Telling Your Story Through Extracurriculars Activities

As students start thinking about applying to college, extracurricular activities naturally come into focus. And for good reason—admissions officers genuinely care about how high schoolers spend their time outside the classroom. It can offer insight into your values and character, important qualities often considered in a holistic admissions review.

Contrary to what many believe, though, it’s not about joining a dozen clubs or signing up for every volunteer event under the sun. It’s about doing a few things—and doing them well. Curated activities, based on authentic interest, can help a college understand not just what you’ve done, but how you will make a difference on their college campus.

In other words: depth over breadth.

To build an extracurricular profile that shines, dig into the things you truly care about. Whether your activities are official or informal, structured or self-started, what matters is showing how you took initiative and made an impact.

Think of it like this: Conveying your interests outside of the classroom helps admissions officers fill in application gaps that grades and test scores can’t capture. Especially at selective schools—where many applicants have the same high GPAs and test scores—your extracurriculars can be what sets you apart. Schools that “admit to major” or consider “fit to major” also will look at your activities for evidence of interest and commitment.

Now that you understand the potential significance of high school activities, here’s five ways to make your extracurricular story compelling, authentic, and uniquely yours.

1. Focus on Meaningful Involvement

A strong extracurricular profile goes beyond a personal snapshot to tell a story arc. Admissions officers want to see how your interests have evolved and deepened over time.

Let’s say you’re part of the school newspaper. Rather than stopping at staff writer, what if you spearheaded new story format ideas, lead an editorial campaign, or help redesign the website? By senior year, you might be editor-in-chief—not just in title, but in influence and responsibility.

That kind of sustained involvement tells a story: one of commitment and growth.

What stands out?

Staying with at least one or two activities over several years
Taking on increasing levels of responsibility
Demonstrating purpose—whether through leadership, creativity, or community contribution

You don’t need to be the president of everything. In fact, many students leave a lasting impression through less glamorous or “official” roles. As long as you show growth—from interest to impact—you’re heading in the right direction.

2. Redefine What Counts as an Extracurricular

Admissions officers want to know how you choose to spend your time when you’re not in class. That can include informal, everyday commitments that reveal your character, values, and interests.

Maybe you babysit your younger siblings every day after school. Maybe you organize weekly soccer games in your neighborhood park. Maybe you’ve built a following on YouTube, run a small Etsy business, or started documenting your grandparents’ oral history into a family archive.

These things count.

In fact, sometimes they speak more loudly than traditional extracurriculars, because they show initiative, authenticity, and real-world responsibility.

Examples of informal but meaningful extracurriculars:

Caring for family members regularly
Working part-time or freelance jobs
Independent creative projects (writing, art, music, video)
Organizing informal community events or activities
Mentoring younger students or peers

These experiences may not come with titles or certificates, but they reveal qualities like reliability, creativity, empathy, and leadership, all of which admissions officers value deeply.

3. Lean Into What Makes You Different

Your extracurriculars are your chance to differentiate yourself. Don’t be afraid to lean into the quirks, passions, and niche interests that make you who you are.

Admissions officers read thousands of applications from students involved in activities like Key Club and Model UN—both of which can be incredibly enriching and meaningful. If those are part of your story, that’s great! Just remember: finding a way to make your involvement feel personal, distinctive, or deeply reflective can help you stand out even more.

Did you:

Build an app to help local food banks organize inventory?
Start a community ultimate frisbee competition?
Teach yourself woodworking and sell your pieces at a local market?

Your interests can be even more compelling when connected to something bigger, such as a community, cause or creative mission. Colleges are looking for students who care about something and take action.

4. Quality Over Prestige

It’s easy to think that certain activities “look better” than others because they’re competitive or prestigious. But elite programs and name-brand internships aren’t the only paths to a strong application.

You can stand out through something as simple as:

Volunteering at a local shelter every weekend for two years
Revamping your school digital newspaper and increased readership by 40%
Organizing your debate team’s first community outreach event

The best extracurriculars are the ones that reflect who you are. Chase purpose, not prestige.

5. Use Summer Wisely

Summers are a great opportunity to deepen your extracurricular story.

Rather than filling your calendar with random short-term activities, consider:

Taking a job that teaches responsibility (camp counselor, cashier, dog walker)
Doing a personal project: research, writing, coding, design
Volunteering consistently with one organization
Taking a course that builds on a subject you love
Shadowing someone in a field you’re curious about

Especially in the summer before high school senior year, you can strengthen your story by diving into something that’s personally meaningful. It doesn’t have to be a “formal” program. What matters most is that you’re doing something—anything—that shows you’re curious, motivated, and open to growth.

Final Thoughts

The most memorable extracurricular profiles don’t follow a formula. They’re built on genuine interests—sometimes unexpected, always meaningful.

One student might spend three years researching invasive plant species in local parks. Another might run a weekly jam session at the community center. A third might document oral histories of war veterans in their neighborhood.

As you explore activities beyond the classroom, think about this:

What do I love?
Where can I make a difference?
What can I stick with and grow in?

Then go do that. Consistently. Authentically. With care.

Telling Your Story Through Extracurriculars Activities