College Admissions: Why Doing More Isn't Always Better
For high school students thinking about college, it's easy to believe that the path to a strong application is doing everything: joining multiple clubs, taking on leadership roles, volunteering, playing a sport, and maintaining perfect grades.
But a packed résumé isn't necessarily a meaningful one.
As students begin planning for college, October is a good time to step back and consider whether their activities reflect genuine interests—or whether they're simply adding commitments because they think admissions officers expect them to.
The Myth of the Perfect Applicant
There is no universal checklist of extracurricular activities that guarantees college admission. Colleges consider different factors depending on the institution, program, and application process.
The Common Application's activities section, for example, gives students an opportunity to communicate how they spend their time outside the classroom. The goal is to help colleges understand what matters to the applicant, not simply how many activities they can list.
A student who has dedicated several years to a meaningful interest may have a more compelling story to tell than a student who participates in ten activities without much involvement in any of them.
What Students Should Focus On Instead
1. Genuine interests.
Encourage your child to explore activities they actually enjoy. That might mean robotics, theater, environmental advocacy, entrepreneurship, a part-time job, caring for family members, or independent creative work.
There isn't one correct extracurricular path.
2. Growth and commitment.
Has your child developed a skill, taken on more responsibility, or contributed something meaningful over time? Growth doesn't have to mean becoming club president. It can mean mentoring a younger student, improving a personal project, or consistently contributing to a team.
3. A manageable academic workload.
Extracurricular activities should complement a student's education rather than make it impossible to keep up with coursework, sleep, and personal well-being.
If your child is overwhelmed, adding another activity to their schedule may not be the answer.
4. Reflection.
Help your student think about what they've learned through their experiences. What challenged them? What did they contribute? What would they like to explore further?
These reflections can also help students write more specific, authentic college essays when application time arrives.
What Families Can Do This October
If your child is a freshman or sophomore, focus on exploration. Encourage them to try interests without feeling pressured to commit to a carefully engineered college résumé.
For juniors, this is a useful time to review academic goals, research potential colleges, and consider how current activities align with their interests. Testing requirements, application timelines, and college-specific expectations should be checked directly with each institution.
For seniors, the priority is communicating their experiences clearly in applications while staying on top of deadlines and current coursework.
Across all grade levels, a conversation worth having is: "Which activities are meaningful to you, and which ones feel like obligations?"
The answer may reveal opportunities to invest more deeply in what matters—or to step back from commitments that no longer serve your child.
Help Your Student Plan With Purpose
College preparation doesn't have to mean doing more of everything. Often, it means making thoughtful choices about academics, interests, time, and long-term goals.
Rise Above LA helps families think strategically about their students' educational journeys, from strengthening academic skills to navigating increasingly complex high school expectations.
If you'd like help creating a personalized plan for your student's academic goals and college preparation, schedule a free consultation. We'll discuss where your child is now, where they'd like to go, and how to make the next steps more manageable.
