Should high school students be focused on doing extracurricular activities based off of what they would want to major in college?
I have a friend who really wants to become a doctor, and almost all her extracurricular activities are tied around medicine. She did a medical program in Harvard, volunteers at a hospital, etc. Would she have a better chance of getting in somewhere because she knows what she wants and is doing activities based around it? I'm halfway through the tenth grade and still don't know what I want to pursue. How will this affect students that apply in an increasingly competitive race to be admitted into a well-rounded university? #career #university #career-counseling #career-choice #career-path #volunteering #extracurriculars #university-applications
4 answers
Hope’s Answer
Hi, Daniella. Ken is absolutely right. Your friend is doing a great thing by volunteering to learn more about what she hopes to major in in college. She is also making great connections and possible getting wonderful recommendations this way. The college will see her commitment to her studies and her community as well as know that she have credible references.
For you, you should still volunteer an/or engage in extracurricular activities even if you're not sure about your major. It will certainly help you determine what you like and don't like while at the same time help you build strong networks who will voice your commitment to your community when you apply to college. This is a big deal for a college institutions and for other organizations you may want to join while in college. It shows a positive light on your character. Good luck and have fun!
Thank you so much for your response! I volunteer and am a part of a few clubs at school, and I dream of doing something in the writing field. My family is against my dreams because they don't think I can make a stable income which is a fair concern. Do you think I should stick to writing in high school or try to explore other options? Thank you so much for your time!
Daniella
Hope’s Answer
Exploring other options is certainly a good approach. You could also write in new places. Some ideas are to write for your local newspaper, ask the mayor's office if you can do something in their PR office or even ask a nonprofit if you could do some grant writing work. This way, you get exposure to a lot of different areas. You will certainly see how much you enjoy (or not enjoy) writing and if this is a good avenue for you.
Thank you so much for your response and time! I really appreciate your insight.
Daniella
Destiny’s Answer
Yes and no. Yes high school students should be focused on doing extracurricular activities based off of what they would want to major in college, but not every student get the same opportunities as other students when it comes to doing other activities.
Your friend would get a better chance for getting into the school and also getting an internship for nursing, but there are times where you do the most extravagant things and still don't get into the college of your dreams. Even if you do a lot of extracurricular activities and that it looks really well on a job application, some colleges want to get to know the real you like your personality and what you can bring to the school besides how you manage school assignments with clubs/organizations
Ken’s Answer
Whenever and however yes. Talk to your your school counselor about coop and intern and volunteer and shadowing programs. Also talk to the head of alumni relations to arrange to talk to graduates of your school who are doing what you think you want to do. It is helpful to know what they are doing and how they got there and how you feel about it. Best of luck. Please keep me informed. I would like to follow your progress. During the holiday season people tend to be very helpful
Share your interests with as many people as possible and help will come from surprising sources.
Thank you again for your response and for your time! It was truly helpful.
Daniella