For competitive colleges and universities such as Harvard, Stanford, M.

I.

T, the Ivies, and more, a high schooler's extracurriculars (aside from essays) are practically the sole determining factor when it comes to setting students apart from one another.

Take them casually?

Suffer the consequences of not standing out and being rejected from your dream university.

Do things the "right" way?

Outshine all of your competitors with top-tier activities that cement your fate in good hands.

However, it is often time difficult to know just how you should proceed and what the best strategy would be to balance out your extracurriculars while simultaneously showcasing your talents to college admissions officers.

That is why today, we will be guiding you through the BEST extracurricular strategy out there I, Harvard Undergraduate Rishab Jain, used in order to earn acceptance into Harvard, Stanford, M.

I.

T, and more.

Let's go!

Rishab Jain

- The Extracurricular Strategy that Got Me Into Harvard Have you ever wondered why so few applications really pass past those red doors?

It usually comes down to what you do with your time while you're not in class.

Too many students make the mistake of pursuing every club and activity under the sun in an attempt to wow admissions authorities with their long list of achievements.

The reality is that quality matters more than quantity.

Many people stretch themselves too thin by joining a lot of different groups and societies, which lessens their chances of being noticed.

Imagine this: Harvard would just choose from the sea of generalists if they needed a thousand students who were well-rounded.

However, they are looking for those who have a clear passion, a certain "spike" that makes them stand out from the throng.

How, then, do you find your spike?

Identifying your "avatar"—that one phrase that sums up your identity and motivations—is the first step.

Your avatar acts as a compass, directing your extracurricular decisions toward your genuine hobbies, whether it's "biologist," "compassionate," or "curious" like me.

Next, ask those who have already traveled this journey for advice.

Alumni and upperclassmen are frequently more than happy to contribute their knowledge and perspectives.

Instead of merely mindlessly following the herd, make sure your actions are in line with your goals and image.

The golden rule applies when it comes to joining clubs: quality above quantity.

Choose a few organizations where you can truly make a difference and that truly pique your interest.

And here's an important tip: resist the temptation to believe in the sunk cost fallacy.

It's acceptable to part ways with a club if it doesn't support your objectives or make you happy.

You don't have enough time to squander on things that don't increase your passion or spike.

Let us now talk about Sheldon and Missy, two hypothetical pupils.

Sheldon overcommitted himself to a number of clubs in order to impress his college professor, whereas Missy concentrated on a select handful that matched her interests in science and volunteering.

Who, in your opinion, caught the attention of admissions officers?

Yes, that's right—Missy.

Recall that what matters are the effect you create and the level of passion you exhibit, not the number of clubs you join.

So take advantage of this four-part strategy, sharpen your spike, and clear your route to Harvard or any other college of your dreams.

For those who are interested in a more in-depth analysis of the precise breakdown surrounding this strategy, check out my complete video for FREE below: PlayThis Extracurricular Strategy Got Me Into Harvard What Was My Main Extracurricular?

That being said, because I know that some of you are dying to know, what was the extracurricular "spike" that I personally used in order to get into Harvard University, and how can you follow a similar path?

In short, I underwent detailed research at a lab through mentorship and expertise-honing to create an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm that conducts radiotherapy on the pancreas of a human body and helps patients during cancer treatment.

Albeit the achievement as a standalone sounds impressive and wonderful, it was not without months of diligence and tactful planning that ensured this extracurricular bear the success and fruits I had foreseen.

But how can you emulate this?

Specifically, what are the steps that you can do to present your extracurricular in as appealing of a way to admissions officers?

First, I'll take you on a quick tour of my extracurricular activities, explaining the rationale behind each one and how I crafted their descriptions.

Then, I'll offer three actionable insights—real, valuable tips—that you can apply immediately to enhance your Common Application, boosting your chances of gaining admission to your dream college, just as they did for me.

Starting with research, when you open the Common Application, it prompts you to categorize your activities.

For my role, I was both a software engineering intern and an independent researcher.

The description is crucial; this is where you can really fine-tune your application.

Here's how I described one of my research experiences: I initially wrote, "Completed software engineering internship at Lattice Automation focusing on improving codon optimization and won Regeneron Young Scientist Award. " However, I later revised it to, "Conducted novel bioengineering research, won top award ($50K) at Regeneron ISEF, licensed tool to Lattice Automation, and authored first research paper. " Notice the transformation?

College admissions officers won't spend time researching what the Regeneron Young Scientist Award is, given the myriad of competitions out there.

It's essential to make your achievements instantly understandable and impressive.

Moreover, many students unintentionally misrepresent their achievements, which only muddles the real value of their contributions.

My strategy was to present my accolades clearly and meaningfully in the application, ensuring the impact was evident.

I demonstrated this approach across all my extracurriculars, whether it was additional research positions, leading a nonprofit, or founding a tech company.

For instance, my role in computational pathology research at Oregon Health and Science University resulted in publishing two papers and winning a prestigious national science competition.

In another activity, I served as CEO of my own startup, reaching millions of users and generating significant revenue.

Now for the three actionable tips that I had promised: Prioritize engaging in activities that you genuinely enjoy, rather than joining clubs like NHS simply because it’s expected.

I never joined NHS or any similar club that didn’t interest me.

Demonstrate impact, not just through quantifiable achievements, but also by appealing to emotions.

Show that your involvement is driven by passion and that you genuinely care about what you are doing.

Develop a distinctive strength or “Spike” that sets you apart.

We already covered this above, so I won't go into too much detail about it again.

How To Do Your Own STEM Research as an Extracurricular And that's it!

Congratulations, by finishing this article you have already taken the first step towards ensuring your success in any extracurricular field of your choice.

If you have any questions about the strategy or want to learn more about how to perform STEM research, then check out this free, high-quality guide below:https://www. rishabacademy. com/guide.

Good luck!.