When it comes to pleasing college admissions officers, students face the predicament of balancing academic rigor and grades with extracurricular activities. While a high GPA can give a student a head start against the other applicants, extracurricular activities can show sides of a student that can’t be seen through grades, like leadership, responsibility and community service. As the application process comes to a close for this year’s seniors, underclassmen may be wondering: What matters more to admissions officers – grades or extracurriculars?
A student’s academic record is the reflection of their ability to do well in a rigorous academic environment so that colleges know that they can succeed in theirs. Colleges want to see rigor and dedication throughout high school so they know that the applicant is ready and that they are accepting a qualified student. This makes GPA the center of the college admissions process. According to the College Data website, “Your overall GPA serves as an indicator of your academic success in high school.”
However, when admission officers see a clump of possible candidates with similar GPAs, extracurricular activities come into play. They give colleges an inside view of the hobbies, experience, and dedication that the applicant has that makes them a good fit for their school. Extracurriculars can also help an applicant who is struggling academically by showing the other aspects to the applicant that make them valuable and a good fit for the school. US News & World Report said, “Extracurriculars can play a decisive role, especially when they might contrast sharply with other aspects of a student’s profile. For instance, admissions counselors may have reservations about a star student who has not contributed to his or her community in a meaningful way. Extensive community involvement can work in the favor of an applicant who does not stand out academically.”
The stronger the extracurricular activity is, and the more dedicated a student is to the activity, the better it looks on their resume. Students are advised to do internships or work at jobs that are related to the major they are applying for to show interest in the field. Senior Shivani Jain wants her internships and clubs to reflect her career path. “I did a lot of shadowing for dentists and different doctors, which boosted my interest and resume because it showed that I was going to pursue a specific career path in the future and it gave me a leg up,” Jain said.
Senior Cayla Schwartz said that not only is her career path interest valued by colleges, but her leadership as well. She said that her leadership in clubs helped with her acceptance into the University of Maryland, Northeastern University and the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is a leader in Project Happy Feet, which is a club outside of school, and is also a leader in Mixed Race Student Coalition, which is a school club. “I participated in two internships and had many leadership positions in multiple clubs as well both inside and outside of school, which improved my application and made it stronger,” Schwartz said.
With both GPA and extracurriculars being an important and hefty part of the application, applicants know that the best application is one that has both. Senior William Balian is attending the University of Virginia in the fall for biology, and has a high GPA while also showing interest in his major and at the school. “I did an internship at a UVA molecular biology lab and I think it helped a lot with my acceptance. I think a well-rounded candidate is more important for prestigious colleges. It shows that you can not only manage your time well between school and your other interests, but you also have a lot of experience and interest in the field and school you are applying to,” Balian said.
Ultimately, grades and extracurricular activities both matter in their own ways. A strong academic transcript shows that the applicant can thrive in a rigorous academic environment, while extracurricular activities give colleges a look at who they are outside of the classroom and what they choose to spend their time on. Showcasing both can expose an applicant’s ability to maintain a strong GPA while also pursuing their extracurriculars that reflect their passions and leadership.
