🌱 How to Find Extracurriculars (Even If Your School Doesn’t Offer Any!)

“I don’t have any extracurriculars because my school doesn’t offer them.”

“I’m in 8th or 9th grade—what should I be doing?”

If this is you—don’t worry! Whether you’re early in high school or starting late, there’s always time to build a strong, meaningful activities list. The U.S. system values what you do, not where it comes from. That means your activities don’t need to be official, expensive, or even school-based—they just need to show curiosity, initiative, and impact. Let’s break it down 🤗

🔍 What Counts as an Extracurricular?

Colleges love students who:

✔️ Take initiative

✔️ Show real interest in a field

✔️ Make a difference in their community

✔️ Build skills or create something of value

That means all of these count:

✏️ A self-initiated project or small business (podcast, tutoring, blog, YouTube, newsletter)
🧠 Research (formal or informal, with or without a mentor)
🌱 Volunteering (library, local NGO, school, community—even informal tutoring or helping neighbors!)
🎓 Online courses or competitions—especially if you apply what you learn
💻 Internships (even short, unpaid, or virtual)
🎨 Creative work (art, writing, filmmaking, music, theater)
🏕️ Summer programs – These can be amazing ways to explore your interests, connect with peers, or work with professors.

👉 Important: Summer programs aren’t the only way to stand out—and they don’t have to be expensive. Many are online and offer full or partial scholarships. If you can’t attend a formal program, that’s okay! You can gain just as much (or more) by starting your own project, volunteering, or deepening a personal interest from home.

📅 When Should You Start?

Ideally, you build throughout high school—but any time is a great time to begin.

During the school year, focus on a few consistent activities. Even 1–2 things done weekly or monthly over time can show real dedication.
During summer and winter breaks, go deeper:
→ Join a program, start a project, or take on short-term research or internships.
→ These are perfect times to try something new or make progress on a bigger goal.
If you're in 8th grade or early 9th, explore! Try different things and see what excites you. It’s the ideal time to experiment and build a foundation rather than narrow in too soon and discover late in high school that it's not the right focus for you.

🧠 What Makes an Activity “Good”?

It’s not about having the fanciest or most impressive list—it’s about what the activity says about you. Ask:

Does it reflect your interests or values?
Does it show leadership, initiative, or creativity?
Can you reflect on what you learned or how you grew?

Even small or local efforts can have major impact—especially when they’re meaningful to you.

💭 Coming up next: A MEGA list of ideas, competitions, and programs (including some with scholarships!)—so you can take action right away.

And in the meantime: What’s something you’ve always been curious about—or would love to explore more deeply? Drop it in the comments!

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