I am all about a student being authentic in the admissions process. As I always say, if the college doesn't want you because of your background or something you do, it doesn't deserve you. It's as simple as that.
However, there are some things that are received differently depending on the admissions officer reading your application or even the college as a whole. I'm talking about anything from your religion to your essay topic.
For today's blog, though, I want to focus on activities, specifically. Some activities carry connotations in the admissions process. It shouldn't hold you back from listing them, but it's something to be aware of.
For those that are curious, here are some activities that sometimes raise eyebrows behind the closed doors of an admissions committee and why.
1. Dungeons & Dragons
The "old guard" of admissions officers (those who are in their 50s and older) sometimes (not always!) view this game (or club) as dark. They tend to associate this activity with students who may be on the "outside" of a high school community. Younger admissions officers often have positive connotations about this activity. The students I know who do D&D tend to be very true to who they are and don't blend in with a crowd. I will take that over a follower any day.
2. LARP
This stands for Live Action Role Play and some high schools have a club devoted to it. In many ways, LARP can sometimes be viewed similarly to Dungeons & Dragons. Not everyone is into it. But again, it tends to attract students who aren't afraid to live authentically.
3. National Charity League
I grew up in the Northeast where this organization was not common. I didn't learn about NCL until I started reading applications from California, Texas, and the South. I never had a problem with this activity. For goodness sake, it's a mother-daughter organization about giving back to your community. But some admissions officers associate this with "privileged" mother-daughter duos since there is a membership cost associated with it and it tends to attract more affluent families. For the record, I have never told a student not to list NCL.
4. CrossFit, Powerlifting, or "Going to the Gym"
Exercise that is done independently is viewed differently than playing for your high school's JV/Varsity team or a club athletic team. While any type of physical exercise should be applauded, some admissions officers view activities like CrossFit as fine to do, but not necessarily important to list. For a student who devotes a considerable amount of time to the gym, they can sometimes be interpreted as not engaging in their own high school community as much. That's not necessarily the case all the time, though. I'm okay with a student listing one of these activities, personally. But I would probably list it farther down the list to show other engagement takes priority. And, I wouldn't write any type of essay about exercise—ever!
READ MORE: 5 Overused College Essay Topics to Avoid
5. Religious, Racial, or Culture-Specific Activities
Let me be clear, these activities have not been historically stigmatized by admissions officers. But some students are asking me whether they should leave them off this year given the current pressure on colleges to not use any hint of a student's heritage as a reason to admit or not admit them. While I don't feel comfortable recommending right now that a student write an essay about their race, culture, or heritage, I feel like if you didn't mention an activity related to your background on your activities list, you would be denying who you are.
6. Political Activities
Whether it is being a member of the Pro-Life Club or the Pro-Choice Club or campaigning for a Republican candidate running for office or a Democrat, most colleges want students from the entire political spectrum. I would never tell a student not to list a political activity (unless it was discriminatory or known to use violence) on their activities list. Admissions officers are generally very understanding about students exploring their political perspectives in high school (and in college).
RELATED READING: A Plan for Extracurricular Activities for Every Year of High School
7. Pay-to-Play Programs
Most admissions officers at highly selective colleges get turned off by these summer programs no matter how competitive they are to get admitted to—even the ones on their own campuses! They are viewed as a privileged activity. Admissions officers would much rather see a student do something in their community over the summer that costs them nothing. The only time I recommend listing these programs is if it is a performing arts program and the student is applying to major in that specific art form. Yes, this is a blatant contradiction. Sadly, the admissions process is filled with them. I don't make the rules, but I sure do comment on them!
READ MORE: The Simple Way To Determine What Major To List on Your Applications
There are dozens of other examples of activities that may carry different views in college admissions. If you have an activity you are questioning, feel free to ask me about it. In the end, my guidance is to always be proud of what you do as long as you are doing it for the right reasons. Getting into college is a byproduct, but it shouldn't be the motivation behind an activity. Doing an activity for yourself is the ultimate form of self-expression, and not even a closed-minded admissions officer can take that away from you.
READ MORE: The Simple Way To Determine What Major To List on Your Applications
There are dozens of other examples of activities that may carry different views in college admissions. If you have an activity you are questioning, feel free to ask me about it. In the end, my guidance is to always be proud of what you do as long as you are doing it for the right reasons. Getting into college is a byproduct, but it shouldn't be the motivation behind an activity. Doing an activity for yourself is the ultimate form of self-expression, and not even a closed-minded admissions officer can take that away from you.
