Extracurricular Activities Colleges Want to See | What I did to get into Ivy Leagues 🎓

Summary

In this video, the host addresses the importance of extracurricular activities for college applications, emphasizing that there's no one-size-fits-all approach. They suggest balancing activities related to one's academic interests with those that showcase personal hobbies and interests. The host shares personal experiences, such as sports and biomedical engineering internships, and encourages viewers to engage in projects that reflect their passions and contribute positively to society, ultimately presenting a well-rounded application.

Takeaways

• 😊 The creator is feeling better after being under the weather and introduces the topic of the video: extracurricular activities and how they enhance college applications.
• 🎓 Extracurricular activities are a key aspect of making a college application well-rounded and go beyond grades and essays.
• 📝 There's no guaranteed formula for extracurriculars, and no one can assure admission based on them alone—it's about putting your best foot forward.
• 🎨 Extracurriculars should reflect both your academic interests and your personal hobbies or passions, showcasing who you are outside of academics.
• 🏀 Personal hobbies like sports can count as extracurriculars, even if they aren’t directly related to your intended degree.
• 🤖 Passion projects related to your field of interest are highly recommended, as they show initiative and deep interest in a subject.
• 💡 Internships and shadowing opportunities can provide valuable experience, but it's important to reflect on what you learned and how you applied it, rather than just listing them on your application.
• 🛠️ DIY projects and self-directed research are powerful ways to stand out, especially if you apply your knowledge practically.
• 📚 College applications should balance extracurriculars that show both your academic passion and personal interests—ideally with around 10 activities in each area.
• 👍 Being authentic and bringing out your real personality, rather than trying to fit into what you think the college wants, is crucial for success.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is discussing how to build a strong college application by focusing on extracurricular activities, honors, and achievements.

Why does the speaker emphasize going beyond grades in college applications?

The speaker emphasizes going beyond grades because colleges want to know about the applicant's personality, interests, and what makes them unique, rather than just academic achievements.

What is the speaker's perspective on having a 'magic formula' for extracurricular activities?

The speaker believes there is no magic formula for extracurricular activities. Every individual is different, and what works for one person might not work for another.

How should students choose extracurricular activities according to the speaker?

Students should choose extracurricular activities based on their interests and passions, while also balancing activities related to their intended field of study and those unrelated that reflect their personality.

What example does the speaker give of their own extracurricular activities?

The speaker mentions participating in sports like basketball and football, as well as interning at a hospital to shadow a biomedical engineer.

Why is it important to focus on how extracurriculars are applied, rather than just listing them?

It is important because admissions officers want to see how the applicant applied what they learned from their extracurricular activities to make an impact or further their skills, not just a list of achievements or certificates.

What does the speaker mean by 'passion project'?

A passion project is an initiative related to a field of interest where the student applies their knowledge and skills to create something meaningful, like a DIY project or research, that reflects their personal interests.

How does the speaker suggest students approach internships?

The speaker suggests students focus on learning as much as possible from internships and applying that knowledge in real-life situations, rather than just listing the internship on their resume.

What are some other extracurricular activities the speaker recommends?

The speaker recommends tutoring younger students, building apps for those interested in computer science, or organizing events like sports or educational workshops to demonstrate leadership and community involvement.

What is the speaker’s advice for creating a balanced set of extracurricular activities?

The speaker advises having a balance of around 10 activities related to the intended field of study and 10 activities that showcase personal interests and hobbies to create a well-rounded application.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Importance of Extracurricular Activities in College Applications

The speaker begins by addressing the audience after a brief illness and introduces the topic of extracurricular activities. They emphasize that these activities, along with essays, are crucial for college applications as they showcase a student's personality beyond grades. The speaker advises that there is no one-size-fits-all approach and that students should pursue activities that align with their interests and potential career paths. They also stress the importance of having a mix of activities related and unrelated to one's academic interests to demonstrate a well-rounded personality. The speaker shares personal experiences, such as playing sports, to illustrate the value of non-academic pursuits.

05:03

🏥 Gaining Practical Experience Through Internships and Projects

The speaker discusses the value of gaining practical experience through internships and projects, particularly in the medical field. They recount their own internship at a hospital where they shadowed a biomedical engineer, highlighting the importance of learning from professionals in one's field of interest. The speaker also suggests other extracurricular activities such as building an app, tutoring younger students, and organizing community activities. They stress that these experiences should not just be listed on a college application but should demonstrate what the student has learned and how they have applied that knowledge to improve society.

10:03

🔬 Engaging in Research and DIY Projects for Personal Growth

In the final paragraph, the speaker encourages students to engage in research and DIY projects to apply their learning in real-world scenarios. They share personal experiences, such as developing a device to suppress hand tremors and conducting research at Harvard Medical School, to illustrate the significance of hands-on projects. The speaker advises students to have a balance of activities that reflect both their academic interests and personal hobbies. They recommend having around ten activities in each category to showcase a well-rounded profile for college applications. The speaker concludes by urging students to pursue these activities for personal growth and happiness, rather than solely for college applications.

