A counselor told me that to be able to go to a University I should start doing extracurricular activities like clubs, sports, etc.(I am not athletic what so ever). My question is, Is it really that necessary?

That's a great question, Jennifer. While it's not exactly necessary to be involved in extracurricular activities, it does help you to stand out from the many other applicants. This is especially true when applying to the more prestigious universities where admissions are more rigorous.

Good grades and standardized tests are still important to the process so definitely keep those as your primary focus. At the very least, look into internships or volunteer activities during the summer between your junior and senior years. And as the previous commenter mentioned, look into opportunities into the fields in which you are interested.

Another way to look at it is to try to find something that you're interested in to expand your horizons as an individual. Don't do it just to get into college. But do it to broaden your horizons or to become more familiar with fields that you are interested in pursuing in college and beyond.

I hope that this advice helps.

Hi Jennifer,

Before considering the course of a career, it is important to stop and reflect on the real time when we are. From what you report, you are going through a time of stress, accompanied by many activities and school lessons. Right now, it is important to close a cycle, to start to give beginning to another. First, complete your studies calmly, so that you can get good grades during this period.

As regards the disciplines that you present difficulty, do not worry: there are reinforcement classes or private teachers for you to develop these mathematical capabilities.

Extra-curricular classes suggested by the adviser's only one way you develop some skills that are important in the medical area, such as teamwork, problem solving, decision making, altruism, empathy and solidarity. But all this should be done calmly, without pressure or emotional stress.

Below I have selected a few tips, taken from a site specializing in the subject. I hope it helps you:

• Those interested in medical school need to take science courses in university as well as write a entrance exam, so high school sciences would be needed to prepare for those. To gain entry into most undergraduate courses and to plan for your future career in medicine, it is recommended that you complete the following in high school.

English
Math
Biology
Physics
Chemistry

• Although excellent grades are important, admission criteria also looks at how you manage your time, deal with stress, problem solve, as well as people skills. Remember, as a doctor you will have to work in stressful situations, be kind and caring to people who have serious health issues, and help people deal with emotions during times of stress.

If you are considering medicine, do some career exploration. On your journey, you may discover other health - related occupations that also interest you and provide further career opportunities.

• Explore the medical field by:

Spending a day with a doctor

Spending time with other health-care professionals

Volunteering in a long term care centre or hospital

Spending a day at a university with a medical student

Attending career and health fairs in your local community schools or at the universities you are interested in
Researching medical schools and their admission requirements.

I wish you much success and wisdom in your journey!!!!

Source: http://www.beadoctor.ca/

Jennifer,

Stay on top of your grades first, then join clubs if you have time. Colleges will let you in and it is more important to do extracurriculars in college rather than high school, as long as your grades are good in high school. If you plan on going into healthcare, they don't care what you did in high school. They want to see (med schools, nursing schools, dental schools, vet schools, etc.) what you have done with your time in college such as volunteering, student nurses association, pre-med society etc etc. Get what you have to get done now before taking on new things. Good luck!

Hi Jennifer,

If you participated in sports on a varsity level, you can include that on your resume, but unless you are pursuing a career in a field like physical therapy, there are several other extracurricular activities that will look more impressive. I recommend that you Google various topics like "extracurricular activities that look good on a resume." Activities related to your major will often carry the most weight.

Good luck!

Hi Jennifer,

I was just like you in high school. I did not have a lot of extracurricular activities to add to my resume, but I had the grades and the standardized test scores to make me a worthy candidate among the other college applicants.

I would say that what you should do is make a list of your top 7-10 colleges and look through what their admission requirements are. Most of the time, you are required to provide:

• Your official high transcripts (pay attention to their minimum GPA requirement)


• Your standardized test scores (pay attention to their minimum GPA requirement)


• Your resume


• Your college essay (sometimes they will give you a prompt or topic to write your paper on)

When looking at the admission requirements, they will usually say that they want to know about your professional and volunteer/community/extracurricular experiences.

However, the best thing that you can do that will put you a cut above the rest is to reach out the directors of the programs that you want to apply to, via phone and/or email (I recommend both), and ask them "When looking at the incoming applicants, how important are non-academic experiences to the program as part of the total application package?"

Sounds like you're on the right track grades are very important but you don't have to have a perfect 4.0 to go to a university or college. While it's awesome to have extracurricular activities if you're going to go to a large, big name university, this is not necessarily the case for every school.
Sometimes it's just as good to start at a 2 year school, one to save money, and two so you don't have to worry about focusing on extra things that you maybe don't enjoy as much is your studies.
After getting a good base of classes under your belt from a two year school, you can always transfer to a four-year school and you will of saved a lot of money compared to the folks who went to the big name 4 year school.

Extracurriculars don't have to be school-based to be helpful, both from an admissions perspective as well and just for personal growth. These could be things like volunteering at a hospital if you're interested in medicine, to both help your admissions prospects as well as to help you actually understand if that is something you want to do in life. It is very easy to think short sighted at only focus on academics, but things outside of your actual classes will help immensely in how you do in life.

I was the primary adviser for a business school at a university. We were happy to see good students and did not look at extra curricular activities much. The university had a pre-med program and it was more about what you did in the classroom vice what you did out of it. Do a good job on academics and ifa club or outside activity interests you do that activity. Don't spread yourself too thin. Only you have a reasonable idea of what you can do.

Jennifer-

As you grow older, you will start seeking ways to deal with all kinds of stress and guess what? Exercise, sports, community activities are all great ways to help you de-stress and put life in perspective. Extra-curricular activities don't always have to be done on a schedule, but will help you become a more well-rounded person and happier in general.

When I am asked what I would do differently in my career if I had to do it again, I always recommend taking the time to network and develop the soft skills.

A wise person once told me that everything you learn will help you somewhere later in life. Learn to be involved in the people and the world around you. Good luck!