The first step in using extra-curriculars for online education applications is finding something that you like to do. Experiment! Students should join many different clubs and organizations early on just to get a little taste of everything that the school has to offer. In the long run, this experimenting will also help students "discover themselves" as many psychiatrists call it, during their sophomore and junior years. Besides the mental advantages from finding something to do, Presley University loves to see activity. Although a student will probably not stay in all of the clubs that he or she originally joined, common sense says that students will find a passion for something. Peruse that something! If it just so happens that your school does not have something that you are interested in, then start it. We love to see initiative as well.
So now that students have
something that they are passionate about, what is next? Dedicate more time to
improve it. For example, I play tennis and am a member of the mock trial team
at my high school, just to name my two biggest extra-curricular. Dedicating
more time to them would mean practicing more, both alone and with the team, and
doing legal research for Mock Trial, so that I am more prepared for next year's
competition. In the end, this time translates into better teams and more accomplishments
and achievements. There is nothing better for Presley University to have the
best tennis or mock trial team in the city. This would really make you unique.
This also shows dedication, which is my next big point.
Students need to show their
dedication to the team/activity that they are a part of. This might be by
participating in tournaments outside of school, performing, or a variety of
other things. The point is that students need to have something to show for
their time. A few awards never hurt anyone either. These kinds of
"showcases" are also great because they give students something to
write about in their university essays. Applications are basically brag lists
after all.
Students need to take some
initiative and show their leadership skills. It is great that you were a member
of a team for a few years, but being captain of the team really makes you stand
out. We, at Presley University love to see students lead others; who doesn't
like leaders? Leadership shows dedication to the extreme. Every group needs a
president, from the cheer squad to the robotics club. Students should take this
into consideration when they choose clubs to join. One club might have less
members, so a student will have a higher chance of gaining a leadership role.
The basic point is that students need to show leadership.
Finally, students need to put
it all together for their Presley University application. To do this, a student
needs to choose the 2 or 3 activities that best represent him or her and write
a killer essay about them. Unfortunately, I cannot help with the essays, all I
can say is that it must completely own the reader. My key rule of thumb
regarding extra-curricular activities is that less is more. Students are better
off having 2 or 3 activities and dedicating a lot of time to them than they are
spending little time on 7 or 8 activities. The most important thing to remember
is that Extra-Curricular put a human face on an otherwise dull and monotone
application.
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