Doing It All: Extracurricular Activities and College Preparation

Now that your child is starting their junior year, it's time to start thinking about college preparation. The beginning of the school year is a good opportunity to take a look at an important aspect of college preparation — the role of extracurricular activities.

By now you've heard how important extracurricular activities are to college applications. Admissions counselors are looking for well-rounded students with a wide range of interests and abilities. In some cases, high school hobbies may even land your child a scholarship. However, it's also important to make sure your child has enough time for their academic work and their college research and applications. Balancing school and outside activities can be tough!

According to a study done by the National Center for Education Statistics, there is a definite connection between participation in a wide range of extracurricular activities and success in school. However, it is not known whether good students are more likely to undertake extracurricular activities, or if extracurricular activities lead to scholastic success. In any case, does it really matter? Teens can learn a lot through their extracurricular activities. The things they can learn through activities will ultimately help them in college -- and their career.

Take sports, for example. The National Federation of State High School Associations keeps track of what "citizenship qualities and developmental assets" it feels can be developed through athletics. In other words, it looks at how high school sports can improve students.

The motivation to achieve, an understanding of school rules and decision-making skills can all be developed by "basic participation" in a sports program. The National Federation of State High School Associations adds that a quality program emphasizing more than the rules of the game can help students develop respect, perspective, sportsmanship and teamwork abilities.

Whether they go on to become a carpenter, karate instructor or a cardiovascular surgeon, they're going to need teamwork skills and decision-making abilities.

There are drawbacks to extracurriculars, though.

Sometimes the excitement of starting school can lead students to sign up for all sorts of activities in September. The result can be feelings of impending doom in October. With classes and extracurricular activities, whether they're sports or language clubs, it may seem as if students don't have time to do it all.

The key is to keep a busy schedule from becoming a bigger problem than it really is. This is a good time for your child to learn that they can control their own reaction to every situation -- including an overloaded schedule. Here are some things you could discuss with your child:

Evaluate the situation. Make a list of all their commitments. Prioritize each and every one of their classes, projects and activities.
Face reality. If your child truly cannot handle everything, then something must go. They might want to say goodbye to the activities that they can legitimately drop and that give them the least amount of pleasure. Your child could make an appointment to talk to the person in charge of that activity. If they explain the dilemma, but let their sense of responsibility shine, they could be surprised by the support they receive.
Reinvent and tweak the schedule. After they eliminate those things that they must give up, make a long-range calendar, a monthly schedule, a weekly schedule and a daily to-do list.
Discuss your role. Let your child know how much time and resources you have to help them balance their schedule. Now is the time to tell them you're not available to drive them to a Thursday lesson, for example, or that you would like to go with them to their volunteer activities.
Look at the light at the end of the tunnel. Even if you are still extremely busy and have to give up some things you'd really like to do, it's only temporary. Time passes very quickly -- especially when you're busy. High school takes up a very small percentage of our life. Your child may as well make the most of it and grab the chance to learn all they can.

Balancing a schedule can teach your child how to handle the decision-making process. With all that experience under their belt, they'll know how many classes they can handle and what extracurricular commitments they want to make. Working together, both of you will know how to make a schedule and stick to it.