Is there such a thing as the "right" activity?

Students checking out the Amnesty International table.

Last Friday the upper school hosted an activities fair, and students in grades 9 -12 had the opportunity to sample the rich variety of extracurriculars GPS has to offer. On Monday, those same students will sign up for their clubs of choice.  In-between those two events, several people have asked "Is there a right activity?"

In fact just yesterday, someone was lamenting that she didn't have any community service and inquired "Should I sign up for that?"

Despite what you might read elsewhere, we don't believe there is one activity that will result in an acceptance. It's kind of hard to fake a love for theater or writing or service, or sports, and that will more than likely be obvious to the person reading your application.  Really, they're smarter than that.

Model UN is another popular option.

What we do believe is that you should choose activities where you will have the greatest impact or the most potential for personal growth.  Yes, you do need some continuity in your activities. Bouncing around from one to another is probably not a good idea, so we like to see that you loyal and steadfast to a few of them.

Instead of trying to figure out the "right" activity, perhaps you should ask yourself this: Is any college worth trying to create a persona that isn't genuine?  Wouldn't you rather them accept you because of who you really are?  In the long run, it seems to me you will be much happier, no matter where you go.

The Advantages of Greek Life

Since I work in an all-girls' school, it is no surprise that many of my students are interested in joining a sorority when they get to college.  During my own college years however, I simply didn't get what Greek life was all about. To me, sororities seemed, well, pointless. Fast forward many years however, and my own daughter jumped at the chance to participate in the process, and she has been a very (and I mean very) strong advocate of the benefits of belonging to a sorority ever since.  So much so, that for a time she worked at her sorority's national office.

My daughter assures me that sorority life is not all parties and frat boys, and sorority girls are not all like Elle Woods. (Even I knew that!) She regularly extols the benefits of belonging to a sisterhood, and she praises the networking and philanthropy opportunities that sororities provide.  She also credits those years with helping her develop her leadership and organizational skills, and indeed I can see those changes in her.  Being in a sorority has made a tremendous difference in her life.

So if you are considering going through recruitment (as I've learned it is now called),  explore some of the advantages of membership as described in this  USA Today article.  Who knows; had I known all this, I just might have changed my mind.

Excellent Extracurricular Advice

Good advice is good advice, whether it is intended for your future career or your college search, and the information in this article from The Savy Intern applies to high school students as well. To put it in very simple terms: every applicant to college has a high school degree; it's the other stuff you do while you're there that also counts. Colleges, like employers, want to know who you are as a person, what contributions you will make to the campus (or office), what extracurricular skills you have developed. 

There are many opportunities at GPS and beyond to get involved.  Take a risk, explore something new, volunteer, start a new club.  Don't just sit there and do nothing!