How To Stand Out on Your Application with Extracurriculars

Crafting a standout college application isn’t just about academics. Extracurriculars can play a vital role in telling your story.

Dr. Aviva Legatt, founder of Ivy Insight and author of Get Real and Get In, has helped countless students achieve admissions success through her College Admissions X-Factor® framework. She advocates that extracurriculars on applications shouldn’t just be about checkboxes – they should be opportunities to showcase leadership, creativity, and impact.

Her ethos is all about, “Quality usurps quantity.” Legatt says most successful applicants show meaningful commitment by way of 3–5 significant activities rather than superficial involvement across many. “This focused approach allows your child to develop the depth of engagement that stands out in a sea of broadly involved applicants,” she says.

Here are her five high-impact extracurriculars she recommends:

• Research opportunities: Collaborate with professors or professionals to demonstrate curiosity and initiative.
• Sports with leadership roles: Progress to captain or leader to highlight teamwork and resilience.
• Civic engagement: Commit to meaningful causes that resonate personally, showcasing character and responsibility.
• Creative pursuits: Dedicate time to arts, music, or writing to emphasize individuality and discipline.
• Entrepreneurial initiatives: Launch a business or nonprofit to display innovation and problem-solving.

Dr. Legatt urges students to focus on activities that excite them. To parents, she shares this advice: “By encouraging your child to engage deeply with activities that genuinely interest them, you’ll not only strengthen their college applications but also support their development into the kind of thoughtful, engaged adult that selective colleges – and our world – truly need.”

Meaningful extracurriculars build essential skills for college and beyond, she adds. “In this increasingly competitive landscape, selective colleges are building communities of future leaders who understand their role in addressing complex societal challenges. They’re particularly impressed by students who identify needs in their communities and develop innovative approaches to addressing them – qualities that signal a student will bring the same energy and commitment to campus.”

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