Keywords

💡Extracurricular activities

Extracurricular activities refer to hobbies, projects, or pursuits outside the academic curriculum. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of engaging in activities that show your personality and interests beyond school, such as sports, volunteering, or personal projects. These activities reflect your holistic development and play a significant role in college applications, showcasing you as a well-rounded candidate.

💡Passion project

A passion project is a personal endeavor that reflects an individual's deep interest in a specific field. In the video, the speaker discusses how working on a passion project—something you genuinely care about—can help in college applications. Examples include building a device for a science project or organizing a community event. These projects demonstrate commitment and initiative in areas that resonate with your career aspirations or personal interests.

💡College applications

College applications are the formal documents and materials submitted by students to universities as part of the admission process. The video stresses that beyond good grades, college applications should highlight a student's unique attributes through essays, extracurriculars, and achievements. The goal is to present oneself as a well-rounded individual capable of contributing to the campus community.

💡Internships

Internships provide students with real-world experience in a specific field, often related to their academic or career interests. In the video, the speaker mentions the importance of internships, especially for students pursuing technical or professional degrees. However, the speaker stresses that merely listing internships isn't enough—students need to show how they applied what they learned in practical ways.

💡Grades

Grades are numerical or letter assessments of a student's academic performance. The speaker highlights that while good grades are important, they alone do not guarantee admission to top universities. A balanced application that includes strong extracurricular involvement and personal growth is often more valuable than perfect grades.

💡Holistic background

A holistic background refers to the overall combination of a person's academic performance, extracurricular activities, personal interests, and life experiences. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of having a wholesome background that demonstrates growth, resilience, and diversity in experiences, which universities often prioritize in their selection process.

💡Summer internships

Summer internships are temporary work experiences students often undertake during the summer break. These provide an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a particular field. The video points out that while listing internships is beneficial for applications, it’s more impressive if students can demonstrate how they used the knowledge they gained to further personal or community projects.

💡Personal mentorship programs

Personal mentorship programs refer to one-on-one or group sessions where a mentor guides students through specific goals, such as college applications or career development. In the video, the speaker offers personal mentorship to help students with their college application processes and career advice, suggesting that personalized guidance can significantly improve students' chances of success.

💡Shadowing

Shadowing is the act of following a professional to observe their day-to-day tasks and learn about a specific career. The speaker talks about shadowing a biomedical engineer to learn about hospital operations. This kind of experience is an excellent extracurricular activity that can provide insights into whether a student is truly interested in a particular career.

💡Clinical perception ship

A clinical perception ship is a learning experience where students observe and learn by following medical professionals in their work environment. In the video, the speaker mentions this as an example of an extracurricular activity that is relevant to students interested in pursuing careers in the medical field, giving them firsthand exposure to medical settings.

Highlights

Discusses how there's no magic formula for extracurricular activities; the best approach is one that suits you personally.

Emphasizes the importance of going beyond grades and focusing on making your application wholesome.

Recommends a balance between extracurricular activities related to your chosen field and unrelated activities that show personal interests.

Explains that college admissions are not just about grades; even average grades can be compensated with strong extracurriculars.

Shares personal experience of interning at Apollo Hospital, where the focus was on learning by shadowing professionals.

Encourages students to create 'passion projects'—tangible work that reflects their interests and goes beyond traditional schoolwork.

Mentions tutoring younger kids as an example of how extracurricular activities can showcase leadership and initiative.

Highlights how summer internships are valuable only when the skills learned are applied in real-world situations.

Advises students to focus on how their extracurricular activities contribute to personal growth and benefit society.

Recommends having 10 activities that reflect your passion and 10 that showcase your personality for a balanced college application.

Shares an example of a hand tremor project the speaker worked on for over two years, applying classroom learning to a real-world problem.

Mentions building a prototype device that could suppress hand tremors using mechanical and viscous dampening.

Describes working at Harvard Medical School on a microchip capable of detecting corneal ulcer infections in mice.

Encourages students to use resources like PubMed to find research and ideas for DIY projects.

Concludes by advising students to be themselves and pursue activities that genuinely interest them, not just what looks good on an application.

Offers personal mentorship programs to guide students with their college applications and general career advice.

