Everyone keeps saying “do extracurriculars” for getting into US unis but what does that even mean?? Like is it just sports & school clubs? Or can stuff like internships, content creation, part-time work, etc also count? What did you do that really made a difference in your profile?
I was part of the school MUN team, did a summer research project at a local college, and volunteered at a dog shelter. Also started a blog on climate change and mentioned how it reached 5k readers.
It’s less about what you do and more about why you do it and what impact it had. US universities really care about how your interests show up outside the classroom.
Extracurriculars are anything meaningful you do outside the classroom that shows:
Leadership
Passion
Initiative
Real-world application of skills
Impact on others or society
They are NOT limited to just sports or clubs.
Examples of Strong Extracurriculars
Category
Examples
Why It Matters
Internships & Work Experience
Interning at a tech company, startup, NGO, etc.
Shows real-world experience, initiative, skill application
Personal Projects / Hackathons
Building apps, websites, hardware, GitHub repos
Shows passion, problem-solving, self-driven learning
Content Creation / Blogging / YouTube
Tech blogs, tutorials, data science videos, medium articles
Shows communication skills, influence, and originality
Volunteering / Social Work
Teaching underprivileged kids, organizing blood drives
Demonstrates leadership and social awareness
Online Courses / Certifications
AI/ML on Coursera, Cloud certifications, etc.
Shows you’re proactive and continuously learning
Competitions & Events
Tech fests, Olympiads, business plan competitions
Indicates excellence, teamwork, performance under pressure
Clubs & Leadership Roles
Founder/president of coding club, robotics team, etc.
Leadership and initiative are major green flags
Creative Work
Photography, design, music, storytelling, creative writing
Shows well-rounded personality and communication skills
Mentoring / Teaching Others
Peer tutoring, mentoring juniors, workshops
Shows community contribution and mastery of subject
@themysterioussoul I used to wonder the same thing. Everyone said “do extracurriculars,” but no one really explained what that meant.
It’s not just clubs or sports. It’s anything you do outside class that shows initiative or passion. I did a mix of part-time work, some volunteering, and built a small project on the side. Nothing fancy, but I stuck with it, and that helped tell my story.
If you’re feeling unsure about how to shape your profile, I’m happy to share what worked for me and help you figure out a path that fits you.