It’s no secret that crafting a compelling activity list can help set students apart from others, especially in highly selective applicant pools. Some students and their families interpret this as needing to engage with as many activities and programs as possible. Under this assumption, students face pressure to join every competitive club available at their school, enroll in expensive research mentorship programs, and attend precollege programs over the summer to get ahead. However, this approach is not always advantageous. Students tend to benefit far more from authentically engaging with their interests over time.
At Infinite Futures, we help students balance and optimize their involvements. The guidance below helps to build the framework that we share with every student.
We recommend that students begin exploring available clubs and organizations as soon as they are able. In ninth grade, it can be great to start with three extracurricular activities. This involvement can be a combination of high school clubs, engagement with local organizations, sports or team-based activities, or consistent volunteer experiences. During the first year of each activity, students should aim to simply build confidence. Recognition and leadership opportunities will eventually come over time.
Throughout this involvement, it’s beneficial to reflect on what each student finds fulfilling, challenging, or boring. Are there activities that the student regularly dreads preparing for or attending? If so, it may be time to walk away and try something new. Similarly, what is the student enjoying? Are there interests that the student hopes to explore on a deeper level? Perhaps they should start thinking about how this involvement might grow over time. This might mean joining new activities or pursuing leadership roles in existing involvements.
We know there is immense pressure on students to be “perfect” in their college applications. However, admissions officers warm to the humanity within applicants and do not expect perfection. A student who has grown immensely through struggles, challenges, or even failure can demonstrate resilience and perspective. These traits are much more valuable in college, and in life, than natural talent or the illusion of flawlessness.
On the Common Application, there are only 10 spots to list extracurricular activities, so there is no need to join every club or extracurricular opportunity. Be choosy! Students should be conscious of the role each activity has in their lives. There’s no reward for having more than 10 extracurricular activities, and students should avoid using the “Additional Information” section of the application as an extension of this list.
Even with careful intentions, students can find themselves experiencing burnout due to the volume or frequency of their involvements. It is important to recognize the signs of burnout and carefully reevaluate each involvement when necessary. In teenagers, burnout might manifest in changes to eating or sleeping habits, irritability, isolation, or reduced interest in activities they normally enjoy. Practice the art of saying “no” to activities that feel draining or overwhelming.
As academics and extracurriculars increase in intensity, students might find themselves cutting back on sleep to meet deadlines and expectations. This is never a good idea or sustainable in the long term. Research from Johns Hopkins suggests that teenagers should aim to sleep around 9-10 hours each night. We know that high school can be intense, and the pressure of college admissions can make the stakes seem even higher, but this is a great time to practice time management.
Juliette Wallace is a College Advisor and Former Admissions Officer at Infinite Futures. She has worked in higher education since graduating from Yale University in 2020. She worked as an admissions officer at Yale for four years and now helps students gain confidence, and perspective, within the college admissions processes.