Transcripts

what is going on guys welcome back to a

brand new video i know this one is a

little late i was feeling a little bit

under the weather

nothing to be worried about feeling much

better now

but in today's video we are gonna

discuss

a topic that a lot of you guys have

asked specially after seeing

whoops sorry about that especially after

seeing some of the most recent videos on

the scholarships

you guys are applying to colleges maybe

you're thinking of applying sometime

whichever spot you may be in it's

something that's really important i've

emphasized this

a lot on the channel is going beyond and

looking

going beyond and looking over your

grades and looking at how you can make

that application

wholesome so what is required one of the

main things apart from the essays and

everything are extracurricular

activities

in this video we are going to go over

extracurricular activities honors and

achievements

what kind you should have when you

should start prepping for them

what kind of activities are good for the

degree that you want to do

so let's get started all right so first

things first like

there's no snap of a finger magic

formula for extracurricular activities

i'm not going to give you some you know

calculated

preconceived notion that this is exactly

what you need to do and this is going to

guarantee you admission

no and honestly if someone tells you

something like this

it's it's just a load of crap like there

is

nobody who can guarantee you admission

in any university

because they don't know you they don't

know your background and honestly

frankly they don't know who's going to

be reviewing your application

so the best that you can do is put your

best foot

forward there's no like manual to this

you have to make it up for what suits

you best so the first thing that you

need to consider

while thinking about extracurricular

activities is what kind of degree do you

want to like pursue

do you want to go into business science

commerce

fashion designing do you want to learn

about music

art like what is it that you want to do

that's like the the biggest aspect of

this

now once you've decided that there's an

equal split

between doing some extracurricular

activities related to that

like field that broad field or

and actually should i say doing a good

amount of activities that's not related

to that

because they need because the admissions

committee needs to know

what you are as a person outside that

studious educational you like come on

don't tell me that you don't like to do

anything outside studying

like no even i'm not like that when i

was in school

something that i was super interested in

was sports i used to play basketball

i don't just don't i know um i'm not

very tall but i did

enjoy playing sports a lot i used to

play football basketball

table tennis swimming literally anything

any outdoor sport

i i would love to like get my hands on

so

that was something that i enjoyed doing

and there has to be something that you

just

enjoy doing as you know a hobby

that whole thing is considered

as an extracurricular activity you don't

have to have a certificate for it you

don't have to have some sort of like

confirmation that this is what you did

you just need to have an interest of

doing it all right so now let's come to

the other side of the things that is

talking about extracurricular activities

that are slightly related to the field

that you're interested in

so i'm going to speak about a little bit

about grades and gpa over here because i

know that a lot of you guys are going to

just come up and say like okay saloni so

what kind of grades are gonna help me

like get to that level right

um you don't have to be a brilliant

student it helps if you are

but having that 95 9900

score doesn't guarantee you spot in a

good university

i let's take me for example my in my

10th grade i had a 90

in the icsc board in my 12th grade i had

an 80

in the isc board i was a science and

math student

i feel like my grades were like above

average nothing too fancy

and i still got to study in two ivy

league universities just because i had a

very wholesome background

so if you if you have average grades

it's possible to compensate for that

by having a good set of like overall

activities showing them the person that

you

are because they understand that people

grow people make mistakes so

you can't judge someone for something

that they did years ago and just hold it

against them

colleges understand that now with that

out of the way let's talk about

your passion what interests you and how

you should take that forward

so the most important thing here is

doing something called a passion project

take any broad field that you're even

remotely considering

studying for me when i was in grade 10

grade 12

i want i knew that i wanted to do

something with biology engineering

you know coming from an indian

background engineering is pretty much um

standard but i really like building

stuff so

i would just kind of like go outside and

and and work on these like weird

projects

um when i was um starting out

just randomly find these internships

basically just shadow people you know

uh find people who would let me learn

what they do

i uh you wouldn't believe it but when i

lived in india

i interned at a polo hospital polo

hospital is a huge hospital i know that

a lot of you guys might know this

and my job as an intern for that summer

was just to read the manuals and

follow and shadow the biomedical

engineer

and watch what she does that's about it

that's all it was it was

unpaid i just i came in i put in the

hours i just learned that's about it

they were not giving any they weren't

giving me anything

my only like my argument to them was you

know

help me learn i'm not going to disturb

you or you know distract you from your

work i just want to learn

and this is how you need to approach it

if there's something that interests you

go out of your way go to a lab go to a

place where you can find those people

those professionals actually working

in action get to know about the job like

like actually like think about it do you

if you watch someone do this thing that

you're interested in

do you see yourself doing that for

almost the rest of your life or a large

chunk of your life ask yourself that

question it's really important

at this age so all of these things are

extracurriculars it's something called a

clinical perception ship if you're

working in a hospital

or just like shadowing someone is

generally just a perceptorship you

are essentially just learning by

following and observing what they're

doing it's a great extracurricular

highly recommend checking in now a

couple other things that you can

consider doing

is if you're interested in in something

