Do extra curricular activities really matter?

I'm a Junior in highschool and have been thinking about college more than ever. I just feel so stressed about everything, whether schools will accept me, scholarships, competing against my classmates.... I currently have a 3.6 GPA and recieved a 1950 on the SAT's. All my friends have all these things that they can put on their transcript such as clubs, but I really dont have much. I'm in 1 club, and I did track for 2 years. I stopped this year because I felt that it was boring. I also do volunteering for a local hospital. Is this enough to get into a decent school or recieve some kind of scholarship? Or do I really need to find some kind of activity or club to add on. Do colleges really care about extra curricular activities?

Update:

If I add random stuff, can they find out that I'm lying?

Comments

  • I don't think you'll have much trouble getting into a good school considering your SAT's and GPA. Extra curricular activities are important depending on what school you want to go to and scholarships that are available. If you go the "big fish in a small pond" route, you could definitely get a great academic scholarship.

    If you decided to add random stuff (which I wouldn't suggest), be wary that they might ask you about those things as a topic in interviews or campus visit days. Admissions counselors are very personable and use the information on your application as conversation starters. They will make a note of it if you don't have anything to say about the chess club that you put on your application but never went to.

    Also, extra curricular activities are not just things sponsored by your school. If you participate in a church youth group or something, that counts.

  • It all depends on the college. Ivy league = lots of competition. And don't worry, most people make up that crap on their applications, anyway. If you join something and went one time, put it on there.

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