![\"MBA](\"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/MBA-admissions-does-extracurricular-equal-extra-credit.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
YES! Don\u2019t underestimate the value of non-academic, non-work activities! These activities that you participate in \u2013 hobbies, sports, volunteering, etc. \u2013 do tons to liven up your otherwise one-dimensional application.<\/p>\n
Here are some reasons why you should bulk up your extracurricular quotient:<\/p>\n
1. Extracurricular activities add life and texture to your application.<\/strong><\/p>\n MBA applications<\/a> can appear flat and single-dimensioned. Add a little stamp collecting, your involvement in your church\u2019s softball league, a splash of trumpet lessons, and the fact that you started a neighborhood bi-seasonal clothing drive, and VOILA \u2013 you\u2019ve got yourself one heck of a vibrant profile!<\/p>\n 2. Extracurricular activities show you know how to commit.<\/strong><\/p>\n You\u2019ve been tutoring on a volunteer basis at your local school for the blind\u00a0 for the last 11 years? You must be a reliable, dependable, and committed person. Adcoms like this. Period.<\/p>\n 3. Extracurricular activities demonstrate passion and creativity.<\/strong><\/p>\n Your extracurricular activities don\u2019t need to be Big Brother\/Big Sister or soup kitchen experiences. They can include the summers you spent doing AIDS research in a hospital in Swaziland or taking your autistic nephew to the park once a week for a game of tag. Neither of these examples are related to business, yet leadership, initiative, passion, and creativity can all still be read into each experience<\/a>. Share your passions and inspire your readers!<\/p>\n 4. Extracurricular activities give you an opportunity to show leadership.<\/strong><\/p>\n It can be hard in a hierarchical organization when you are in your early or mid-twenties to show lots of leadership. But in a community service or volunteer context, there are leadership opportunities galore<\/a>. Grab them and demonstrate the attribute admissions committees can\u2019t get enough of.<\/p>\n Many applicants ask what they should do if they don\u2019t have long-term extracurricular or volunteer commitments. Is it worth it to start an activity or resume a hobby just a few months before applying to b-school, or will that look shallow?<\/p>\n My answer: A little volunteering is better than no volunteering at all, and the impact that you can make and the effect the experience can have on you can be great, even in a short period of time. Also, maybe you\u2019ll be waitlisted, and then this last-minute volunteering will turn into a long-term commitment that will look great in a waitlist letter update, not to mention how much it will add if you need to reapply.<\/p>\n Need more help with your MBA admissions strategy? Check out our MBA Admissions Consulting Services<\/a> to learn more about how we can help you get accepted!<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Related Resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 MBA Action Plan<\/a>, a free guide This article<\/a> originally appeared on blog.accepted.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n Applying to a top b-school? The talented folks at Accepted have helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to their dream programs. Whether you are figuring out where to apply, writing your application essays, or prepping for your interviews, we are just a call (or click) away.<\/em><\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/The-ultimate-guide-to-becoming-a-competitive-MBA-applicant.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Get](\"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Accepted-solid-blue.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Extracurricular Activities in Your MBA Admissions Profile<\/a>
\n\u2022 4 Tips for Writing About Last Minute Extracurricular Activities<\/a><\/p>\n