How extracurricular activities can support your application to international schools

Leigh L, PhD

University of Cambridge

International school admissions applications typically have lots of components: personal information, essays, recommendations, grades and test scores, etc. Most of the time, they may also have a space for a student to describe their extracurricular activities. This often-overlooked application section is surprisingly incredibly important for both the student and the admissions committee. Students can (and should!) use this section to describe their personality, character, and drive, while admissions officers usually take a keen interest in activities and student resumes to understand more about this student on a more personal level.

The extracurricular activities section isn’t simply a list of what you’ve done, but a great opportunity to showcase your experiences and your future goals. Therefore, it is in your best to spend some time and thought on the extracurricular activities section of your application. Read on to hear how you can highlight different types of activities in your international school application.

School Clubs & Activities

Most students are engaged in some sort of school-based activities or clubs; if you’re not, I highly recommend that you now consider joining some! These clubs are a great way to meet new friends, develop leadership and teamwork skills, and learn more about something that interests you. In terms of putting these activities on the application, the club name, type, or group size is not important, because admissions officers will look at the skills you gained from this club rather than the club itself. For example, Model United Nations (MUN) is a school club that is both popular and prestigious. In describing your participation in MUN, you can discuss how you collaborated with international peers, explored diverse fields of inquiry to solve global problems, and fostered leadership skills throughout your school’s team. If you are an elected member of a club, such as your school or Student Council, then definitely highlight your leadership through your responsibilities.

Sports

Another popular activity for many students is sports. From school teams to professional training camps, sports are an excellent way to demonstrate key characteristics and personal qualities on your international application. You can even integrate some of your experiences with sports in your essays to demonstrate personal growth and development, such as a time when your team failed or when you persevered and won. Sports can demonstrate strong work ethic, time management skills, and positive teamwork qualities, so be sure to include these aspects in your application.

Volunteer Work

Volunteering is an excellent way to connect with your community, give back, and help others. Many students it is also a pathway to establishing a future career; for example, students who enjoy taking care of others might consider going into healthcare or nursing fields, and who work well with younger children might consider teaching and education. Writing about personal experiences of volunteering is an excellent way to demonstrate positive aspects of your personality outside of the school setting in your application. Volunteering can demonstrate selflessness, an understanding of broader social issues and your community, and teamwork, an interest in helping others. Be sure to include the amount of hours you volunteer, how you felt volunteering, and what you learned from the experience.

Jobs or Family Responsibilities

Lastly, some students may not have the time or resources to participate in school clubs, sports, or volunteering. Many students undertake part-time work or have significant family responsibilities, such as caring for younger siblings, that hinders them from engaging in other activities. If that is the case, then you can still demonstrate your character through your extracurricular activities by describing the work you do and your responsibilities. Juggling family responsibilities on top of full-time study can demonstrate maturity, a strong work ethic, and the ability to overcome obstacles.

In conclusion, extracurricular activities are an important part of a complete application for any international school, from primary school to universities. Be confident in expressing your unique interests and experiences on your application to show the admissions committee your personality, character, and drive!