Where I Was Again Provided With a High Level of Acedemic

500+ Examples of Extracurricular Activities for Loftier School Students

Bonus Fabric: Extracurricular Activities Worksheet

Extracurricular activities are an essential component of competitive college applications.

When college admissions officers read your application, they're generally on the lookout for three things:

Graphic symbol & Personal Qualities
Bookish Achievement
Extracurricular Distinction

Many of our students ask us how they tin achieve extracurricular stardom .

What extracurricular activities should they pursue? And how do they earn distinction within a specific action?

To answer these questions, we like to start by beginning defining what actually counts as an extracurricular activeness (hint: more than than you might realize!).

Then we indicate students to this list of 500+ examples of activities worth pursuing within the categories that announced on the Common Application.

We as well give readers access to our Extracurricular Activities Worksheet. This is a valuable Costless resources for students needing extra guidance in choosing activities likely to suit their interests and lead to a solid college application. Take hold of this below.

Here'south what we cover:

What Is An Extracurricular Activity?
500+ Examples of Crawly Extracurricular Activities
Bonus: PrepMaven's Free Extracurricular Activities Worksheet

What Are Extracurricular Activities?

Extracurricular activities can seem pretty straightforward. Aren't they only activities you pursue outside of the classroom?

Generally speaking, aye.

Simply extracurricular activities aren't limited to what your schoolhouse offers. Nor do they have to be associated with a specific program or organization. They can exist much broader than that.

Here is how the Common App, the platform many students use to utilize to college, defines an extracurricular activity:

To reiterate, an extracurricular activity can be:

A personal pursuit, interest, or hobby
Athletics
School-based (or related)
Customs-based (or related)
Online-based
Employment
Family-related and
Anything else that has been meaningful to yous!

Extracurricular activities can be associated with clubs, organizations, programs, teams, or other groups. They can be entirely independent. They can likewise exist activities that y'all start or initiate outside of your usual classroom obligations as a high schoolhouse pupil.

And so what'south the hugger-mugger?

Consistency.

Nosotros define an extracurricular activeness equally one you lot pursue exterior of the classroom in a consistent style.

We like to add that peculiarly rich extracurricular activities from a higher admissions standpoint often take at least one of the following qualities. These activities

Build or maintain specific skills
Prepare you for a futurity career
Demonstrate your interest or passion
Provide relevant context
Say something about you and what yous care about and/or
Accept bear on of some kind (on you personally, others, or your community)

How We've Organized Our 500+ Examples of Extracurricular Activities

The Mutual App requires applicants to categorize each of their activities when reporting them. They also ask other questions about your role inside an action, organization name(s), and recognition or achievement.

Here are the categories the Common App uses to organize extracurricular activities:

Academic
Fine art
Athletics: Society
Athletics: JV/Varsity
Career Oriented
Community Service (Volunteer)
Computer/Engineering science
Cultural
Trip the light fantastic toe
Fence/Spoken language
Environmental
Family Responsibilities
Foreign Language
Internship
Journalism/Publication
Junior ROTC
LGBT
Music: Instrumental
Music: Vocal
Religious
Research
Robotics
School Spirit
Social Justice
Student Government / Politics
Theatre/Drama
Work (paid)
Other Gild / Activity

Nosotros've organized our list of extracurricular activities below according to these Common App categories .

We want to emphasize that this list is not exhaustive! But it is an excellent resources for students looking for the kinds of activities probable to brand their applications more competitive.

That's why nosotros also strongly encourage readers to download our Extracurricular Activities Worksheet, a self-guided worksheet that helps students choose and plan the right activities for their time in loftier school.

500+ Examples of (Awesome) Extracurricular Activities for High School Students

Bookish Activities

Academic activities include whatever programs, groups, or activities that have a strictly academic focus. These include higher courses and programs, honor societies, schoolhouse clubs, competitions or contests, and other bookish programs or interests.

