{"id":51941,"date":"2021-05-19T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-19T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/?p=51941"},"modified":"2021-05-18T05:49:00","modified_gmt":"2021-05-18T12:49:00","slug":"5-tips-for-writing-about-extracurricular-activities-you-started-at-the-last-minute","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/5-tips-for-writing-about-extracurricular-activities-you-started-at-the-last-minute\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Tips for Writing About Extracurricular Activities You Started at the Last Minute"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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You are this close<\/em> to finishing your application, but in the section that asks you about your extracurricular activities, you freeze up. I don\u2019t really have any extracurricular activities<\/em>, you think. What should I do now?<\/em> How will I be able to stand out from the competition?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re glad you asked. Team Accepted has worked with countless applicants who have found themselves in this exact nail-biting dilemma. They frantically search for a non-school or non-work endeavor to latch onto, hoping that the activity will reflect well on them. They hope the adcom won\u2019t pay too much attention to the fact that they just started the activity two months before the application due date. (Yikes!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are here to ease your mind by offering these 5 ideas: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. You may already have some extracurriculars and haven\u2019t recognized them<\/strong>

    It\u2019s unlikely that your life consists solely of school and\/or work and basic life maintenance. Look at your weekly or monthly calendar to discover unique experiences that could be considered \u201cextracurricular.\u201d You don\u2019t need clear-cut activities such as, \u201cActed as president of the chess club\u201d or \u201cVolunteered in a local soup kitchen.\u201d Do you sing in a choir on Tuesday nights? Participate in a weekly fiction writing circle with friends? Are you an avid gamer? Do you do yoga, meditation, or are you training for a half-marathon? Do you have a podcast, moderate a discussion group on Clubhouse, or are you learning website design? Do you run an Etsy shop? Do you have a standing weekly \u201cdate\u201d with a grandparent who is otherwise alone most of the time?


    These are all completely valid, growth-oriented ways to invest time outside of work or school. Each has the potential to reveal your passions, interests, and goals. Some may have helped you develop     leadership skills<\/a>. With others, your gains may be physical, creative, intellectual, social, professional, or emotional-psychological. They will all broaden you as a more fully evolved individual to the admissions committee.

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  2. Better late than never<\/strong>

    Some applicants think they\u2019d be better off bypassing the subject of extracurriculars entirely, rather than highlight the slightly suspicious timing of having so recently begun the activity. No one wants to come across as phony. 

    We agree that showing long-term extracurricular activities would have been preferable, but showing recent and short-term involvements are better than none. (And they will certainly be better than having your main extracurricular activity consist of kicking yourself over and over again for your lack of planning.) 

    Now\u2019s not the time to harp on regrets; now is the time to act. Get out there and do something<\/em>.

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  3. Even short-term involvement can transform you<\/strong>

    Keep in mind that participation in non-school and non-work activities, even if just for a limited period of time, will elevate your flat, one-dimensional admissions profile into a more vibrant, colorful, and interesting <\/em>candidate profile. Not only will you be viewed in a more holistic way, but your new involvement may also quickly begin to expand your own vision, understanding, skills, and potential. 

    Now\u2019s your chance to transform yourself from a pile of grades and scores into a real, live human being \u2013 one who pursues his or her     interests and passions<\/a> outside of the work and school arenas.

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  4. Your application efforts may be delayed or extended
    <\/strong>
    Another reason to jump right into an extracurricular activity even though you may feel like it\u2019s too last minute is because you don\u2019t know the outcome of your application effort. For example, you may decide for one reason or another to push off applying until the following year.     You may get waitlisted<\/a> or you may get dinged from all your top choice schools and decide to reapply next year. Whatever the case, this could be the beginning of what turns out to be an entire year of extracurricular involvement.

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  5. Hobbies are good for YOU<\/strong>

    Forget for a minute that you\u2019re applying to school (if that\u2019s even possible!) and think about what\u2019s actually good for you. It\u2019s not healthy to sit at work for 18+ hours a day in an office or at home before crashing on the couch because you\u2019re too tired to make it to bed. Forget the application process completely\u2013 finding something to do that is unrelated to work, school, or other obligations will enrich your life. The right activities will energize you physically and creatively, and make you a happier person.
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    Take home message: It\u2019s NEVER too late to get involved in some meaningful, interesting, enriching, and fun extracurricular activity!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    At Team Accepted, our experienced consultants will help you create an enriched, interesting, and outstanding application. From helping you choose the right programs to identifying your strongest experiences, academic credentials, skills, and even extracurricular activities,\u00a0we are your partners on your road to ACCEPTANCE<\/a>!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    By Judy Gruen, former Accepted admissions consultant. Judy holds a Master\u2019s in Journalism from Northwestern University. She\u00a0is the co-author of Accepted\u2019s first full-length book,\u00a0MBA Admission for Smarties: The No-Nonsense Guide to Acceptance at Top Business Schools<\/em>.\u00a0Want an admissions expert help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Download<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Related Resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n