What types of extracurriculars do colleges look for?

Transfer Students
1

<p>Putting aside all the "interest" and "passion" talk, what do colleges look for in a student objectively besides grades and course rigor? I am not talking about clubs, typical campus involvement, or the like. I am talking about contests, awards, etc. like the ones high school students compete in on the national level or something. I am entering college this fall and I just want to know what I'm doing. My college isn't involved or academically rigorous so I need things to fall back on like independent contests and things outside of campus...</p>

<p>Please don't say "anything that shows that you are passionate." That doesn't help me. I still need to find these things as my college is not a good one.</p>

<p>God. I always make these threads and no one ever helps me. I have a 3.3 GPA and no leadership positions in high school, and whenever I ask about whether I have a chance at transferring to a top school, I get generic advice. How am I going to walk into college saying "I will find something I am passionate about" when it is virtually impossible at a commuter campus? Put yourself in my position.</p>

2

<p>A good way to know is to find your target schools - and go to that individual forum for admitted stats for transfer admissions. And you might, or might not, find a pattern in the data there. But still, that will give you a basic idea.</p>

<p>However, what I would recommend you to do is follow your own interest, follow your own heart. Chances are other students like you might have already figured out the pattern, and started working that way. But the college will not accept 40 people with similar profiles. For top schools, be unique.</p>