Type	Examples
College Course or Early on College Programme	Princeton University courses for high school students Community College Courses
Honour Social club	Quill and Scroll National Business Honor Society National Honor Society National Society of High School Scholars National English language Accolade Society Math Honor Order
Club	Young Architects Club Literature Club Local Amateur Astronomy Gild Junior Economic Club ChemClub Biology Lodge Applied science Club National History Club Science Club Math Club Physics Club Psychology Guild Coding Lodge Informatics Guild Fine art History Society Shakespeare Club American History Club Creative Writing Social club
Competition or contest	National Bookish Quiz Tournaments National Science Bowl International Mathematical Olympiad American Mathematics Competitions Bookish Decathlon Academic Triathlon American Regions Mathematics League Brain Bee Caribou Contests U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad CSTL Clean Tech Contest C-SPAN StudentCam Contest Rube Goldberg Automobile Contest National Economics Claiming Plant of Competition Sciences Kids Philosophy Slam Math League Modeling the Time to come Challenge Imagine Loving cup National Academic League National Geographic GeoBee National Geographic GeoChallenge Regeneron Science & Engineering Fair National History Bee & Bowl National Body of water Sciences Bowl Scripps National Spelling Bee Science Olympiad School Innovation Challenge School Bee Science Fair Other Math/Science Competition Other Academic Competition/Competition
Program	Academic Summer Program Pre-College Program Odyssey of the Heed Distributive Instruction Clubs of America (DECA) Junior Academy of Scientific discipline Youth Entrepreneurs Educators Rising National Student Leadership Briefing Mock Trial
Other	Peer Academic Tutoring Peer ESL Tutoring Peer Test Prep Tutoring

Art

Art activities include any personal interests, hobbies, clubs, groups, programs, or competitions/contests with an artistic or artistic emphasis.

Blazon	Examples
Personal Involvement	Photography Visual Arts Podcasting YouTube Channel Anime/Manga Animation Drawing/Sketching Oil Painting Acrylic Painting Watercoloring Textiles Weaving Blogging Embroidery Quilting / Sewing Crocheting Knitting 3D Art (Sculpture, Ceramics, Pottery) Stenciling Puppetry Performance Art Encaustics Food Blog Jewelry making Fashion magazine or blog Graphic Pattern School Poster/Banner Design Mixed Media Fine art Metalworking Carpentry Screen printing or printmaking Woodworking Culinary arts Candle-making Cartooning Scrapbooking Graphic Novel Writing Creative Writing Poetry Spoken Word Videography Schoolhouse or local web design School or local radio station Personal website or blog Schoolhouse or local T.V. aqueduct
Lodge	Art Guild Film Club Yearbook Commission Anime/Manga Club Photography Guild Creative Writing Club Visual Arts Club Podcasting Lodge Watercolor Order Classic Film Guild Poetry Social club Book Club Fashion Club Graphic Novel Club Young Writers Group (online) Young Artists Grouping (online) Shakespeare Club Science Fiction Order Media Guild Arts & Crafts Guild
Program	National Fine art Award Society Local Arts Workshop Local Writing Workshop Arts Conference Art-based Summer Programme Writing Summer Workshop Young Writers Conference Young Writers Workshop Young Artists Exhibition College-level Fine art Course College-level Creative Writing Course
Competition or Contest	Competitions for Young Writers Competitions for Young Artists Local Art Contests Local Writing Contests Motion picture Festival Entrant NaNoWriMo Poesy Out Loud Teen Poesy Slam Bennington Young Writers Awards Congressional Art Competition

Athletics

Athletics include personal involvement, club, intramural, team, and JV/Varsity sports and able-bodied pursuits.