like computer science learn how to build

an app

actually build an app get it on the app

store the google play store

you can tutor young kids in your society

you can teach them when i was in high

school i really like sports basketball

so i like made this group for the summer

um just teaching very little kids

basketball classes

i had no authority i'm not a coach but i

just did it because i love to play

so do something like that go out of your

way it doesn't have to be like sports

necessarily do something that you like

if you feel like you really enjoy doing

math or biology

or and or if you're good at it

definitely like tutor young kids maybe

a couple grades that you're comfortable

with it's a great

side hustle um it shows that you're

motivated and you're going

stepping outside from your phone and

your screens and actually doing

something

that interests you it's a great skill to

show on your college applications

now i'm going to talk about something

which i know that a lot of you guys are

already looking into and i've made a

separate video about this

summer internships and how you can apply

so i'm not going to go too much into the

detail there

you can definitely check it out if

you're interested later but essentially

if you get a summer internship

just listing that summer internship on

your college application is not gonna

cut it like

they're not interested in you doing

blah blah at blah blah blah no they have

zero interest in that what they're

interested in

interested in is that with this

knowledge um

of that internship that you did at dash

place what did you take from it and how

did you apply it into the real life

let's take a very simple example i did a

summer internship at a hospital

this was uh maybe a year or two in my

undergrad

i learned a lot of techniques very basic

techniques of pulse oximeters

a couple other medical devices and the

information that i got from

from that experience of the internship

i actually took that and taught the same

like

stuff as a seminar to the first year

students of my undergrad

and that's how i made use of it i took

that knowledge extracted it and spread

it

to create more awareness and that's just

one example you can literally do

anything if you're taking

an app building like course or class did

you take what did you take that

knowledge and do did you make another

app

did you help society in some way what

did you do with it that

is the thing that's going to impress

them not you just like

writing oh i got this certificate for

doing this or i came first or second in

this

no how did that make you a better person

what did you learn

how did you take those skills and

incorporate it to better society those

are like the big questions and the

things that you should focus on so let's

take a very like simple thing on what

how you should like approach this entire

extracurricular activities thing

make sure you are you know i already

spoke about this make sure you have a

split between something that's relevant

to what you want to study

and something that shows what your

personality is it can be

anything but they need to blend together

there's no formula for that now if you

take my example

when i was an undergrad i spent a lot of

my time close to like two to three years

on working on this hand tremor project

it was so cool

um basically what i did was i made a

device without any electronic components

which

relied heavily on mechanical and viscous

dampening

which is basically using some sort of

like fluid mechanics

to create um a prototype device that

would suppress hand tremors

in you know older patients and it was

so cool i just learned so much of

application based stuff

and and i worked on it for like close to

two years it's a long time

i learned so much i learned how to do

literature surveys i learned how to

first

research what's already been done and

see how you can improve the design

i learned how to do these experiments to

find out

if my prototype was actually working and

i just

it was such a fulfilling experience and

this project it's i'm so proud of it i'm

pretty sure i have it in my

in my home back in india still but just

like building on it and working on it

just

it was so fulfilling to actually apply

everything that i was learning

so i highly recommend doing these like

diy projects

it's very simple whatever you're

interested in go to like websites like

pubmed where you can find literature

scientific back

literature and just browse around and

see what kind of research is being done

anything you're interested in like

orthopedics artificial implants

artificial intelligence it can literally

be anything another one of my projects

that i worked on

was at harvard medical school that was

all microfluidics

big research i know i've said this a

number of times but

again like comment down below i'm going

to make a separate video out of it

i promise i know i say that a lot but i

want to kind of like build up the hype

like come on guys like

i'm not kidding that that like the

harvard research

was just mind-blowing i'm going to make

a whole video dedicated to it but come

on leave that in the comments below if

you want to see that one

but essentially i made a microchip which

was capable of detecting corneal ulcer

infections in

mice um it was a very very interesting

study

um and i got to like do a lot of the

designing of the experiments as well as

running them

executing them it was so fulfilling so

the idea here is

just like just do stuff go out of your

books go out of your

written syllabus and just do some do

stuff

extracurriculars is literally that you

just need to do stuff

um have a good split so that you can

write between either or

when it comes to your college

applications a good number to have

are 10 activities each have 10

activities that reflect

your passion-based interest and have 10

activities that reflect you

as a person and what you generally like

and i think you'll be in a good spot for

your college application

and think beyond that you know um just

don't do it for the sake of applications

this is something that you need to do

uh you know keep in mind is this really

gonna make you happy and

what you need to bring out your

personality not the personality that you

think the college would like doing that

is going to get you rejected

getting your best self out and forward

is what's going to get you accepted so

keep that in mind

all right so i think that is pretty much

it i'm not gonna drag this video on

i'm gonna keep it very short and simple

that's about it for the extracurriculars

if you guys have any questions

feel free to drop them in the comments

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i'll see you guys in

next week's video very soon bye