For one of my New Year’s resolutions this year, I’ve taken on running outside at least twice per week. I’m already an avid walker and pretty consistent with my 10,000 steps per day, but I also enjoy running and know the increase in speed will make a difference in my physical fitness. Simply put, running will have more impact! My heart, lungs, and muscles are challenged more in 30 minutes than they would be if I were strolling. It takes more effort, but it’s a more effective use of my exercise time.
If you’re a high school sophomore or junior, you’ve probably heard the phrase “high-impact” used to describe the kinds of activities that can help you stand out in the college application process. We recently discussed high-impact extracurriculars as part of a junior year roadmap in our blog post, “A Smart College Application Roadmap for High School Juniors.”
High-impact activities are experiences outside the classroom that distinguish a student in the applicant pool, often because they demonstrate meaningful, positive influence on their community. When I wrote letters of recommendation as a school counselor, I always asked myself the same question: How has this student made an impact?
While high-impact activities are often more challenging, they don’t necessarily require more time. Think of it like running versus walking: the effort is greater, but the distance isn’t always longer. For that reason, I consistently encouraged students to invest more energy in a few high-impact activities rather than spreading themselves thin across a longer list of low-level involvements.
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How to Choose High-Impact Extracurriculars for College Admissions
We discussed extracurriculars in depth in our webinar last spring, Extracurriculars that Count, but today we’ll give a short list to keep you focused. Here are our top tips for selecting high-impact extracurricular activities:
Take on Leadership Roles to Create High-Impact Extracurriculars
Joining a club in high school is the equivalent of my leisurely stroll around the neighborhood. It has benefits including connecting you to your peers and deepening your interests, but the impact on your application will be relatively small. Instead, apply for and seek out leadership positions within clubs and student organizations, including sports. Better yet, start your own club related to a topic you’re interested in, which shows initiative within your school community. As an example, if you’re involved in Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), you should run for a chapter officer role, or even better, a state or international leadership position. Consider how you might contribute your strengths to your organization, too, whether it be through a marketing position, as a chapter historian, or by helping keep track of your group’s finances.
Look Beyond Your High School for Meaningful Extracurricular Opportunities
Although being a class officer or student ambassador can signify to admissions officers that you’re a positive contributor to campus and well-liked, civic engagement outside of school is even more impressive on an application. Examples might be interning at a local museum, volunteering at the public library, conducting research with a local university professor, or being a member of a local youth advisory board. Out-of-school involvements often require more complex time management and professional skills than showing up at a meeting on campus during lunch. When brainstorming what you might do outside of school, think about other communities you belong to such as your family, a religious group, your city, or your state. Then, think about actions you might take to improve those communities. What problems do you see, and how might you solve them?
Commit For the Long Haul
Long-term, consistent commitments are more impressive to admissions officers than short-lived ones. The greater time frame shows sincere interest in the activity, reliability, and dedication over time. As an example, if you worked at Starbucks but only for two weeks in the summer before senior year, then the job will not have a positive impact on your application. What would be impactful is if you held the same job for two years, working during breaks and on the weekends, building relationships, improving skills, and making measured contributions to the company and local community.
Be Uncommon
Do you play the French horn, needlepoint, enjoy spelling bees, compete in archery, or restore vintage radios? The less common a hobby or activity you have, the better. Colleges want to build communities of interesting, engaged young people who each bring unique talents to the group. Lean into uncommon activities you’ve tried in the past (Remember when you won the juggling competition?) and then think about how you could expand them into something bigger. Could you sell homemade goods in a local store, play your instrument in a band, or compete in regional or state competitions? Unique hobbies will be noticed but are even better if you have shared your talents or skills with others.
Focus on Selectivity and Measurable Outcomes, Not Just Hours Logged
When I help students who are writing the Activities List for the Common Application, I encourage them to include selectivity and measurable outcomes to demonstrate impact. If you were selected to a summer program or internship where only one third of applicants are given the opportunity, it signals to admissions officers that you already stand out among your peers. When selecting activities, think of how you can build metrics and statistics like dollars, pounds of food, seconds dropped, games won, and awards earned. These will show you’re not only committed to the activity but made positive changes during your tenure.
Looking ahead this school year and next, ask yourself if you are truly making a difference in your extracurricular involvements and also how common your activities are compared with your peers. If you only belong to the exact same clubs and organizations as your friends, then you may want to add new activities, such as finding a volunteer position or research opportunity outside of school.
Building Impact Together
One key to my success so far with running is an app where I can listen to guided prompts from a coach while I jog to help me pace myself and stay motivated. I also enjoy running with a friend when I can—finding connections with others is always a highlight of any co-curricular activity. Similarly, as you try to ramp up your activities, don’t think you need to do it alone. Receiving guidance from an expert and building friendships, both new and old, will give you confidence and motivation as you build your impact. If you need more support, we’re here to assist you every step of the way.
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