The 5 Best Extracurriculars for Ivy League Admissions
Top Extracurriculars That Get You Noticed by Ivy League Admissions
TLDR
Ivy League schools look for initiative, leadership, and real impact, not just grades.
Real world work, consistency over years, and self driven projects make your profile stronger.
You do not need huge budgets or elite connections. Start local or online.
Choose two or three areas to focus on and build depth there.
Why Extracurriculars Matter
Grades and test scores open the door, but your extracurriculars tell your story. They show how you spend time outside class, what drives you, and how you contribute to the world around you.
The right activities help you:
✅ Discover what you are passionate about
✅ Build confidence and leadership
✅ Create stories that make essays stand out
✅ Find mentors and opportunities that shape your future
You do not need to have everything figured out, but you do need to start doing.
1. Real World Experience: Turning Knowledge Into Action
Doing work beyond school walls shows maturity, initiative, and decision making. Ivy League admissions teams love seeing students who can apply classroom learning to real life.
How to begin right now:
Contact local businesses, clinics, or community organizations to ask if you can intern or volunteer.
Reach out to nearby university professors about helping with data collection or research projects.
Take on a project role in a local charity or student group such as managing social media or organizing events.
Try online freelancing like tutoring, content writing, or digital design for nonprofits.
Why this helps:
You build communication, problem solving, and independence. These are skills that help you thrive on any campus.
Tutor Tip: You do not need an official title. If you see a need, start solving it. Helping a small business modernize its website or organizing a community recycling day counts as real world experience if you can show results.
2. Competitive Programs and Contests That Build Credibility
Prestigious programs and competitions can validate your academic strength and curiosity. They show you can perform in national or international settings.
Strong current options include:
Regeneron Science Talent Search for advanced research projects
National Science Bowl for science and math problem solving
FIRST Robotics Competition for hands-on engineering and teamwork
Conrad Challenge for innovation and entrepreneurship
Wharton Global High School Investment Competition for business and finance
Scholastic Art and Writing Awards for creative writing and art
John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest for political writing
CyberPatriot Cyber Defense Competition for computer science and cybersecurity
How to approach these:
Choose contests that match your interests rather than chasing prestige.
Start early, ideally by sophomore or junior year.
Review past winners to understand what works.
Even participation shows initiative if you reflect on what you learned.
Affordable alternatives:
Free online courses, local debate or science fairs, and small research projects can be just as meaningful when done thoughtfully.
3. Long Term Commitment: Growth Over Years
Admissions officers value depth over breadth. Staying with an activity for several years shows focus and resilience.
How to deepen your commitment:
Stick with one or two main clubs through high school.
Aim for leadership by junior or senior year.
Reflect on how your role evolved and what you achieved.
Connect the activity to your future major or field of study.
Examples:
Leading a robotics team for four years
Performing in orchestra since freshman year
Volunteering regularly at a local hospital or food bank
Why it matters:
Consistency reveals genuine passion and personal growth. It also leads to stronger recommendation letters and essay stories.
4. Tangible Results: Proof That You Made an Impact
Ivy League schools love evidence of impact. Show what you built, published, or achieved.
Examples of tangible outcomes:
Publishing a research paper or article
Launching a mobile app or website
Hosting a community fundraiser or event series
Building a portfolio of design, writing, or music
Winning or placing in one of the contests above
Keep a digital portfolio on Google Drive, Notion, or a personal website. Include photos, stats, and reflections. This will make your applications and interviews much easier.
5. Independent Projects: Start Something That Matters to You
Self initiated projects are one of the clearest signs of creativity and leadership. They do not have to be big to be impressive.
Ideas to start today:
Build an app or prototype that solves a local problem.
Start a blog, newsletter, or podcast about topics you care about.
Organize a neighborhood cleanup or recycling program and track its results.
Create a small business or tutoring network for younger students.
Collaborate with friends to run an online art or writing exhibition.
Why this stands out:
Independent projects show self motivation, originality, and curiosity. They prove you are not waiting for permission to lead.
Tutor Tip: Many successful students started with something small. A tutoring idea or community page can grow into a long term passion project that becomes the centerpiece of your application.
How to Strategize Your Next Steps
You do not need to do everything at once. A strong extracurricular story builds gradually.
Your next steps:
Pick two or three interests you genuinely enjoy.
Choose one real world experience to pursue this year.
Apply to one or two programs or competitions.
Commit long term to one main activity and take on more responsibility each year.
Start an independent project connected to your interests.
Document everything with photos, progress notes, and metrics.
Check in every semester to see what is working and what excites you most. Authenticity always wins over perfection.
The Big Picture: Build Your Own Path
Extracurriculars are not about filling space on your résumé. They are about discovering who you are and how you can make an impact. Ivy League or not, the right activities help you grow as a thinker, leader, and human being.
Whether you are volunteering, researching, coding, performing, or launching a project, what matters most is that you care about it and stay consistent. That passion will carry through every essay, interview, and recommendation.
Ready to Build Your Ivy League Story?
North American Tutors helps students turn passions into powerful college applications.
Book a free strategy session to plan your academics, extracurriculars, and overall admissions strategy.
