In some parts of the world, such as China or Korea, a single test determines what colleges you get into.

In others, like Canada, your grades are what admissions officers look at.

While grades are undoubtedly important for your college application, America’s holistic approach towards college admissions means that your life has to be more than just school.

Extracurricular activities, or EC’s, demonstrate your interest, initiative, and commitment and can be a pivotal factor for admissions to top-tier schools.

What are extracurriculars?

Extracurriculars are activities that you do outside of the classroom that aren’t done to fill any academic requirement.

These activities should, however, be in some way significant to yourself.

Being part of a sports team, participating in a club, and volunteering are all common examples of extracurriculars.

Not everything can be classified as an extracurricular activity.

Going to the gym isn't an extracurricular by itself.

However, starting a TikTok page dedicated to teaching people how to work out is.

It shows your willingness to educate others on something that you are passionate about.

What defines a good extracurricular?

A good extracurricular activity is one that contributes to you or your community.

For example, being captain of the varsity track team is a good extracurricular because it shows that you are a good leader, and that you are committed to your team.

Regularly volunteering at a soup kitchen is also a good extracurricular because it shows how involved you are within your community.

A good portion of your extracurriculars should also be in some way related to the field you wish to pursue in college.

For example, if you want to study biology, you could participate in a biology olympiad.

While every activity doesn’t have to relate, a portion of these activities should reflect your interest in your future major.

Colleges determine significance of extracurriculars through specific criteria.

Hours: The number of hours that you put towards an activity shows your level of interest and commitment towards this particular activity.

A student who spends hours running the robotics club will have a stronger extracurricular activity than a student who pops into a meeting once a month.

Colleges want driven, hardworking students.

Leadership: The level of leadership that you have demonstrates how important you are to the success of this activity.

For example, being the drum major of your marching band will hold more significance than simply playing in the marching band.

Colleges want committed students who take initiative.

Impact: The extent of an extracurricular activity’s impact is one of the most important factors that colleges look at.

A business which generates tens of thousands of dollars in revenue is better than a business which makes ten dollars every now and then.

Colleges want students who will change the world.

What extracurriculars do top colleges want to see?

While doing a sport or playing an instrument are good extracurriculars, top colleges want unique extracurricular activities with huge impact.

Students must differentiate themselves from the tens of thousands of applicants vying for spots in top colleges.

You don't have to reinvent the wheel or cure cancer, however.

There are plenty of strong extracurriculars that top schools like to see.

Academic Competitions: Winning prestigious competitions, such as ISEF or USAMO demonstrate high levels of proficiency in a specific area.

With only a few students getting these honors each year, these extracurriculars are what get them into top flight schools.

Winning requires you to put a significant amount of work into studying and researching for these competitions.

Own Initiatives: Starting your own project is a great way to demonstrate your initiative and drive while doing something that you genuinely enjoy.

However, to be a strong extracurricular, you must show exceptional accomplishments.

Getting 100,000 subscribers on your YouTube channel or starting a nonprofit organization that generates $100,000 in revenue are great examples.

Achieving these goals requires you to put in a lot of work on your own time, while balancing other activities and keeping your grades up.

Summer Programs: Taking part in prestigious summer programs shows colleges that you are a one-of-a-kind student who has already been noticed by these highly regarded programs.

Some of these programs allow you to do research at top universities or take classes at the college-level.

Some examples include RSI, MITES, and the Governor's Schools.

It is important, however, to distinguish good summer programs from great ones.

Great summer programs are highly competitive.

These programs usually boast a very low acceptance rate; for example, RSI accepts less than 100 students a year from a 1600 applicant pool.

Additionally, paid summer programs are usually less competitive than free ones because the tuition may be a barrier of entry for many students.

Some examples of strong paid summer programs include PROMYS, BU RISE, and SuMaC.

Research: If you are interested in a STEM field, formal scientific research is an excellent way to demonstrate your interest and your commitment.

There are many ways to get your research published as a high schooler.

You can get research opportunities through summer programs, or alongside a mentor, or you can opt to do independent research and have your paper and results validated by experts in that field.

Scientific research is a great extracurricular because it shows colleges that you are already making waves in your field and have potential to accomplish even greater things in the future.

Extracurriculars are an essential aspect of the college admissions process.

Participating in extracurricular activities allows you to demonstrate your passion, market yourself to colleges, and leave a lasting impact on your community during your high school career.

If you want to open an acceptance letter from your dream school, don't sleep on extracurriculars.