Learn which college extracurricular activities might be overrated for your college application and which ones to prioritize instead.
Deciding which extracurriculars to include on your Common App activities list is no small task. With only ten spots available, students often feel pressured to showcase all their meaningful experiences from high school, while keeping in mind how competitive college admissions have become.
The common advice to “be well-rounded” is outdated. Today’s admissions officers are looking for students who stand out by being excellent in a few focused areas, not applicants who are involved in every possible activity. HelloCollege is here to help guide you through which activities are worth listing on your Common App, and which ones aren’t.
Your GPA and test scores are crucial for college admissions, but extracurricular activities give colleges a fuller sense of who you are outside the classroom. Admissions officers want to understand your passions and how you spend your time beyond academics.
When done right, extracurriculars can help you stand out, giving insight into your unique personality and what you’ll contribute to the campus community. Highlighting activities that demonstrate your commitment, leadership, and interests can set you apart from other applicants who have similar academic profiles.
Some activities may seem like they’ll enhance your college application, but they often don’t help you stand out unless you’ve gone above and beyond. Here are six overrated activities that many students commonly participate in, but won’t necessarily make your application shine:
Sports are a fun and rewarding way to stay active, but unless you're an extraordinary athlete being recruited by a college, sports won’t make a big impact on your application. Many students participate in sports, making it hard to stand out unless you’re at an elite level. Moreover, athletics often consume significant time that could be spent on other academic or extracurricular pursuits that better reflect your passions. Top-tier universities primarily recruit top-tier athletes, and participation in sports alone doesn’t carry much weight unless you’re aiming to play at the collegiate level.
Model United Nations (MUN) is another popular extracurricular that can be fun and educational. However, its widespread popularity has diluted its impact on college applications. Many students participate in MUN, making it difficult for applicants to stand out unless they hold leadership positions or achieve significant success in national or international conferences. Additionally, MUN often involves expensive travel and accommodations, which can lead admissions officers to view it as more of a “pay-to-play” activity rather than one that demonstrates true merit.
Marching band, like sports, requires a significant time commitment, often involving hours of practice and competition. While it can foster teamwork and discipline, it won’t necessarily help you stand out unless you’re a standout musician or hold a leadership role. Many students participate in band, and for most, it’s not an activity that will greatly boost a college application unless you’re planning to continue with music in college. If band is something you’re passionate about and you’ve taken on significant responsibility, include it. Otherwise, your time might be better spent on other endeavors.
Leadership programs like the National Youth Leadership Forum or National Student Leadership Conference might sound impressive, but they’re often more about networking and less about genuine leadership. These programs come with high costs, and admissions officers are aware of this. They know that participation in such events doesn’t necessarily reflect leadership skills or initiative. If you’re passionate about leadership, focus on tangible projects or roles where you’ve made an impact rather than relying on the prestige of these programs.
Many students join student government hoping to show leadership experience on their college applications. However, most student government roles don’t involve meaningful leadership. In many cases, they’re more ceremonial, involving tasks like planning events or making morning announcements. Popularity contests often determine election outcomes, and admissions officers know that student government positions may not reflect genuine leadership or initiative. Unless you’ve held a significant role like student body president and made a meaningful impact, student government won’t do much to make you stand out.
Working on the yearbook or school newspaper can be a fun way to get involved in school life, but like the activities above, it’s not going to make a huge difference on your college application unless you hold a significant leadership role or have made a notable contribution. Many students participate in these activities, and simply being a member doesn’t necessarily set you apart. If you’re passionate about writing or photography and have taken on major editorial responsibilities, it could be worth including, but for most students, yearbook or newspaper involvement won’t be a game-changer in the eyes of admissions officers.
You can list up to ten activities on the Common App, but there’s no need to fill every spot if it doesn’t reflect who you are.
It’s far better to focus on 4-5 high-quality activities that required significant time and effort than to list ten that have little meaning. Admissions officers prefer depth over breadth.
If you only have a handful of activities but can describe them meaningfully in the 150-word space, that’s perfectly fine. It’s not about how many activities you have, but how impactful they were.
If you feel like you’re lacking enough activities, think creatively. Many students overlook personal hobbies or side projects that could count as extracurriculars.
For example, did you build your own computer? Teach yourself a language? Create digital art or photography from online tutorials? Even seemingly small interests like a LEGO-building passion or regular volunteering at a local nonprofit can showcase dedication and personal interest.
If your list still feels sparse, consider starting a new project that genuinely excites you. It’s better to have a few meaningful activities than to fill the list with less impressive ones.
If you still have more than ten meaningful activities after eliminating some of these overrated ones, don’t worry—there are other ways to include them in your application.
Many colleges allow you to submit a resume, where you can list additional activities with more detailed descriptions.
You can also use your personal statement or supplemental essays to highlight activities that didn’t make it onto your Common App list. Focus on the ten activities that best reflect your strengths, and weave the rest into other parts of your application.
The order of your activities matters. Admissions officers might only skim your list, so your most impactful, meaningful activities should come first.
Start with the ones that required the most time and effort, or that had the biggest impact on your school or community. Activities that reflect leadership, commitment, and passion should be listed at the top, as these will catch the eye of admissions officers who are reviewing hundreds of applications.
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