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20 Extracurricular Activities Examples for College Application

Extracurricular activities are key to college applications because they show that students are dedicated to their education. This article puts together 20 extracurricular activities examples that’ll help your child’s college application stand out.

What are extracurricular activities?

The extracurricular activities definition covers activities students engage in outside of school that contribute to their education, develop their skills, or benefit others. They showcase their passions and interests, so it’s useful if they’re related to their college course. These pursuits are non-academic but they improve school learning and skills like leadership or communication.

Why are extracurricular activities important for college applications?

Extracurricular activities are important for college applications because they highlight your child’s commitment to their education and continued improvement. They allow them to hone and demonstrate skills colleges look for, like time management and critical thinking. Extracurricular activities also show colleges they can handle the increased workload.

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Types of extracurricular activities

• Academic competitions
• Sports
• Debate club
• Community volunteering
• Computing classes
• Paid work
• Learning an instrument
• Drama club
• Homework clubs
• School newspaper
• Academic summer camps
• School unions
• Club leader roles
• Robotics or science clubs
• Art projects
• Tutoring or mentoring
• Language learning
• School radio
• Environmental projects
• Camp leader

Academic competitions

Best for: Demonstrating expertise in a subject

Academic competitions highlight your child’s skills in their chosen subject and commitment to it. Math competitions like Mathletes are for only the best students, so colleges will understand that they are highly knowledgeable. Colleges want the best talent in each subject, so this will make them an attractive candidate.

These competitions also teach students how to work under pressure and can also boost their research skills as they prepare for entry to their chosen subject. 

Sports

Best for: Demonstrating leadership and strong sports skills

Sports are common extracurricular activity examples, because they develop key teamwork, communication and leadership skills. They show colleges that students are committed to a regular activity and fitting it into a sometimes busy schedule.

Both individual sports, like decathlon, and team sports, like baseball or softball, show colleges that they’ve honed a specific skill over a number of years. Teams require communication to work, and if they’ve been the captain, they can demonstrate that they excel in leadership.

Debate club

Best for: Showcasing communication skills

Admissions officers want students who can articulate ideas and passions clearly and thoughtfully. Debate clubs allow students to expand their thinking as they debate ideas that they may not have come across previously, discuss their passions or debate the opposite of their personal views.

Debate clubs are particularly powerful for students considering political courses and government roles or those where they may be exposed to the media, like presenting roles.

Community volunteering

Best for: Demonstrating passion for the local community

Colleges like school extracurricular activities that improve and highlight important skills, but they also want to understand students personally. Community service is a way to show your child is passionate about supporting others.

They could volunteer at their local soup kitchen regularly, give their time to a not-for-profit thrift store or help organize local fundraising events. Different activities showcase different skills, like empathy, organization, time management and communication.

Computing classes

Best for: Students applying for STEM courses

Computing classes are non-negotiable for students studying technology. However, computing courses are a smart idea for all students as college is so driven by technology. Students will use computers to carry out research and complete essays and coursework, meaning being tech-savvy will set them up for success. 

The World Economic Forum’s The Future of Jobs Report 2025 revealed that technology is the biggest driver of future skill requirements, so it also shows they have an understanding of the skills needed for employment.

Paid work

Best for: Demonstrating commitment to regular work

Having a paid job shows colleges your child can commit to regular work outside of schoolwork, which demonstrates time management skills. Whether they need a job to support family or they’re doing it for their own disposable income, it shows they can keep up with commitments.

All jobs, from barista to retail worker, show a range of skills like communication, organization and leadership that will be important to their college application.

Learning an instrument

Best for: Honing a long-term skill

Learning an instrument takes a lot of practice — sometimes years’ worth. That’s why they’re good extracurriculars for college. It illustrates that students can both dedicate time to mastering a skill and offers them personal benefits.

Learning a musical instrument improves key cognitive skills and can also be used as a therapeutic tool, helping students manage emotions, according to a 2024 Behavioural Sciences study.

Drama club

Best for: Gaining confidence and speaking skills

While not all degrees require students to be confident and outgoing, these traits will help them succeed. Drama clubs are great examples of extracurricular activities as they boost their confidence through performance, which can counteract any shyness they might experience.

Naturally, drama also hones speaking skills as students memorize lines and perform in front of an audience. Public speaking is key in so many different roles, so this sets them up for future success. Even reading with expression can help boost these skills.

Homework clubs

Best for: Gaining expertise in a chosen subject

Homework clubs showcase that students are committed to their chosen subject. Putting in extra hours and taking on extra work in certain subjects outside of classes shows how committed they are to success in their specialism.

Homework clubs can be formalized clubs set up by their high school, or they could set up their own with peers outside of school. 

Writing for the school newspaper

Best for: Improving academic and non-academic writing skills

In the list of extracurricular activities, strong writing skills will be invaluable for all courses. Students will be required to write answers to tests or write essays for all courses, plus in their future, they’ll write a resume and cover letters for jobs. It’s a skill everyone needs. A dedicated reading program can also help them get better at writing.

