Seven Extracurriculars That Will Serve You Well When Applying to College

Summary:

Attention high school students. Here are seven extracurriculars that will impress college admission officers. These include clubs, internships, sports, and pre-college online courses from some of the nation’s leading universities.

Key Points:

• Extracurriculars are an important asset when applying to colleges.
• Here are seven of the top options you can choose from.
• The list includes pre-college online courses in a wide range of subjects.
• Explore Prelum, Powered by Kaplan, and choose from some of the nation’s top universities.
• Study anytime, anywhere, at your own pace.

Are you a high school athlete? A tech enthusiast? Do you volunteer in your community? Or do you join after-school clubs, attend enrichment summer programs, or take college prep classes online? All these extracurriculars can play a role in your college admissions application.

Remember, extracurriculars are not the most crucial factor in a college application. Coursework and GPA carry more weight. But extracurriculars do have an impact on the admissions decision. In fact, admissions counselors say these activities do play a decisive role, as noted in the U.S. News & World Report. “Rather than getting involved in as many disparate extracurriculars as possible, which could lead to burnout, focus on the few that most speak to your interests and talents. As a guiding force, consider these two factors as you select extracurriculars: your intended career path and your secondary passion.”

In this article, we’ll look at seven essential extracurriculars that can impress admission counselors and help you achieve the future you are working toward. We’ll also look at pre-college online courses from top universities associated with Prelum, Powered by Kaplan.

7 extracurriculars that boost college applications

1. Leadership positions: Holding an office, such as president of the student council or treasurer of a club, shows that you have what it takes to lead. 
2. Sports & athletics: As long as you keep your grades up, pursuing a sport or sports throughout high school shows that you can balance priorities, function as part of a team (very important in business), and prove that you can show up for others.
3. Internships: An internship can be paid or unpaid. It’s a great opportunity to learn how a business works from the ground up and demonstrates to admission counselors that you are serious about your future.
4. Part-time jobs: Develop necessary skills, network with professionals, and build your resume. Research shows that more than 80% of people get jobs from people they know; this is a great way to start.
5. Academic clubs: Debate and speech, math, creative writing, photography, music, and honor societies are all impactful academic clubs that look good on your resume, especially if your grades are exceptional.
6. Tech and scientific innovations: Imagine being able to say, “I made an app for that” on your application. Think robotics, video game design, and science fairs. These all show your dedication to innovation.
7. Take a college preparatory curriculum: If you want to advance your knowledge of a particular subject, especially something you’re considering as a potential career, team up with Prelum, Powered by Kaplan. The courses are highly diverse, covering everything from medicine, law, and business to video game design, biology, biomedical engineering, creative writing, and even surgery. 

All of the above are great ways to enhance your resume. And if your heart is set on a future career, what better time to start than in high school? Prelum works with some of the best universities in the nation: Harvard Medical School, Dartmouth College, the University of Notre Dame, and many more. Here are a few examples of the courses you can take. 

A look at leading pre-college online programs.

The Harvard Medical School Pre-College HMX Program 

This dynamic program offers online courses designed for high school students ages 13 and older. Courses are led by Harvard Medical School faculty with flexible online learning and expert mentor guidance. Explore the practice of medicine through real-world applications and interactive tools. Current courses include:

• Biochemistry: From Molecules to Medicine. Examine the world of molecules and how they interact with cells and tissues. 
• Genetics, Unlocking the Power of DNA. From the color of your eyes to the latest medical breakthroughs, genetics plays a vital role. Dive into DNA, inheritance, and medicine’s future.
• Pharmacology: From Drug Discovery to Patient Care. Examine how medicines work; everything from pain killers to the latest breakthroughs in gene therapy.
• Immunology: Explore the Body’s Natural Defenses. Answer questions like: how do we get sick? How do vaccines work? Explore the immune system and its role in health and disease.
• Physiology: Inside the Body’s Inner Workings: Ever wonder what happens when you exercise? How does your body regulate temperature? Examine the mechanisms that keep us healthy.

The Dartmouth Precollege Online Program 

This program reflects this renowned institution’s commitment to liberal arts. Current courses include:

• Finance: Investing & Market Insights: Evaluate companies, understand financial markets, and learn financial concepts like risk vs. reward, valuation techniques, and more. 

Dartmouth’s STEM Programs feature three courses, including:

• Regenerative Medicine: Healing with Science: Explore the intersection of medicine and innovation in the human body. Learn how tools like 3D bioprinting are shaping the future of healthcare. 
• Biology: Transforming the Future of Science: Discover where biology and technology meet, and how systems biology advances our understanding of genes.
• Psychology: Explore the Mind & Mental Wellness: Learn the “what, why, how, where, and when” of mental health care. See how therapists use therapeutic techniques and hear from experts in the field.

The Notre Dame Pre-College Online Program

A top national research institution, Notre Dame is as competitive academically as it is in its famous football program. Current pre-college online options include:

• Business: From Start-up to Success: Dive into the fundamentals that apply to all businesses. Analyze companies like Lululemon, Nike, and AT&T. Create your own hypothetical start-up business and present your pitch in a dynamic video presentation. 
• Finance: Creating and Building Wealth: Study investing, risk management, and budgeting. Build the tools you need to protect your wealth, and learn to make smart financial decisions that uplift you as well as society. 
• Law: Thinking Like a Lawyer: Delve into criminal, constitutional, sports, and intellectual property law. Learn how to apply rules to facts and study the IRAC method used to analyze legal issues.

Notre Dame’s STEM courses include:

• Biology: The Impact of Genetic Mutations: Find answers to questions like how do evolution and natural selection drive biological change? What is the importance of genetic diversity? And how does genetic mutation occur in cancer?
• Medical Research: Advancing Human Health: Enter the world of medical research. Study the dynamics of human health and disease, see how scientists design experiments, analyze data, and come up with groundbreaking treatments. 
• Psychology: Understanding the Self and Our World: How do our personal thoughts and behaviors impact others, and how does it work in reverse? Investigate the role of personality and the self as it relates to the world, and analyze the connection between knowledge of self and wellness.
  

Make sure to review our entire college preparatory curriculum. There is truly something for everyone. Not only are the courses designed and taught by renowned faculty, but you’ll enjoy the support of mentors who answer questions and guide your learning experience. Successful course completion earns you a certificate of completion that you can add to your applications. Don’t miss out!

This was last reviewed by Ashley Simmons on 06/27/2025.