That camping trip your family still talks about? Science says it’s worth more than any toy under the tree.
A college admissions expert is spilling the beans on high school extracurriculars.
As many students know, filling out a college application is one of the most stressful tasks when going through the college admissions process — after all, it could make or break your dream scenario.
But taking part in the right extracurricular activities can certainly give you a leg up on other applicants.
“Independent and special projects are pure gold in admissions,” Kate Stone, founder of Kate Stone Prep, wrote in a May 7 Instagram post where she ranked high school extracurriculars on a scale from 1 to 10.
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“Showing up for ONLY school‑sponsored clubs or ‘because it looks good’ won’t distinguish you in this process — it just blends you into a crowd of sameness,” she added.
Stone went on to post a second video where she ranked even more extracurriculars on Nov. 3.
Here’s a full list of all the activities she ranked — and how she ranked them:
- Becoming the leader of a club with significant impact: 10/10
- Winning club competitions: 10/10
- Year-round sports if you’re going D1: 10/10
- Shadowing professionals: 10/10
- Building a network of mentors: 10/10
- Solving a real-world problem in your community: 10/10
- Playing viola: 9/10
- Taking an independent online course or college course: 8/10
- Playing an instrument at a competitive state or national level: 8/10
- Volunteering with a cause you’re passionate about: 7/10
- Newspaper editor: 7/10
- Planning your prom: 7/10
- Internships: 7/10
- Eagle Scout: 6/10
- Student council: 5/10
- Model U.N. and debate: 5/10
- Deca: 5/10
- Being captain of a sport’s team: 4/10
- Tutoring: 4/10
- Becoming the leader of a club without significant impact: 3/10
- Working as a camp counselor: 3/10
- Working as a lifeguard: 3/10
- Playing an instrument: 3/10
- Year-round sports: 3/10
- Robotics: 3/10
- Playing violin: 3/10
- Volunteering just to log hours: 2/10
Stone appeared to prefer anything that forces students to be creative and “different” from others.
“These are the activities that don’t just “look good” but force you to become the type of person who is attractive to elite universities,” she wrote in her Nov. 3 Instagram post.
“Limiting yourself to school-sponsored clubs and activities won’t set you apart,” she added.
More tips when selecting the right high school extracurriculars
In an interview with TODAY.com, Stone revealed the key ingredient when it comes to extracurriculars.
"Anything that thousands of kids are doing is always going to be less helpful for you," Stone said, further placing an emphasis on independent work and special projects.
She went on to list several of her top tips for students when looking at extracurricular activities.
The three main factors are to find something that differentiates yourself, something that you’re truly passionate about and something that makes a lasting, measurable impact on the community.
But if students really want to impress their target schools, there’s on extracurricular that reigns supreme.
"The new extracurricular is having a mentor," Stone told TODAY.com. "If I could advise parents one thing, find your kid a mentor that you know will inspire them."
Having a mentor in your area of interest exposes students to real-life advice from someone who has been there — and someone who is doing it at a high level.
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But at the end of the day, Stone argues : "It’s not about the extracurricular. It’s what you do with the extracurricular."
