Guidance on Co-curricular Activities, Community Services

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Guidance on Co-curricular Activities, Community Services, and more

At GTU we ensure that students make absolute use of each opportunity to bring out their attainments and skill set to the universities. After all, universities will incline students who bring distinct qualities with themselves which can add value to the class. We have probed extensively through universities' admissions pages and successful students' extracurricular activities that made it to top universities in the US and have come up with our "to-do list" while crafting activity lists. GoToUniversity assure that its students get to represent their skill set through such activities to the universities and stand every chance of competing with the others whether it is enhancing your personality, keeping a balance between academic and extracurricular activities, or getting shortlisted for a university. As soon as you get admission in your dream university different thoughts cross your mind like- surviving in a new environment, sustaining with a different crowd or new university, learning different things daily, and modifying yourself as per the new culture, environment, and people, learning a new language even, and a lot more. Amongst such hassle, co-curricular activities and community services are not something to leave behind as it helps you get adjusted with the environment and people and learn certain skills that are required to sustain and uphold in a completely new atmosphere. There are certain things that you should not forget while building your profile in order to get admission to the recognized universities around the globe like- 

1. Subtle brag - it's important to let people know of your stand-out qualities like leadership, teamwork, empathy, passion, and so on but at the same time ensure it doesn't come across as too loud or infuriating to admissions officers.

2. No activity is irrelevant - while thinking of activities done by you ensure that you include all the activities done in the last 4-5 years. Take the help of friends, family members, and if required even school counselors. You never know who might just make you realize achievement you could not even think of before.

3. Collate and sort - you might be overwhelmed after listing down all the activities since 8th or 9th grade, so sit down & categorize each activity in some order it could be under the same category or yearly or level of significance, and so on.

4. Authenticity - I am sure you must have come across several articles where you are just warned to be authentic. Universities are thoughtful enough to make out if you are trying to outsmart them by writing things that probably don't bring the real You. Be honest, simple, and just put down things that represent your personality most truly.

5. Avoid repetitions - understand people who are going to read your activity sheet would be also reading several applications related. They are already overburdened with 100s of applications waiting for their glimpse. So you should be including unique activities and avoid repetitions, to provide maximum impact and ensure they read all your activities with the same enthusiasm with which they started.

6. Quantify your accomplishments - the person examining your application should be able to quantify your activities. So while writing your activities, mention numbers and be specific with regards to your activity. Make it easier for them to read and understand your level of achievement.

Common App Activities Category -

Academic - you don't add superlative performance in a specific subject or grade here but rather it requires you to add education pursuits for instance participation in Olympiads or any other unofficial scholarly pursuits.

Art - any form of creative persuasion or interest could be categorized under this category. You might be good in painting, sculpture making and so on, even if it is at a beginning level.

Athletics: Club - any sports which you play at a club level may be at school club or as a part of clubs outside in your neighborhood

Athletics: JV/Varsity

Career-Oriented - any brief engagements like an internship, shadowing a professional, or learning specific knowledge would fall under this category.

Community Service (Volunteer) - you might have assisted the community in some way like helping elderly people in an old age home or imparting classes for free to students from weaker sections of society.

Computer/Technology - any program like online courses or events related to technology like attending a computer science workshop, participating in science or technology exhibitions, and seminars on new technology will be a part of this category.

Cultural - activities related to the cultural fair at school or community halls.

Dance - participation in dance-related activities at a school, district, or national level or even as a hobby should be here.

Debate/Speech - If you like debating and have debated in competitions or MUNs so write about it under this category.

Environmental - you might have written about or as a part of your school visit to unfold awareness about the environment.

Family Responsibilities - helping your parents or siblings may be taking care of your grandparents, or tutoring your siblings to ace their academic exams should be certainly included in this category.

Foreign Exchange - Student exchange programs.

Journalism/Publication - articles published in school journals, local magazines, or writing blogs.

Junior R.O.T.C - is for a very specific program; Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, a Federal Program sponsored by the U.S. Armed Forces.

LGBT - again this represents a very specific program and if you have been or are associated with this program, you can include it.

Music: Instrumental - knowledge of any musical instrument through professional classes. Important is that you should have spent time in acing your skill.

Music: Vocal - you could be a trained classical or jazz vocalist and have performed on multiple occasions.

Student Government/Politics - Active in school politics, like Women's March, Student council Vice President, Prefect, and so on.

Research - any research primary or secondary for instance research for your project participation or as a part of your IB extended essay.

Robotics - your robotics competition could be in computer/technology as well but it will be impactful if you include it in robotics.

Work (Paid) - you might have earned some bucks through an internship.

Science/Math - science or math Olympiads can also be in academics but putting in science/math will make it a very specific activity.

Others - don't worry if you can't find any category for a specific activity, this section is specifically created to save your energy.

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