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Part I -- Aced SATs and top marks are not enough!
College admissions officers wade through mountains of paper-work when processing applications. When dealing with such a large pool of aspiring students, how can you make your candidacy stick out from the rest?
The answer, in addition to top marks and high exam scores, is to highlight your achievements and interests outside of the classroom -- better known as extracurricular activities.
Showcasing your achievements in these activities is now a standard component of the university application process. Students considering this portion of the application as unimportant or unnecessary are hampering their chances of admission.
Extracurricular activities provide an insight into the mind of an applicant. While every student applying will have taken the same standardised tests and similar courses, no one will have your unique combination of hobbies and interests.
Let's categorise extra-curricular activities into four groups: organised sports, academic/ school-oriented groups, individual hobbies and outside charity/ volunteer options.
Organised/ Individual Sports
Participation in organised team and individual sports works to your benefit and should be included in your application.
When an applicant plays one or more team sports, it tells the university a number of things. First, it shows the student knows about teamwork and how to work towards a goal.
Also, it shows great time management and the ability to juggle several tasks at one time, both skills necessary for university.
Indulging in an individual sport such as golf or swimming also works to your advantage as an applicant.
For example, if you are a swimmer for your school or for an athletic association, the admissions committee will assume many things about you and your work-ethic.
They'll imagine you awake at 5:30, practising your breast-stroke before the rest of your classmates are awake. They'll envision you keeping a balanced diet and not making harmful decisions, like drinking alcohol or smoking, because you cannot afford to jeopardise your health.
In all, students who participate in sports are seen as self-disciplined and understanding the necessity of teamwork and following the rules.
School organisations
Universities look for potential leaders and young people who will affect the future in a positive manner. One of the best indicators of future success is past evidence of achievement in positions of responsibility.
To demonstrate your talent for leadership, managerial, organisational and networking skills, you must highlight the leadership roles you've occupied in the past.
If you do not have this experience, the best place to get started is in school clubs and organisations. Any club you find aligned with your interests will suffice, be it the chess club or the yearbook staff.
Groups such as mock UN councils, speech/ debate clubs and business associations are particularly useful. They teach students to operate in professional environments and how to cultivate career skills at an early age.
Student government positions, such as class president or secretary, tell a university that you are comfortable with authority and have the charisma necessary to gain office. Plus, juggling a class schedule with your additional duties shows great motivation and organisation.
Beware of flooding your application with too many clubs, and never exaggerate your degree of involvement.
It's advisable to pick one or two groups and truly put your heart into the work. That way, you'll be remembered as a passionate participant and will earn rave reviews and good recommendations from mentors and advisors.
Charity and volunteer work
Shivani Singh, a 25-year-old from Mumbai, applied to Duke University in North Carolina, in spite of what she called 'an average SAT score'.
Her entire childhood, she'd heard of the school in America where her father's brother had studied to be a doctor; it was her dream to go there and study one day, but she feared her pedestrian marks and exam scores would not allow it.
Surprisingly, she received admission.
Duke is one of the most selective schools in the United States, so how did she manage this incredible feat?
"Simple," she says, "I've always been a huge dog person. When I was in the seventh standard, I got the opportunity to feed and house stray dogs in Bombay along with a lady in my lane. I'd been doing it for four years by application time. In my personal recommendation, the head of the entire operations wrote glowing remarks and sent in a few photos of me busily at work."
Even though she was rejected by several less prestigious schools, her unique volunteer work proved to school officials that she had what it took to be a Duke student.
"I couldn't believe it when I received admission to Duke," she says. "It was my biggest 'reach' school; I never thought I'd get the chance to pursue my dream. Someone in the admissions department must have a huge soft spot for puppies!"
The message? Volunteering is not only positive karma and feeling great about yourself, it also sends a tremendous message to others. In terms of value, it's no exaggeration to say the money you don't earn is dwarfed by the positive vibes sent your way.
Hobbies
Finally, let's look at some extra curricular activities often ignored by students in the application process -- hobbies and personal interests.
Hobbies are a great way to show a university the unique aspects of your personality. Be it coin-collecting, poetry or F-1 racing; make sure to accentuate it on your application.
It always helps to include an anecdote or two, or a recommendation from an acquaintance you've made through shared interests. Remember, this is your chance to give a face to your candidacy.
If you've maintained a hobby for years and thoroughly understand it, you can be considered an expert on the matter. Any expertise, no matter how trivial it may seem, is very valuable.
Love a particular football team? Start a club at school or on the internet. Interested in photography? Enter a competition, where you'll have the opportunity to critique the work of others and learn how to improve you own.
Universities look at such 'experts' as passionate and innovative. You must have determination to take up a hobby -- much like university professors dedicate themselves to a particular field of research.
Recap
A combination from the four groups is preferable but not necessary. The prevailing idea driving this portion of your application should be to put a personality to your name.
And remember; never underestimate yourself and your interests.
Don't dismiss anything as 'stupid', because you may be wasting a chance to connect on a human level with the person processing your application.
If you can manage this, a personal connection and a genuine interest, you've guaranteed yourself at least a second thought from the admissions officer.
Part I -- Aced SATs and top marks are not enough!