Finding the Best Extracurriculars for College and Beyond
Academic clubs, part-time jobs, internships, and volunteer opportunities are types of extracurricular activities that provide valuable opportunities for you to explore your interests and passions while also showcasing your experience, initiative, and dedication.
Below is a list of the best extracurriculars for college admissions and career paths that you can engage in throughout your high school experience that would help you explore your strengths, skills, and values.
Academic Clubs
Your high school and community organizations offer amazing opportunities for you to explore a variety of interests. Clubs or teams like Model UN, Math League, Finance Club, DECA, the school newspaper, or environmental stewardship clubs provide a unique chance to dive deeply into a field of study you may be interested in pursuing. They often offer hands-on experience and opportunities to develop skills related to various career goals, such as public speaking, time management skills, teamwork, and leadership positions.
Employment
Working a part-time or summer job will give you valuable work experience, build independence, and teach new skills. Working as part of a team, developing initiative, and serving others will teach you valuable life skills that will prove extremely valuable in the future, especially in the admissions process.
As long as you are careful not to overstretch yourself during your year of high school, you will learn how to balance competing responsibilities and find balance. Even if you don’t enjoy your job, you will learn a lot about your interests and future goals!
Internships
Both paid and unpaid internships provide high school students with hands-on experience in the real world. They help students gauge interest in specific fields and explore potential career paths.
Nothing can replace the opportunity to connect with and learn from a mentor in a chosen field. Internships can be several months or only a few weeks. Either way, you will be able to explore a career path and gain a better understanding of what you want to do in the future.
Volunteering
Volunteer work and community service will benefit both you and the group you serve. Volunteer opportunities provide students with the opportunity to give back to their community and make a positive impact on the world. Not only will you build valuable communication, decision making, and leadership skills, you will build confidence and develop a greater sense of purpose.
Volunteer work will help you to broaden your perspective as you learn more about your community and the world. When volunteers reflect on their experiences, they often observe that they gained more from the service than they gave to others.
Whatever you choose to do, get involved! Identify areas of interest and take the time to explore and learn as much as you can. Not only will you gain essential skills and experience, but you will also begin to identify future interests and career paths. Click here for a full list of resources and of course, College Flight Path is here to help connect you with opportunities that will help you explore your skills and interests.
Search the list below to find potential clubs, interest groups, and activities aligned with specific majors to help extend your learning!
