two cancer walks- you want to try for things where there is some effort and results over time.) Leadership can also be serving as a rep for your school to some committee or that you consistently mentor younger kids or tutor. You find what works for you. You’ll need to see how active your hs clubs really are. If you are into it, yes, get into the competitive teams- it all depends on where you think your talents and interests lie.</p>
<p>Depending on your major, you can find opps- the usual is STEM kids work in research or in a hosp or a clinic. Not all majors can pursue this sort of thing. You may not be sure, at this point,but you can still aim for things with some impact.</p>
<p>I personally am leery of many international things- it’s so easy to do a little this or that from the comfort of home. Many kids who pay for service trips abroad miss out on doing things locally. All depends on what your ideas are and what your connection is.</p>
<p>I would like to be CEO one day so would a business internship with an ivy alumni be a good to put down a application? Also, how do the admission officers know if a club is active and not just a social thing?</p>