subject: College Admission Guide [print this page] With university and college admissions so competitive today, the best means to stand yourself out from other brilliant applicants is pursuing extra-curricular activities. It means you ought to explore and develop your own interests outside your classroom. Some patterns of such extra-curricular involvement as individual athletic training and team sports, involvement in community service, the arts, and participating in school organizations and clubs. Outside interests are the best way to add your personal and education development, but it is very important for them not to interfere with your educational performance.
Also, it is important to keep in mind that extra-curricular activities should focus on activities you are concerned in. Actually, it is not sound to join teams or clubs just to use them in your university or college application. You will be unhappy, plus what is more, many universities and colleges can tell when student's extra-curricular activities are done just for admissions purposes.
By the same token, you need to restrict the extra-curricular involvement so that to include just those activities you can make a commitment to. In fact, having a passion for some outside interests can serve you better than amusing yourself with certain activities half-heartedly. Also, most university and college admissions officers can simply spot falseness on an application.
In case you enjoy sports, then some extra-curricular pursuits can take in joining a particular athletic team at the college or as part of any outside league, making an individual fitness program, or pursuing such sport as running, cycling, or the martial arts. In case you like performing, then you may wish to get engaged in a drama club, take part in your community's or school band or orchestra, or join any dance company.
Actually, involvement in such school organizations as student government, debate team, the yearbook, the literary magazine and the campus newspaper can be excellent ways to show intellectual and leadership character on your university and college applications.
