Why Extracurricular Activities Matter in College Applications?

Many parents still believe that academic excellence alone is enough for admission to international universities. However, in the U.S. and other English-speaking countries, extracurricular activities play a vital role in making a college application stand out.

In fact, when comparing two students with similar GPAs, universities will often favor the one with strong, well-developed extracurricular involvement. Why? Because it shows initiative, leadership potential, and real-life contributions to their community.

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How U.S. Universities Evaluate Extracurriculars

Unlike the common belief that “more is better,” admissions officers at top schools focus on:

• Personal alignment: Activities that reflect personal interests, values, or intended majors
  
  
• Depth and consistency: Long-term involvement with increasing responsibilities (e.g., member → leader → founder)
  
  
• Community impact: Not necessarily large-scale, but must create real, positive change
  
  
• Skill reflection: Communication, problem-solving, teamwork, creativity

A student with 3–5 deep, meaningful, and well-connected activities often stands out more than one listing 10–15 scattered ones.

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Types of Activities That Impress Top-Tier Universities

Here are some examples commonly found in the applications of students admitted to Ivy League, Stanford, MIT, etc.:

• Community-driven projects: launching initiatives, sustaining efforts, tracking impact
  
  
• STEM or research-based projects: collaborations with schools, professors, or organizations
  
  
• High-level involvement in arts or sports: competitions, exhibitions, performances
  
  
• Club leadership or founding roles with a clear mission and visible outcomes
  
  
• Activities related to intended majors: e.g., writing an education blog for aspiring teachers

The key: It’s not about how big the project is, but how thoughtful, personal, and impactful it is.

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How TAS Helps Students Build Meaningful Activities

At The American School (TAS) – a U.S.-accredited international school in Ho Chi Minh City – students are supported in developing extracurricular portfolios from Grades 9 through 12:

• A wide range of student clubs: MUN, Debate, Coding, Art, Basketball, Environmental Projects, and more
  
  
• Personal mentors: Assist students in planning, tracking progress, and writing compelling activity descriptions
  
  
• School-wide showcases and forums: Platforms for presenting projects, building portfolios, and gaining feedback
  
  
• Community partnerships: Real-world collaborations with NGOs, STEM hubs, art spaces, and social causes

At TAS, extracurriculars are more than bullet points—they are real, impactful journeys that help students grow, lead, and tell a compelling story in their applications.

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📍 Address: 6 Song Hành, Long Thành – Dầu Giây Expressway, An Phu Ward, Thu Duc City, HCMC‍

📞 Hotline: 0909 046 223‍

🌐 Website: https://www.tas.edu.vn‍

📘 Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/TheAmericanSchoolTAS‍

📧 Email: admissions@mytas.edu.vn‍

📝 Register for an extracurricular consultation here: https://tas.edu.vn/vi/admissions-page/enrollment-form

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