Extracurricular a way for high school students to find their way

Bonnie Kleffman
| Special for Lake Travis View

Parents, I bet when you were in high school there were no eSports or podcasting clubs available after school. The available extracurricular landscape contains a wide range of possibilities, so there really is something out there for every student.

Having worked with students who range from ridiculously overscheduled to frighteningly apathetic about extracurriculars, I know that there is a happy medium and that different ages and grade levels require different levels of focus. It is a colossal waste of family resources for a student to spend time on something “just because it looks good” on college applications. However, for students who have selective colleges in the future, extracurriculars will certainly be evaluated along with grades, test scores, etc. as part of a competitive application.

What can parents do to encourage our children to stay meaningfully involved in the things they care about? How do we guide them toward enriching activities without stretching the whole family too much? These pro tips on creating to-do lists are sure to help.

Professional advice no. 1 — Encourages expansion in the 9th and 10th grades. In the early years of high school, it is important for students to spread their wings academically and socially. Especially in 9th grade, encourage them to try some activities that I’m sure they’ll enjoy and maybe try some things that are new to them. In this age of sports specialization, chances are if your child is the sporty type, they already have this on their schedule. While this is great on all levels, it is a rare student who will make a career out of their athletic endeavors. For selective college admissions, expanding to include an academic club or interest is just what they need.

You may have heard that the best college applications “read like the major” to which the student is applying. In 9th and even 10th grade, that means joining things that might be areas of academic curiosity, like engineering, robotics club, journalism, media technology, model UN, or student government. If, like most freshmen and sophomores, your teen doesn’t yet know what she wants to be when she grows up, these extracurriculars can provide amazing insight.

Participation will also foster a sense of belonging and purpose in high school, helping them feel connected at school when the inevitable struggles happen. Students are much less likely to drop out when they have classmates who are counting on them to show up. This important combination of making social connections and being responsible are essential life skills for high school and beyond.

Pro Tip #2 — Encourage specialization in 11th and 12th grades. The final years of high school are about refining where your student excels and finding leadership in the things they care about. By this time (in an ideal world), your child is moving toward their major decision and narrowing down their preferred colleges. For highly selective colleges and universities, this means increasing the level of extracurriculars that stimulate interest in their major. This demonstrates to admissions officers that they are serious about their specific major and builds confidence that they are capable of leading and learning in the field. Even if a student is very active in something unrelated to an intended major (band students who don’t intend to major in music, for example), they can still end up in leadership. These transferable skills will be graded on admission and are essential for the classroom and workplace.

There should, however, be more activities on their list that help them read as well as their main. Engineers, this can mean STEM, science or robotics clubs. For business majors, how about FBLA or Entrepreneurship? Medical professions in your future? Join HOSA or inquire about related volunteer or internship opportunities. Depending on your desired major, this may be the time to get creative. Literature and film students might want to work on a writing or creative project, while those interested in architecture or automotive engineering might build or design a prototype of something they hope to 3D print one day. Teachers and working professionals are amazing project mentors or research guides, so don’t feel limited by what’s on offer at school. If it doesn’t exist, create it! All you need is a college counselor and a few friends and you start a club.

Pro tip #3 — Don’t forget summer. When a student is passionate about a subject, they may choose to do an independent study or related project, hence the overused terminology “passion project” that tends to stress everyone out. Don’t be afraid. While creative home projects are great, students don’t have to bend over backwards to make the most difficult thing they can imagine. The best summer endeavors can be as simple as getting a summer job and taking an interest in business or volunteering your skills at a nonprofit. Sometimes building on an extracurricular activity, like leading classes at your martial arts studio or starting a neighborhood garden to benefit your local food pantry, is much more impactful than an expensive, paid summer camp.

Some of the more ambitious students choose to approach college professors or graduate students for research opportunities. Although not expected on your CV, they can be great ways to get involved in the academic world. Be prepared, however, to do your homework on the assistance you would like, and understand that your requests may not get a response very often. Don’t take it personally; college professors are busy and all it takes is a “yes” to provide a great opportunity.

Balancing academics, extracurriculars, family time, and social growth can seem a bit overwhelming when a student reaches high school. Parents, please understand that if you need assistance with college planning, we are here to help with suggestions and guidance for the most impactful extracurricular endeavors that will enrich your student and add to the best college application , an honest summary of their talents. , effort and skills.

Bonnie Kleffman, M.Ed., GCDF is the director of college consulting at Access College America, a college admissions planning agency in Austin. Learn more by visiting AccessCollegeAmerica.org.