What is the best way to create an extracurricular activity, and what types are best for a college application?

If you REALLY love something and your school doesn't offer it, then you make a club. Don't start a club that you won't be interested in. Another thing, colleges like diversity. If you made a club that's very unique, they will most likely remember you. So let's say you started a squirrel feeding club. Not many people have that club right? It's unique. That's what colleges look for.

Would doing art commissions, drawing for clients, or taking art requests online be considered an extracurricular? I draw digitally with a drawing tablet, but I wonder if it is a waste of time. Would it look appealing to universities? Would some even weirder things like voice synthesizing software be interesting to colleges?

Yes. Anything that you are spending significant time on would probably count. That sounds so cool!Are you getting paid? If so, that might be considered a part-time job. Hope that helps!

what are activities that i can do

Anything. Name it, see if it's possible and try it out. Whatever may be the end result, it is an experience.

What would some good examples of nontraditional extracurriculars be? I like cosplay, for example, but I want to be a doctor. Would putting something such as costume designing be recommended even if what I want to be isn't related to it?

If you are passionate about cosplaying and have participated in events relating to it, I would definitely put it on your application - it showcases something unique about you. Many kids want to be doctors, but not nearly as many show an interest in costume designing. I might even try to tie it back into your pre-med interest somehow. You could possibly organize a cosplay event at a community center or high school to raise money for a research program at a local hospital.

Do colleges care if you self-created a club if it's not related to your major? Say, I start a writing club but I'm pursuing something more related to physics.

Yes, I think they would-- they're looking not only for career-related extracurriculars (though those are great) but also things that show your leadership/teambuilding/creativity skills, and starting your own club (be it writing or anything else) would definitely display some of the qualities they want their applicants to have. Even if your club never gets very many members/doesn't publish very many things, that's alright. It definitely won't _hurt_ to be on your application, and it will probably help, even if it's not directly related to your major of choice.

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Course: College admissions > Unit 2

Lesson 3: Extracurricular and leadership activities

Student story: Extracurriculars that are self created

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Jon Winder
Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to Jon Winder's post “What is the best way to c...”
What is the best way to create an extracurricular activity, and what types are best for a college application?
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(6 votes)
Answer
- Funkadillon
  Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to Funkadillon's post “If you REALLY love someth...”
  If you REALLY love something and your school doesn't offer it, then you make a club. Don't start a club that you won't be interested in.
  Another thing, colleges like diversity. If you made a club that's very unique, they will most likely remember you. So let's say you started a squirrel feeding club. Not many people have that club right? It's unique. That's what colleges look for.
  Comment on Funkadillon's post “If you REALLY love someth...”
  (13 votes)
ShenShenMath
Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to ShenShenMath's post “Would doing art commissio...”
Would doing art commissions, drawing for clients, or taking art requests online be considered an extracurricular? I draw digitally with a drawing tablet, but I wonder if it is a waste of time. Would it look appealing to universities? Would some even weirder things like voice synthesizing software be interesting to colleges?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on ShenShenMath's post “Would doing art commissio...”
(4 votes)
Answer
- CatherineGirl
  Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to CatherineGirl's post “Yes. Anything that you ar...”
  Yes. Anything that you are spending significant time on would probably count. That sounds so cool!Are you getting paid? If so, that might be considered a part-time job. Hope that helps!
  Button navigates to signup page
  (4 votes)
Devilyn0705
Posted 7 years ago. Direct link to Devilyn0705's post “what are activities that ...”
what are activities that i can do
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(3 votes)
Answer
- Archi
  Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to Archi's post “Anything. Name it, see if...”
  Anything. Name it, see if it's possible and try it out. Whatever may be the end result, it is an experience.
  Button navigates to signup page
  (3 votes)
lmubeira
Posted 7 years ago. Direct link to lmubeira's post “What would some good exam...”
What would some good examples of nontraditional extracurriculars be? I like cosplay, for example, but I want to be a doctor. Would putting something such as costume designing be recommended even if what I want to be isn't related to it?
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(2 votes)
Answer
- Vιolετ™
  Posted 6 years ago. Direct link to Vιolετ™'s post “If you are passionate abo...”
  If you are passionate about cosplaying and have participated in events relating to it, I would definitely put it on your application - it showcases something unique about you. Many kids want to be doctors, but not nearly as many show an interest in costume designing.
  I might even try to tie it back into your pre-med interest somehow. You could possibly organize a cosplay event at a community center or high school to raise money for a research program at a local hospital.
  Comment on Vιolετ™'s post “If you are passionate abo...”
  (4 votes)
Ava
Posted a year ago. Direct link to Ava's post “Do colleges care if you s...”
Do colleges care if you self-created a club if it's not related to your major? Say, I start a writing club but I'm pursuing something more related to physics.
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(2 votes)
Answer
- L. E.
  Posted a year ago. Direct link to L. E.'s post “Yes, I think they would--...”
  Yes, I think they would-- they're looking not only for career-related extracurriculars (though those are great) but also things that show your leadership/teambuilding/creativity skills, and starting your own club (be it writing or anything else) would definitely display some of the qualities they want their applicants to have. Even if your club never gets very many members/doesn't publish very many things, that's alright. It definitely won't hurt to be on your application, and it will probably help, even if it's not directly related to your major of choice.
  Button navigates to signup page
  (4 votes)
Devilyn0705
Posted 7 years ago. Direct link to Devilyn0705's post “how do you create a club”
how do you create a club
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(3 votes)
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- Cat lover
  Posted 3 months ago. Direct link to Cat lover's post “If you're talking about a...”
  If you're talking about a club for college (or even just a club in general), advertise it! Talk about it to your friends, explain about it on social media, get people interested and involved! Try and think of a catchy club name (if you want; if you feel like you need inspiration, talk to your family/friends), create a theme (soccer, skateboarding, pet sitting, drawing, gymnastics etc.), and arrange to meet up with your clubmates whenever suits!
  Enjoy!
  Hope this helps!
  -Cat lover
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  (1 vote)
Ashton Adams
Posted a year ago. Direct link to Ashton Adams's post “what's the best wys to st...”
what's the best wys to start looking for colleges
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(1 vote)
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- David Alexander
  Posted a year ago. Direct link to David Alexander's post “Ask some adult whom you t...”
  Ask some adult whom you trust: your rabbi, imam, pastor, priest, coach, scoutmaster, parents, etc. They can be very helpful.
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  (1 vote)

Video transcript

- In high school, I knew that I was supposed to get involved with clubs, but I wasn't really interested in any of the options. I think I was choosing between the cheese club and social committee, and frankly none of those things were things that I was passionate about. So, I decided I should just create opportunities for myself and I should just look for places where I could do things that I wanted to do. And so when my high school was moving campuses, I realized, "Oh, this is something I can do. "I can help coordinate a move. "I can organize movers. "I can move furniture." So I went to the director of my school and said, "Can I help you move this school?" and she said "Sure." So I invited 20 of my friends and we organized the move and that was an opportunity that I'd created for myself and that I later put on a college application.