Hi Counselors! Click below to download Google slides you can use to help your students plan their uncommon extracurricular experiences:
COUNSELORS: DOWNLOAD YOUR GOOGLE SLIDES HERE
Bonus: You can even add your own school logo.
Getting Started
We’ll begin by brainstorming 3-5 ideas that both sound fun AND might help you get into a great college.
First, you’ll brainstorm what YOU value.
Next, you’ll learn what COLLEGES value.
Then you’ll brainstorm ideas to help you do both things.
Step 1. Pick 3-5 values you want to explore OUTSIDE SCHOOL OR OVER THE summer.
How to do this: Look at this values list linked below and pick 5-10 that you’d like to experience.
DOWNLOAD A PRINTABLE VERSION OF OUR VALUES LIST HERE
Share-out/Potluck moment
If you’re working through this in a workshop or on a webinar, consider sharing your Top 3 values with your group or in the chat.
Why? When each person brings their part, we all learn—yup, like a potluck.
Step 2: Learn what colleges are looking for.
At College Essay Guy, we spent more than a year analyzing hundreds of college websites (like this one) and talking to dozens of admission officers to generate a list of qualities that most colleges are looking for when reviewing applications.
Caveat: There’s no way to say what EVERY college wants, so take these with a grain of salt.
Think of these more like “admission nutrients” — aka important qualities for a “healthy” college application.
In no particular order, they are:
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Intellectual curiosity
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Service to others
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Leadership or initiative
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Collaboration
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Consistent engagement
Important note: We believe that pursuing these qualities can not only help with college acceptances, but also finding more joy and meaning in your life.
Step 3: Brainstorm at least 5 ideas that intersect with a) YOUR values and b) what COLLEGES value.
Come up with 5 experiences or projects that might help you a) explore your values, and b) help your college chances.
And make sure 1-2 are fun. Because a) not everything should be about getting into college, but also, fun fact, b) colleges readers like seeing when students seek balance and self-care.
But wait…
Wouldn’t it be nice if someone just created a huge menu of ideas?
And organized it by values?
And wouldn’t it be even better if those ideas wove in the admission nutrients?
Drumroll, please…
CEG’S EPIC LIST OF EXTRACURRICULAR & SUMMER IDEAS…ORGANIZED BY VALUES
That’s right. At the link above you’ll find 5 extracurricular and summer ideas listed for every single value. And yes, we’ve taken into account the “admission nutrients.”
Step 4: Pick 3 ideas or experiences.
After consulting the list above (and your beautiful brain), write down 3 ideas you might try out.
Idea 1: ───────────────────────────────
Idea 2: ───────────────────────────────
Idea 3: ───────────────────────────────
Note: You don’t have to commit to these right this second; you’re just brainstorming possibilities.
Share-out/Potluck moment
If you’re doing this in a workshop or on a webinar, here’s another moment to consider sharing your ideas with the group or in the chat. Why? You might inspire others, or get inspired.
Step 5: Connect your growth → your future college application
Using this list of Roles and Identities, ask yourself: If I did each of these experiences, which part of myself would I develop AND what quality could I demonstrate to colleges?
Write a sentence for each one using this template:
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By doing [this project/experience], I’d grow as a [role/identity] PLUS show colleges [admission nutrient(s)].
Experience/identity/nutrient 1: ───────────────────────────────
Experience/identity/nutrient 2: ───────────────────────────────
Experience/identity/nutrient 3: ───────────────────────────────
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Example 1: By reading five different books in five different disciplines (project/experience), I’d grow as a critical thinker and interest hopper (roles) PLUS show colleges intellectual curiosity and critical thinking (admission nutrients).
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Example 2: By leading a food drive at my temple, I’ll grow as a catalyst and leader, plus show colleges initiative and service to others.
Again, here’s a great moment to share with others if you’re doing this in a workshop or on a webinar.
CEG’S EPIC LIST OF EXTRACURRICULAR AND SUMMER IDEAS…ORGANIZED BY ROLES AND IDENTITIES
That’s right. At the link above you’ll find 5 extracurricular and summer ideas listed for every role and identity. And yes, we’ve taken into account the “admission nutrients.”
Step 6: Finally, write down the next step for each thing you wrote down.
Next step for 1: ───────────────────────────────
Next step for 2: ───────────────────────────────
Next step for 3: ───────────────────────────────
Example 1: Email Mrs. Clark to see if she could help me organize a food drive this month.
Example 2: Decide this week on a community, craft, or tradition that doesn’t get mainstream attention and map out a plan for creating a short documentary about it.
Remember, you don’t have to do these yet; you’re just brainstorming here.