Hi guys! So with senior year fast approaching and college applications looming, I thought it would be a good time to finally ask this question: Does adding senior year extracurriculars boost your application or tip off admissions officers that you are just trying to fill the resume? Currently, I have decent extracurriculars (mostly from work in Mock Trial for 4 years, FBLA for 3 years, Jazz Piano for 8 years, and I started a club that is related to the major I want to do in college, and I believe that I have strong leadership in both Mock Trial and FBLA.) I recognize that most of the time, it’s a bad idea to join clubs in senior year, but what if these clubs support current interests? Would that make it a different story? The clubs I was thinking of joining were: DECA (for those of you who know what FBLA is, but not DECA, FBLA and DECA are virtually the same thing; if you don’t know what either of those are, then just know that they are both business organizations), Community Service Club (I currently do Community service outside of school with a separate organization, but was curious to see if joining the school’s official club would be a benefit or a hinderance?), and finally restarting my school’s history club (related indirectly to future college interests). I am curious to see what you guys think. Thanks!
Bump.
The best way to approach ECs is DO WHAT YOU WANT. Never join a club or team because you think some nameless AdCom at a Super Selective school MIGHT like it. You have worked hard to get to your Senior Year - plan to enjoy the heck out of it! And I’m telling you this -because it is exactly what i told my kids to do - and they got into a super selective schools. Remember - No matter what you do - there WILL be a school that’s right for you - based on what you like to do. OK. Preaching over - go out there and HAVE FUN!
If you want to join the club and feel it will be interesting/rewarding then by all means join the club. If you are thinking of joining a club senor year only because you think it will provide some kind of big boost your application then don’t bother.
Just out of curiousity, is there any circumstance where adding extracurriculars your senior year helps boost your application? Forget my own case. I’m just trying to get a general sense of something.
Any circumstance? I’d say becoming an Intel Science Talent Search semifinalist in January would provide a boost to most applications.
I think it is difficult to add a brand new EC and develop much proficiency at it, or passion in that short a time. Doing something new related to an existing area of interest/talent is different. Doing something just for fine is ok, but it probably won’t make much difference.
I don’t think that any completely new EC would do very much as you could only be involved for a few months before applications are due.
And an award such as the one listed in post #5 would be the culmination of work done over an extended period of time and likely not something started in September.
Bump. Any other ideas guys, or have we reached a verdict?
From what replies I have received myself, by all means do something new and feel free to list it on your app but be very sure it ties into some of your other EC’s or your focused interest. So if you’re a huge computer/robotics person and have EC’s around that, don’t suddenly join or start some med club or a culture thing just to pad your app. Like the people above said only do it if you are actually interested and passionate about it, not because “Oh that’d probably look good”.
Best of Luck
@Lift35 Thanks for responding! Both activities I was considering tie in to other EC’s. I would never pad my app with irrelevant stuff, but I was curious if supporting ec’s would help or hurt if they were added senior year.
These additional clubs won’t help or hurt your application. They don’t represent anything important to admissions. Do it if you think it will be fun. Don’t do it if it takes time away from more meaningful activities.
@N’s Mom Thanks for responding! Yeah, this was essentially my understanding. I just wanted to confirm it with someone else. They likely won’t take away much time, but I need all that I can get for HW and the application process. I think I’ll probably hold off on joining if they will simply be a neutral factor.
I joined a few more activities my senior year, and I’d like to say that they did help my application. That being said, don’t join a club if it’s a burden to you or if you really don’t want to.