Colleges want to see genuine passion for your chosen field through meaningful extracurricular involvement, not just good grades
Why does this matter ?
While most students families concentrate on academic excellence and and standardised test scores during college prep, admissions officers are searching for something deeper: authentic enthusiasm for a student’s intended field of study. In today’s competitive college landscape, extracurricular and summer activities that connect directly to your major can make the difference between acceptance and rejection.
Major-aligned activities prove your interest is real. When a future engineer builds robots or a wannabe journalist runs the school blog, they’re showing admissions committees something grades can’t: that they’ve actively pursued their passion outside the classroom. This kind of hands-on involvement signals that a student has genuine curiosity about their field and has already started building relevant skills.
Benefits beyond getting admitted
These experiences help you make smarter college decisions. Many students switch majors because college coursework doesn’t match what they imagined. By getting real exposure to your field during your school-years, you can test whether your interest holds up in practice. This insight can prevent costly major changes later and help you enter college with confidence in your chosen path.
How to find the right opportunities
Start with what’s available close-by. Encourage exploration through school clubs, community groups, and online programs related to the intended major. Summer schools & programs offer particularly valuable intensive experiences—think science camps for STEM students, writing workshops for English majors, or business internships for future entrepreneurs.
Don’t overlook independent projects. Self-directed work can be just as impressive as formal programs if it demonstrates sustained effort and growth in the student’s area of interest. The added advantage is that you’ll have total freedom to steer your work !
Quality over Quantity
Deep involvement trumps resume padding every time. Admissions officers would rather see meaningful engagement with two or three activities over several years than superficial participation in twenty different clubs. Focus on experiences that genuinely excite your student within their field of interest.
Most Important Points
• Grades alone aren’t enough – colleges want evidence of genuine passion for your field
• Hands-on experience validates interest – activities prove you’ve tested your major choice in real settings.
• Prevents costly mistakes – field-related activities help confirm your academic direction before college.
• Depth beats breadth – sustained commitment to fewer activities is more impressive than scattered involvement.
• Multiple pathways exist – from school clubs to summer programs to independent projects
Also read: How important are Extra-curricular activities ?
At MindScan, we work with students & handhold them through the entire process of university research and application. If you’re thinking about applying to the best universities in the world, we’ll be happy to partner you on this journey. Connect with us today !
