Extracurricular activities should start from grade 9, with focus instead of quantity, according to a speaker from the US Embassy in Vietnam.
Extracurricular activities are one of the key factors in university admissions in the US, along with transcripts, essays and letters of recommendation, according to Ms. Cristina Bain, an independent education consultant and speaker at the US Embassy's seminar on May 25.
Ms. Cristina holds a certificate in admissions consulting from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). According to the US Embassy, in her 10 years as an independent education consultant in Hanoi, she has helped many students from Vietnam and around the world enter American universities.
Ms. Cristina said that the reason extracurricular activities are considered important is because schools want to see what kind of person the candidate is and what activities they do outside of school and class.
“They also want to know how you interact with people and your understanding of the world. Because what you do has an impact on who you will become in the future,” says Cristina.
Education Advisor Cristina Bain at an information sharing session at the US Embassy on May 25. Photo: Binh Minh
Here are three notes on extracurricular activities to prepare for your US study abroad application, according to Ms. Cristina:
Starting from grade 9
Extracurricular activities can be divided into categories such as creative activities, work experience, leadership, personal interests or hobbies... According to Ms. Cristina, it is never too late to start extracurricular activities but you should prepare early.
"Ninth grade is a good time to start and it goes all the way through 12th grade," she said, adding that in ninth grade, students should participate in any activity that interests them. This is the freest time in high school, so try things out until you find your passion.
In 10th grade, students should focus on a small number of activities, consolidate skills and pursue their interests. 11th grade is considered a pivotal year to gain experience. Students can seek leadership roles in clubs and teams, do a job or internship to expand their knowledge.
In 12th grade, while you're busy with standardized tests and preparing for the November early application period, try something that interests you or fits your academic interests.
If you’re not sure where to start, Cristina says students can focus on four areas: academics, service, leadership, or personal interests. The key is to tie it to your chosen field, such as volunteering at an animal rescue center if you want to major in veterinary medicine.
Extracurricular activities relevant to the major
Ms. Cristina said there are two terms for extracurricular activities, including "extracurricular" and "supercurricular". Supercurricular is used to refer to activities directly related to the applicant's academic interests, while extracurricular is the opposite, meaning extracurricular activities may not be related to the subject that the applicant is interested in.
While most universities in the UK and Australia value “supercurricular,” schools in the US and Canada are more interested in “extracurricular,” according to Cristina. Therefore, students need to know how to prepare and direct extracurricular activities to suit their study abroad destination.
For example, for students who want to apply for a scholarship in Biology or Biochemistry in the US or Canada, Ms. Cristia suggests that they should have experience related to laboratories or scientific research such as research assistants, volunteer teaching STEM (Science - Technology - Engineering - Mathematics). In addition, since the candidate likes to play basketball, electric guitar, violin and is interested in entrepreneurship, they can implement some small business activities; organize charity music events or teach children to play the piano, start a band.
"He wants to study Biology and Biochemistry, so schools will be impressed if he has experience in a research lab or related work," she said.
Quality over quantity
When advising parents and students, Cristina often receives the question, “How many extracurricular activities do I need?”. The expert said that college applications do not have a specific requirement for the number of extracurricular activities, but applicants should focus on the quality of activities, rather than the quantity, meaning participating in activities that interest and are suitable for them.
According to a survey by US News & World Report , 72% of admissions officers prefer students who focus on one topic continuously, rather than participating in many different activities. Cristina gives the example of a student who volunteers in Mai Chau for three weeks and another who teaches English to disadvantaged children for two hours a week for six months, the admissions officer will usually choose the second student.
"Schools rely on a number of criteria such as level of participation, duration of participation, position, and responsibility to evaluate your extracurricular activities. A resume with many activities shows that the candidate is active but does not demonstrate commitment, attachment, and continuity," she explained.
In addition to the above factors, consultants say a strong application also requires good grades from grades 9 to 12, SAT, IELTS or TOEFL scores, letters of recommendation and proof of the family's financial capacity. If attending a public school, students can ask for a letter of recommendation from their homeroom teacher, while in private schools, it is the academic advisor.
Dawn
Source link
Comment (0)