4 Character-Building Activities for College Applications

Applying to college is an extended process that includes researching, visiting campuses, filling out application forms, and writing admission essays. 

One way to prepare for college applications is to participate in extracurricular activities. In addition to building leadership and communication skills, these activities also bring opportunities to serve your community. 

Here are four character-building activities to prep you for future college applications:

1. Become a Student Leader

Colleges are very interested in students with leadership qualities. Being a leader doesn’t mean that you have a magnetic personality or know all the right things to say. 

The biblical model of leadership is known as servant leadership. According to the Bible, strong leaders are motivated by love for others. Their goal isn’t to gain fame, acceptance, or admiration for themselves. 

You can practice leadership skills by finding a place to serve, whether that’s as part of the student government at your school, spearheading a school project or fundraiser, or leading a school club. 

There are only so many top leadership positions, but don’t worry if you find yourself a little lower down in a group’s organization. No matter what role you’re representing, you can still practice healthy leadership skills. 

Focus on carrying out responsibilities, supporting others in your group, and forwarding the group’s mission as much as you can. These skills will all transfer to leadership roles you may experience later in life. 

2. Get a Part-Time Job

While working a part-time job isn’t a traditional extracurricular activity, it can bring a lot of value to your college applications and your life. Work experience is invaluable for choosing your career and motivating you to study so you can achieve your dream job. 

Having work experience also tells colleges that you’re responsible, motivated, and a team player. Students who work also tend to be serious about completing their college education since they are already financially savvy.

You can incorporate any job-specific skills into your college application essay. A few good part-time jobs include tutoring, working hospitality or retail, starting your own business, or finding an internship in your target education area. 

Lifeguarding is another excellent option since it allows you to practice leadership and collaboration with a team.  

3. Volunteer in Your Community

Volunteering is a great way to gain leadership experience and develop skills to make your college application shine. It’s also a concrete way for you to serve your community and show God’s love to others by caring for their needs. 

Volunteer opportunities will vary depending on where you live, but there are many ways for you to plug into your community wherever you are. Volunteering can look like taking brownies to your neighbor, helping with community events, or joining programs that serve the homeless or terminally ill. 

Start by talking to your church and school about ways you can help them serve your community. They may run volunteer programs or know of good groups that you can join. You can also search for volunteer opportunities in your area or talk to friends to see where they serve. 

Whatever you do, don’t overload yourself with too many responsibilities. Volunteering is a wonderful use of your time, but focusing on too many different needs at once can be overwhelming. Serve the people in front of you, and trust that God is working to care for those you can’t reach. 

4. Pursue Your Passions

Passions you develop now could easily become an integral part of your future work. For instance, starting your own YouTube channel may come in handy later if you go into the film industry or choose a career that requires media or video editing skills. 

If you love music, consider taking private lessons or even teaching others your instrument. If you’re interested in painting or sculpture, join an art club – or start one. You can also practice learning life skills and bundle those into an extracurricular activity. Find what you enjoy, and practice until you get good at it. 

Studies suggest that having hobbies outside of work increases creativity and reduces stress. So even if your future job has nothing to do with your artistic passions, you’ll have more skills and be more well-rounded as a person from pursuing them. 

Prepped for the Next Step

While extracurricular activities are valuable preparation for college applications, they also matter for their own sake. The people you touch and the skills you develop today are shaping you into the person you’ll be tomorrow. 

As Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:10, “[You] are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that [you] should walk in them.” 

Wherever life takes you after college, you can prepare now by investing in yourself and others through these four types of extracurricular activities.