Type	Examples
Club or Programme	Yoga Club Equestrian Club Hiking Gild Skateboard Order Ultimate Frisbee Order Club Swimming Fencing Club Martial Arts Social club Cycling Club Ping Pong Club Tai Chi Club Quidditch Club Intramural Sports Cycling Club Rock Climbing Club Running Lodge Marathon Triathlon Iron Man Half Marathon
JV Varsity	Pickleball Cycling Team Bodybuilding Fencing Martial Arts Badminton Baseball Basketball Cheerleading Cross Country Dance Team Field Hockey Flag Football Football Golf game Gymnastics Hockey Indoor Runway & Field Lacrosse Soccer Softball Slow Pitch Softball Surfing Swimming & Diving Tennis Rail & Field Volleyball H2o Polo Weightlifting Wrestling Ultimate Frisbee Competitive Snowboarding Competitive Skiing Ice Hockey Equestrian Team Bowling

Career-Oriented Activities

Career-oriented activities emphasize professional skills and/or chore preparation , often within a specific field. They can be clubs, programs, groups, or other activities.

Community Service (Volunteer)

Community service or volunteering activities are any that involve offering your time to others without compensation. They tin be clubs, programs, or self-directed activities, and these tin can be school-based, customs-based, or organization-based.

Computer/Technology Activities

Figurer/technology activities can exist clubs, programs, groups, competitions, or personal interests that have an accent on computers and/or technology.

Type	Examples
Club	Coding Society Young Hackers Club Computer Science Club Immature Estimator Scientists Club
Programme	Computer Science College Course Informatics Summer Program Information technology Not-Profit Coding Camp
Competition	Coding Challenge Hackathon American Informatics League Imagine Cup
Other	Website Development App Development Video Game Development Theatre Tech (Lighting and/or Audio) Computer literacy Schoolhouse IT Support Computer building

Dance

Trip the light fantastic activities are clubs, teams, hobbies, competitions, programs, or events that involve some form of dance or movement.

Type	Examples
Lodge, Team, or Hobby	Hip Hop Jazz Dance Irish Dance Contemporary / Modern Trip the light fantastic Latin Dance Interpretive Dance Swing Dance African, West Indian, African-American Dance Ceremonial Dance Tap Trip the light fantastic toe Classical Dance Cultural Dance Ballroom Trip the light fantastic Ballet Other course of trip the light fantastic
Competition	Dance competition (local) Dance competition (national) Trip the light fantastic toe competition (international)
Other	Choreography Dance Therapy Juntos Collective Higher-level Dance Class Customs Trip the light fantastic Plan, Team, or Event

Debate/Speech

Debate/Speech activities include clubs, teams, competitions or contests, personal interests, or other programs that have an emphasis on debate, speech, or speaking.

Type	Examples
Club or Team	Voice communication and Debate Squad National Forensics League Debate Club Rhetoric Club Young Orators of America
Personal Involvement	Speechwriting Essay writing
Competition or Contest	American Legion Oratorical Contest Local Debate Competition National Debate Contest

Environmental

Environmental activities emphasize anything related to the environment, often in the context of protecting, supporting, or understanding it. They tin be clubs, programs, contests, personal interests, or other activities.

Family Responsibilities

Family unit responsibilities entail any obligations or duties specific to you within your family unit. We recognize that every family situation is unique and has its own gear up of responsibilities, so this list is by no means exhaustive.

Childcare/babysitting of siblings or relatives
Care of a family member with a disability
Intendance of a family member with final affliction
Care of a family unit member with a medical condition
Intendance of an elderly relative
Assisting a single parent
Employment to support family
Religious obligations

Culture & Strange Language Activities

Cultural and foreign language activities focus on a specific culture, linguistic communication, and/or cultural practice, and tin can involve clubs, student-led groups, study away programs, and others.

