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Archives for Extracurriculars

Gap Year and Deferring College

Posted by Sarah Ziegler on July 11th, 2008 in Extracurriculars

Students are drawn to time off between high school and college for a number of reasons. Some students are graduating early or are young for their grade. Some are unsure they’re emotionally mature enough to make the most out of their college experience. Others may have special projects or goals they’d like to pursue before they return to full-time studies. For example, David Stuart, the youngest recipient of the MacArthur “genius grant,” took time off to devote to studying Mayan culture and language.

The number of students participating in gap year experiences is small but growing in the U.S. While some students strike out on their own, many students participate in programs organized by agencies such as AFS, Brown Ledge, City Year, Dynamy, or Rustic Pathways.

Students considering a gap year should generally proceed with their college applications as if they were not taking time off. Most colleges are happy to support students in deferring admission for a year, as long as students can demonstrate that they have a productive plan and use for that time off. If you’re unsure, check college’s websites for their gap year or deferment policies.

To learn more about different gap year opportunities, check out The Gap Year Book or The Gap-Year Advantage.

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Why Extracurriculars Matter

Posted by Sarah Ziegler on February 28th, 2008 in Extracurriculars

Expectations are high for students to be involved and dedicated regardless of academic standing. Your job is to create a picture through four years in high school that accurately reflect who you are â€“ both inside and outside of the classroom.

Admissions acceptance decisions are based on your overall profile as a student. Your academic record speaks to your ability to succeed academically in college; your extracurricular record should illustrate what kind of personal contribution you can make to the campus community. If your application does not demonstrate your extracurricular interests, an admissions officer will never know what those interests are.

While colleges donâ€™t expect that every student will have found a passion (or passions) by the time they enter high school, they do expect that students explore, get involved, and try new activities. Think critically about the activities in which youâ€™ve been involved in the past. What have you found meaningful? What have been positive and negative features of previous activities? What kind of extracurricular or academic interests have you not yet pursued? What new activities can build off of a previous interest you have?

Remember, itâ€™s not necessary, or even advisable, to have a lot of different activities listed on your application. Whatâ€™s most important is that the activities you select adequately represent you. What admissions officers want to see is longevity, authenticity, and that you will potentially continue participating in your activities throughout college. In this case, quality is better than quality.

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