Presenting Your Authentic Self

Time and again students get to junior year of high school and realize they need to add more to their resume. “What clubs should I join? What will look the best on my resume? How many clubs should I have to be competitive?” I get these questions all the time. And the answer is…it depends.

There is no hard and fast rule or designated number for “clubs I need to be competitive at my dream school.” Furthermore, there is not a school in the country that values a resume from a student with a bunch of random clubs started by the student junior year. Admissions counselors can see right through it and know you are just trying to pad your resume. Now, that’s not to say you shouldn’t join new things your junior year. You should always seek to discover new interests! The key to what activities you do and how many depends on YOU.

When you apply to schools, more isn’t always better, but AUTHENTIC is always what you want to present. What interests you? What are you passionate about? What are you curious about? What would you like to explore that may develop into a new passion? How can you marry those new interests with activities you’ve already been doing?

By joining or leading activities, causes, service projects, sports, or community engagements, you should be doing the things that spark the most enthusiasm within you. When you choose to do things you have a passion for, you will do them more fully, commit to them longer, and make larger impacts. That is what colleges want to see. It’s fine to go to a couple of club meetings for an hour once a month, but that will not mean the same thing to an admissions officer (or to you as a person) as a commitment to an activity where you engage and make a difference with your actions.

Find the activities that ignite a spark within you. You will be amazed at how good your resume will look when you pursue the activities that have meaning to you.