As college decisions continue to roll in, the stress of creating a perfect college resume is all-consuming. Students look from sports teams to clubs in search of becoming an ideal Ivy League candidate. To be accepted to college, students will sign up for anything and everything that may increase their chances over another applicant. Although extracurriculars are an important part of college applications since they give insight into the lives and passions of each student, individuals should not feel pressure to participate in endless extracurriculars they feel no interest in.

As soon as students enter high school, they face enormous pressure to start planning their future. The classes they pick, the people they hang out with, and the clubs they join all seem to have an incredible impact on their lives. This emphasis on high schoolers’ life choices is extremely overwhelming and causes many to feel the need to form a resume worthy of college acceptance.

As students feel the need to take on more activities, they begin to lose passion for the things they originally loved. Instead of participating in clubs that students once enjoyed, each activity becomes another burden in the tumultuous process of getting into college. This directly affects club culture, as students join not for their love of the activity, but for their obsession with creating the perfect student profile. 

While extracurriculars have become less interest-based, they are also integral to learning who each student is. Colleges should take extracurriculars and outside interests into account when admitting applicants because each student should be valued for who they are, not just their test scores. Additionally, by taking extracurriculars into account, students are encouraged to try new things that they may not have previously. 

As juniors in high school, the idea of college is always looming ahead and although extracurriculars can add stress to an already stressful workload, they are also a great way to branch out and meet new people. All in all, colleges should take extracurriculars into account when admitting students to ensure all aspects of a candidate are known and on display.