Extracurriculars are a crucial part of college applications and essential to your growth as a student.
In this article, I’ll be answering several FAQs about extracurriculars. Additionally, I’ll describe ways to make the most out of certain extracurriculars.
Let’s jump in!
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Is an internship an extracurricular activity?
Yes, an internship is an extracurricular activity, whether it is paid or unpaid. As an intern, you invest time and energy to broaden your experience in the real world.
Here are several internships for high school students.
However, even if you can’t travel for an internship, there are likely many local opportunities. Simply search “internships for high school students” and Google results tailored to your location will pop up.
If there is a particular industry you want to work in, add a related keyword to your search. When scrolling through results, make sure to read the job descriptions thoroughly. Before applying, you should make sure you have the education and skills necessary. Also, you must ensure you’re interested in the tasks you’ll be doing.
In addition to using Google search, LinkedIn is a fantastic resource. Here are steps to finding an internship through LinkedIn, as detailed in my junior year extracurriculars post:
“First, create an account on LinkedIn. It might take you some time to set up a profile, but the interface is very user-friendly. Make sure to include any skills/experiences that would recommend you to potential employers.
Next, search for internship opportunities in the Jobs tab. In the top bar, you can filter results based on several factors, including location, experience level, job title, and job type. Then, scan through the results and apply for ones that look suitable.
Remember to read the job descriptions thoroughly. Also, some may require you to submit a resume, so you should consider putting one together. (There are many student resume templates online.)
Also, one of the great features of LinkedIn is that it will regularly suggest related positions to you. One more important note about internships: Consider applying to several positions—it’s not possible to guarantee acceptance from any company.”
Does a job count as an extracurricular activity?
Anything productive that you do outside of schoolwork counts as an extracurricular. Therefore, although you’re paid, a job counts as an extracurricular activity.
According to the Common App website, you are encouraged to “share information about things like work, hobbies, clubs, and community engagement” as well as family responsibilities in the Activities section.
Whether you work at a job to help your family or to broaden your experience, it counts as an extracurricular.
Do clubs count as extracurricular activities?
Yes, clubs count as extracurricular activities. However, you should note that simply joining a club and attending a few meetings isn’t particularly notable.
You need to be committed and demonstrate initiative to make joining a club a valuable extracurricular activity.
Strive to work up to an officer position by demonstrating responsibility, passion, and strong communication skills. Be highly active within the club—go above and beyond to participate in and contribute to club activities. Propose ideas to expand the club and make it more impactful.
For example, if you’re part of a computer science club, you could propose a workshop to mentor students for a coding competition. Or, you could coordinate guest speaker lectures to introduce students to opportunities in the computer science industry.
Is yearbook an extracurricular activity?
Yes, yearbook is an extracurricular activity. Yearbook is not something you’re required to do as part of your schoolwork; it’s something you choose to do.
By being a part of the yearbook team, you’re making a contribution to your school community that should be recognized in your college applications.
Is art an extracurricular activity?
Yes, art is an extracurricular activity, whether it is a form of visual arts or performing arts.
However, if you only do art as a hobby in your spare time, it might be difficult to present it as a substantial extracurricular activity. In contrast, if you take classes, practice regularly, and are constantly refining your skills in other ways, it becomes a substantial extracurricular.
Colleges look for extracurriculars in which you demonstrate expertise and/or create impact. Here, I will focus on applying the first component—demonstrating expertise—and in the last FAQ (Is community service an extracurricular activity?), I’ll focus on applying the second component.
If you do visual arts, like drawing or painting, you can demonstrate expertise by submitting works to competitions or having your art presented at an exhibition.
If you do performing arts, like music or dance, you can demonstrate expertise by entering competitions and participating in performing arts programs (doing a summer camp, joining orchestra, etc.).
Of course, these are not the only ways you can demonstrate expertise in the arts. However, the essential takeaway is that to make art a valuable extracurricular activity, you need to demonstrate consistency, passion, and expertise.
Additionally, many colleges allow you to submit a supplementary art portfolio to demonstrate your artistic talent. This portfolio is then reviewed by the school’s art faculty.
However, you must note that the requirements vary across different colleges. Some colleges don’t accept visual arts submissions, while others do. Repertoire requirements vary for music students, so you need to prepare the necessary recordings in advance.
Also, you may even need to submit an arts resumé and/or recommendation letter for some colleges. Therefore, you need to start preparing materials early in advance.
Do summer programs count as extracurriculars?
Yes, summer programs count as extracurriculars. Like with an internship, you’re going beyond schoolwork to expand your knowledge and skills.
There are many highly selective summer programs that are well-recognized and would look impressive on your application.
Nevertheless, you don’t have to do one of these summer programs to stand out. When choosing a summer program, what matters is that the program reflects your passions and enables you to expand your skills.
For example, if you’re an arts student, participating in an arts-focused summer program is a great way to demonstrate your passion, commitment, and willingness to challenge yourself.
Is tutoring an extracurricular activity?
Yes, tutoring is an extracurricular activity. However, tutoring is also a relatively common extracurricular. Most classmates I knew in high school did some form of tutoring as part of honors societies and clubs.
Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean that tutoring can’t be a valuable extracurricular activity. In fact, there are several ways to turn tutoring into impressive leadership experience. One example is starting your own peer tutoring program.
Is community service an extracurricular activity?
Yes, community service is an extracurricular activity. As I mentioned previously, colleges look for extracurriculars in which you demonstrate expertise and/or create impact.
Community service is a great way to fulfill the second component: creating impact.
Fortunately, there are countless ways to get involved in community service. Some ideas include:
- Volunteering at a local food bank
- Participating in a beach trash pick-up
- Joining a performing arts group for senior care home residents/hospital patients
To make community service an even more valuable extracurricular activity, you can lead your own service initiatives. You can start by hosting a drive or coordinating an activity at a non-profit you already volunteer at.
Eventually, you can even start your own organization or club, dedicated to a cause that you’re passionate about. While this may sound like a daunting task, it is a great learning experience, and there are many simple methods to promote your club or organization.
So What Counts As An Extracurricular Activity?
In general, anything productive you do outside of schoolwork is considered an extracurricular activity.
In this post, I answered the questions:
- Is an internship an extracurricular activity?
- Does a job count as an extracurricular activity?
- Do clubs count as extracurricular activities?
- Is yearbook an extracurricular activity?
- Is art an extracurricular activity?
- Do summer programs count as extracurriculars?
- Is tutoring an extracurricular activity?
- Is community service an extracurricular activity?
As you may have noticed, the answer to all of these questions was yes. They’re all productive activities you can choose to participate in beyond schoolwork.
Also, there are opportunities you can leverage within different extracurriculars to make them stand out more.
I hope this article gave you a better idea of what counts as an extracurricular activity. Which extracurricular activities are you interested in participating in? Let me know in the comments below!
For more posts on high school advice, check out:
- 7 Easy Steps to Start a Peer Tutoring Program as a Student
- Why Junior Year is Not Too Late to Start Extracurriculars
- How to Promote a School Club—11 Easy Ways to Attract Members
- How to Start An Organization in High School in 4 Easy Steps
- What Do Colleges Look for? A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Into Your Dream College
- Most Impressive AP Classes (+ Useful Tips to Succeed in Them)
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