Blazon	Examples
Society	Spanish Social club French Gild German Order Japanese Lodge Portuguese Club American Sign Linguistic communication Club Chinese Gild Latin Order Pacific Islanders Order Russian Club S Asian Student Society Latino/a Students' Association Muslim Students' Association Greek Club Foreign Linguistic communication Club Endangered Languages Club International Food Club Black Students' Wedlock BIPOC Students' Wedlock Asian Students' Matrimony
Program	Foreign Exchange or Written report Abroad Program Language-Based Summer Program
Other	Foreign Language Contest, such as the National French Contest Latin Accolade Society Student Affairs Corps Cultural Dance Tutoring students in a foreign linguistic communication Teaching English language as a Second Linguistic communication

Internship

Internships requite high school students a period of (typically unpaid) work experience, oftentimes within an organization. The heaven truly is the limit when it comes to possible internships for high school students. We've included a sampling of what's out at that place below.

Internship at local hospital
Job shadow internship
Laboratory internship
Law firm / legal internship
Healthcare internship
Media internship (newspaper, magazine, T.V., publication)
Anthropology internship
Environmental / Sustainability internship
Political science internship (campaign work, for example)
Community wellness internship
Theatre/drama internship
Inquiry-based internship
Creative person internship
Not-turn a profit sector internship
Teacher'southward assistantship / internship
Other internship

Journalism/Publication

Journalism and publication activities are any related to the world of publishing and journalistic writing. They tin can exist a school-led order or group, similar the school paper, programme, internship, or other activity. They tin can likewise involve actual publications of your writing in any genre, including scientific inquiry and creative works.

Blazon	Examples
Guild or Group	School Paper Journalism Gild School Literary Journal School Magazine Schoolhouse East-Zine
Other	Journalism internship Publication (i.due east., commodity, story, verse form, etc.) Local/Community Newspaper Community or National Literary Periodical Young Journalists Competitions

Junior ROTC

A federal plan, the Inferior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) introduces high school students to military community, elements of leadership, and much more. We've also included other military-related extracurricular activities below.

Junior State Police Academy
Inferior Pike Patrol Program
Junior ROTC
Civil Air Patrol
Marine Fettle
Youth Cadet Law Enforcement Program

LGBTQ+ Activities

LGBTQ+ activities are whatsoever that are related to the LGBTQ+ community and/or its rights and interests. They can be clubs, programs, acts of service, or other groups, and can also involve advocacy efforts.

Type	Examples
Lodge	LGBTQ+ Club Queer-Straight Alliance (QSA) Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) Gender-Sexuality Brotherhood (GSA) Diversity Society Pride Student Union Queer Volume Gild Queer Filmmakers Club Queer Fashion Gild Queer Podcast Queer Student Athletes
Plan or Other	Pride March Pride High School Event or Programme Gender and Sexuality Awareness Volunteering at an LGBTQ+ Center Trans Rights Advocacy LGBTQ+ Youth Peer Support Group LGBTQ+ Rights Advancement Trans Youth Rights Advocacy Other LGBTQ+ Advancement, Programme, Work, or Activity

Music: Instrumental & Song

Music activities are any that involve the practice and/or performance of music, instrumental or song. These include hobbies, clubs, groups, programs, and competitions.

Type	Examples
Gild or Group	Music Cosmos and DJ Society Pep Band Jazz Band Church Ring High School Band Duo, Trio, Quartet, etc. Other Instrumental Music Group Music Appreciation Gild Loftier School Orchestra Community Orchestra or Symphony Community Band Loftier School Choir A capella grouping Church Choir Personal Band or Music Group Young Composers Club
Program	Songwriting Workshop Music Summer Camp or Plan Tri-M Music Honor Order
Competition	Songwriting Competition Commune and/or state music festivals National music festivals Classical music competition Song competition
Personal Interest	Personal Instrument Vocal training / singing lessons Songwriting Composing DJing Cultural Music Album or record release Music Podcast Recording Studio

Religious

Religious activities are any associated with a organized religion or religion tradition. They tin be schoolhouse clubs, church building groups, or community programs. They tin likewise simply involve any consistent engagement within your church, such every bit acting equally a Sunday School teacher or church greeter.

