Extra-Curricular Activities
Last week, Wharton listed the Top Ten Applicants Myths that they encounter. Indeed, these are the same myths that I encounter, many of which I have tried to dispel in this blog. I wanted to comment on Myth #6, “Candidates are assessed on their number and/or type of extra-curricular activities and community service”. Extra-curricular involvements are an important part of this process, but there are a number of misconceptions regarding how and why to become involved.
Why are extra-curricular activities important to begin with?
1) They show that an individual is multi-dimensional. They demonstrate, interests, passions, personality. As such, they help the admissions committees get to know you beyond your professioal goals.
2) Being involved outside of work shows that you can balance multiple commitments, and that you are the type of person who will be able to balance academics with clubs, conferences, recruiting and more, once you are at school.
3) They can show that you have a larger view of the world – that you see what is happening outside of your office and you are interested in being involved and contributing in some way. They can show that you understand your own role as a leader and your ability to leverage your position and give back.
4) They make you a more interesting person – someone that can contribute to the diversity and vitality of a class and alumni network.
5) It’s an opprtunity to demonstrate qualities such as creativity, leadership, teamwork, communication skills, initiative. These qualities are important outside of a professional setting as well as at work.
Unfortunately, if you have spent the past five years buried in your office, “joining” an organization or volunteering at a soup kitchen one Sunday is not going to help you much. That kind of effort is pretty transparent. The schools realize that many of you are extremely busy with demanding jobs and committing to several hours a week is not possible. Still, the most successful applicants find ways to carve out time for interests and contributions.
When thinking about ways to become involved, don’t get hung up on traditional volunteer work. There are many, many ways to become involved and show your dicersity. A good place to start is with your own interests and passions. Think hard about what excites you, and how you can leverage those interests. A couple of examples from my clients:
Client 1: Enjoyed painting as a hobby until she accepted an investment banking job out of college. She felt she had no time to become involved outside of work. She rekindled her interest in art when she became involved in a company sponsored fundraising initiative. She designed t-shirts to raise extra money and unite the team.
Result: She showcased her artistic talent and interest, became involved in a great cause, demonstrated creativity and leadership.
Client 2: Was on the swim team throughout high school and college. She decided to mentor through coaching a middle school swim team. Developed meaningful relationships with the kids on her team and ended up learning a great deal from them.
Result: She showcased athletic interests and found a personally meaningful way to give back to her community. Highlighted important coaching and motivational skills.
Example 3: Struggling with learning English in Israel. Started an English Public Speaking Club in Israel and grew it over the course of four years.
Result: Highlighted a creative approach to solving a personal problem. Came up with a solution that helped others as well. Demonstrated leadership and ability to get things done.
You can see that Habitat for Humanity is not always the answer. Keep in mind that quality is far more important than quantity. Rattling off a list of 10 involvements will not help as much as something that truly reflects who you are and can showcase important interests and skills. You may be surprised to find that these involvements will add a great deal to your life, which is exactly the point!
