Extracurricular Activities & Resumes: What Parents Need to Know

Let me be clear about something right away—your teen doesn’t need to win a national award or cure a disease for their extracurricular activities to matter on a college application.

What do they need? To show up, follow through, and reflect on what they’ve learned along the way. That’s where YOU come in.

I’ve worked with thousands of high school students over the years, and I can confidently say this: the most overlooked part of the college application is the activity list—and it’s where families miss a huge opportunity to stand out.

Here’s why extracurriculars matter more than you think.

When colleges review applications, they aren’t just looking at grades and test scores. They want to know what kind of person your child is, how they spend their time, and what they care about. The activity section (or resume) paints that picture.

But here’s the catch: most students don’t know how to talk about what they do.

They’ll say, “I play soccer,” or “I volunteer at the hospital,” and leave it at that. They don’t think about the why or the how—and that’s where the real value lies.

Tip #1: Help Them Recognize Their Impact

Start by helping your teen see the value of what they’re already doing.

Is your child the captain of a sports team? Great—what have they learned about leadership, perseverance, and teamwork?

Do they work after school? Fantastic—let’s talk about responsibility, time management, and communication skills.

One of my students once wrote a phenomenal essay about being the backup quarterback. Not the star. Not the MVP. But the kid who had to learn every play, support the team behind the scenes, and act as a liaison between the coach and starter. He used that story to show his leadership and communication skills—and guess what? It worked.

Tip #2: Start Documenting Early

Don’t wait until senior year to think about this.

As early as 9th grade, encourage your teen to keep a running list of what they’re doing. Clubs, jobs, volunteer hours, summer programs—everything counts.

Ask them simple questions regularly:

• What did you do this month that you were proud of?
• What challenged you?
• What would you do differently next time?
• How did you make an impact?

By the time they apply to college, they’ll have a goldmine of information to pull from—and they won’t have to guess or scramble.

Tip #3: Focus on Depth, Not Just Breadth

Colleges don’t want a laundry list of shallow involvement. They want to see commitment, growth, and passion.

It’s better to see a student deeply involved in 2–3 things than scattered across 10 activities they barely remember.

Help your child stick with the things they enjoy—even when they’re hard. There’s value in perseverance. Encourage them to take on leadership roles, mentor younger students, or create something meaningful within those experiences.

Tip #4: Think About Storytelling

Every activity is part of a larger narrative. Your teen’s resume should support the overall story of who they are. It includes essays, letters of recommendation, summer activities and other pieces. 

Tip #5: Don’t DIY Everything

The college admissions process is complicated—and helping your teen tell their story is no small task.

That’s why we offer tools, resources, and personalized guidance to make it easier for families. We’ve seen firsthand how the right coaching can change the game—not just in the final application, but in the way students see themselves.

Parents often say, “I didn’t know how to help.” That’s okay. That’s what we’re here for.

So, let’s make their story count. 

You know your child better than anyone. You’ve seen the late nights, the practices, the part-time jobs, and the passion projects. Now it’s time to make sure all of that shows up in their application.

We’re here to help. Whether it’s with resume reviews, personalized admissions strategy, or just a few helpful tools—we want to support your family.

Visit https://www.strategicadmissionsadvice.com for more tips and to learn how we can help your teen present their best self on every part of their application.

They’ve done the work. Let’s make sure colleges see it.