Type	Examples
Schoolhouse Lodge	Fellowship of Christian Athletes Jewish Student Union School Youth Grouping or Club Christian Educatee Organization (CSO)
Other	Church Youth Group Church Greeter Church Volunteer Missionary Work Church Choir or Ring Church Outreach Church Mentorship Program Bible Study Dominicus School Instruction Report of Religious Text(s) Assistance in Religious Services

Inquiry

Research activities refer to whatsoever that involve dedicated research of a sure subject over a menstruum of fourth dimension. These tin exist programs, summertime experiences, internships, and independent projects. The sky is the limit when it comes to possible inquiry opportunities for loftier school students. We've included a sampling of what's out there below.

Summer Research Program
Independent research project
Research for course credit
Enquiry-based internship
Profitable faculty members with research
Personal interest-based research

Robotics

Robotics activities include annihilation related to the creation, exploration, and/or report of robots and robotic engineering science. They tin be school clubs, programs, competitions, or other activities.

School Spirit

School spirit activities are any that emphasize support for your school and its student body.

Pep Band
Campus Tour Guide or Representative
Cheerleading
Spirit Team
Student Council
School Spirit Order
Student Result Coordinator
Other School Spirit Club, Program, or Event

Social Justice

Social justice activities have an accent on fairness and equality, especially for the marginalized. These include clubs, organizations, movement, advocacy efforts, programs, and more.

Student Government/Politics

Activities in this category are related to political and governing systems, politics, and/or student government. They include clubs, groups, competitions, programs, and much more.

Theatre/Drama

Theatre and drama activities emphasize performance and all of its genres, aspects, and forms. They include clubs, programs, events, competitions, and personal interests.

Type	Examples
Club	Loftier School Drama Troupe or Club One-act or Improv Troupe or Club Dungeons and Dragons Lodge Film Product Club International Thespian Society
Program	Community Theatre Plan Community Theatre Workshop or Summer Military camp Renaissance Faires Historical Reenactment Program College-level Drama Course
Other/ Personal Interest	Musical Theatre Musical Theatre Songwriting Customs Theatre LARPing (Live Action Role Playing) Independent film-making Ready building Stage management Directing Theatre tech (lite and/or sound) Screenwriting Playwriting Standup one-act

Work (Paid)

Paid work refers to any employment for which y'all are financially compensated over a period of time. There are many unlike kinds of employment opportunities out in that location for immature people, and so this list is not finite.

Yard or landscaping piece of work
Housesitting
Camp counselor or banana
Service industry work (eatery, café, etc.)
Authoritative work (receptionist, office assistant)
Assistantship
Paid internship
Paid research
Child care
Construction work
Grocery shop clerk
Retail position
Copyediting or writing
Graphic Design
Other paid piece of work

Other Club or Action

You might encounter extracurricular activities that don't fall under the Common App's categories.

Some examples include:

Meditation Club
Health and Health Club
Mental Health Advancement
Chess Gild or Chess Contest
Horticulture or Gardening Club
National Model Railroad Association
Other Special Involvement Club or Hobby

How to Choose Extracurricular Activities

With and so many options to cull from, how do you make sure yous're picking the right activities for your interests? What'south more, how should students plan their activities so that they can have a competitive college application?

Nosotros've got some not bad advice for choosing the best extracurricular activities for you and your college aspirations. Yous tin find all of this advice in our self-guided Extracurricular Activities Worksheet, which yous can download for gratuitous!

Here's what yous'll get:

Elementary and effective exercises
Insight into what's important to you
Questions designed to assistance yous choose meaningful activities
A copy of the 500+ activities in this post

Greg & Kevin

Greg and Kevin are brothers and the co-founders of PrepMaven and Princeton Tutoring. They are Princeton applied science graduates with over xx years of education experience. They apply their data and research-backed problem-solving skills to the test prep and college preparation procedure. Their unique approach places a heavy emphasis on personal development, character, and service equally key components of college admissions success.

andersontwoubt1976.blogspot.com

Source: https://prepmaven.com/blog/preparing/extracurricular-activities-examples/