It becomes more important if your child’s course involves writing. English language and literature students must have strong writing skills, as should journalism and media students.

Academic summer camps

Best for: Honing specific skills during downtime

Summer camps, like a dedicated math program, offer an intensive study experience. Whether your child has fallen behind and needs to catch up or they want to become more of an expert, it shows colleges they’re willing to put in extra work when they’re out of school.

These camps can be online or in person, spread over a summer or a shorter, more compact timeframe. No matter which option they choose, it’ll set them up for success.

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School unions

Best for: Demonstrating passion projects

Involvement in school unions demonstrates commitment to causes that matter. Student unions may be generally aimed at improving student experiences, include a student council or could be focused.

For example, many schools have unions for Black students to join where they can discuss specific challenges they may face and build friendships within their community. Unions show that your child cares about more than education and downtime.

Club leader roles

Best for: Demonstrating skills as a leader

Colleges want students who aren’t afraid to lead from the front and make informed and sometimes hard decisions. Pupils who volunteer to lead the clubs they’re involved in, including like debate club or the student government.

These clubs require student leaders to make key decisions on the strategic direction of the club and provide support to members. Some leadership extracurricular activities in school examples include head of the debate team, sporting captains and drama club presidents.

Robotics or science clubs

Best for: Exploring niche interests in science and STEM

Robotics and science clubs are subject-specific activities that demonstrate passion in areas related to your child’s college degree. They’re also a common extracurricular club in many schools and help them learn about science facts.

Science and robotics are two areas that are continually developing, which means students need to stay up to date. This also highlights their ability to maintain knowledge in college.

Art projects

Best for: Demonstrating creativity

Naturally, taking part in art projects or clubs will be key extracurricular activities in high school if your child wants to study art. But don’t dismiss them if they’re pursuing a sporty or academic degree.

Arts support students’ well-being and can help with key interpersonal skills like emotional intelligence, as discussed in a 2024 Acta Psychologica journal. They show that your child is a well-rounded individual with diverse interests.

Tutoring or mentoring

Best for: Demonstrating subject knowledge

If your child is highly skilled in their chosen college degree, they can use that knowledge to tutor or mentor struggling students. This shows colleges they can digest knowledge and present it in a way that’s easy to understand.

Peer mentoring and tutoring also show they can provide empathy, support and kindness to others. That’s the type of students colleges want!

Language learning

Best for: Preparing for a multicultural world

Learning a foreign language is a skill that requires a lot of dedication and shows students are prepared for a multicultural world. Many immigrant children speak multiple languages as standard.

Whether they’ve started learning a new language recently as part of their school extracurricular activities or English is their second language, they’ll demonstrate that they can put the effort into such a large task.

School radio

Best for: Media careers and public speaking

Many schools have a student radio station. Student presenters build skills in thinking on the spot and working under pressure, which sets them up well for college study. Public speaking also improves their vocabulary.

Background roles like production assistant can further demonstrate important skills, especially if they’re interested in media production careers. Outside of media roles, they can help them with organization and confidence.

Environmental projects

Best for: Demonstrating social awareness

Environmental projects are increasing because of the well-documented issues climate change is causing. By getting involved in sustainability, students show they’re socially aware and committed to improving the lives of current and future generations. 

Environmental extracurricular activities in high school could be as simple as planting and maintaining trees or larger involvement like volunteering for environmental charities. It’s especially useful if they plan to go into a degree or business focused on sustainability!

Camp leader

Best for: Leadership and independence skills

Camp leaders guide others, but they also showcase students’ own independence. In camp, your child relies less on senior figures; instead, they are a senior figure and leader.

College requires a lot of independence — especially if students move away from home — so this demonstrates that they’ll cope with this transition.

Conclusion

Extracurricular activities are a key part of students’ college applications. Choosing the right activities depends on your child’s subject and institution; they should show they’re knowledgeable in their degree area and highlight key soft skills. We’ve highlighted extracurricular examples that will look good on their college application.

Extracurricular activities also highlight their commitment to continually learning. They can also get this benefit from personalized tutoring, which addresses any weaknesses they may have in their subject. Learning from qualified experts like Brighterly’s experienced tutors means they’ll get the best college preparation possible.

FAQs

Do you need 10 extracurriculars for college?

No, students don’t need 10 extracurriculars for college. Many college applications include space for 10 activities, but students don’t need to fill them all out. Focus on quality over quantity — it’s recommended they have 5–7 activities, but relevance to their subject is most important.

What is an example of an extracurricular list?

An example of an extracurricular list might look like the following:

• Sport: Play on a basketball team
• Debate club: Attend once a week with school
• Volunteering: Work at a charity shop weekly
• Academic competitions: Take part in Mathletes contests
• School newspaper: Write monthly articles 

What is the most popular extracurricular?

A 2025 Pediatric Research study found that football is the most popular activity, followed by music and swimming or water polo.

What are some Tier 1 extracurriculars?

Tier 1 good extracurriculars for college demonstrate exceptional achievement in students’ subject or chosen area and can include:

• National ranking as an athlete
• Prestigious academic competition wins
• Attendance at prestigious summer programs