REF: EB/NL/22/21-22 DATE: 10th August 2021
The Do’s and Don’ts of Extracurriculars: Key Tip
Now you know what extracurricular activities are and why they are important, both for your personal development and for your college applications. Here are some tips for how you should approach extracurricular activities in high school.
1. Do research extensively.
Always take a trial or research by asking others before you go for an EC. If you want to join a club, attend their meeting to get an idea of their goals, and then analyze what you can gain from them. Or suppose, if you want to volunteer at an NGO, check out their website and see their current projects. You might attend an orientation session, as well.
2. Don’t just jump in.
Always choose something that interests you. If you aren’t passionate about the activity you choose, you will end up wasting your time. Don’t just sign in for the sake of your resume.
3. Do narrow down your extracurricular list to 3 – 5 activities you care most about.
Remember the three most important things are passion, leadership, and impact. Continue to develop your interest in these activities and see if you can take on leadership roles, even if it’s just on small projects.
4. Don’t over commit
Always plan and work on time management. You must understand how much time is reasonable to commit to a particular activity. Be aware; you aren’t just working on your extracurricular you still have to allocate time for homework, studies, and family. Instead of opting for several activities, you should commit to one for more impact and output. Always prefer quality over quantity.
5. Do let your activities tell your story.
Are you very passionate and talented in one area? Or do you show different skills and aspects of your personality through a variety of different activities? Either one is a story that a college admissions officer will be interested in hearing. Also think about how your activities have shown your growth over the years, from experimenting with an activity, to dedicating yourself to it and developing passion, and finally taking on a leadership position and making an impact.
6. Don’t slack during school holidays.
Make the most of that time. Try to think of innovative ways to pursue your passion that you can’t necessarily do when tied down with school work.
7. Don’t let your grades suffer.
Though extracurriculars
are an important part of a college application, they will almost never cancel
out bad grades and test scores. If you find that your grades are suffering, cut
back on the time you spend on your activities, and make sure that the time you do
invest in your activities is well spent making the most impact in the least
amount of time.
A healthy balance of academics and extracurricular activities is key to a
successful college experience. An imbalance causes poor performance in one area
but can lead to stress and anxiety in both.
Students
who are studying or have completed their studies and may wish to share their
experiences about how extracurricular activities helped them in their college
admission or securing a job, are welcome to write to us.
Please contact the Education Admin Secretary on: education@africafederation.org
Secretariat
Africa Federation Education Board