Moving Beyond the Competition

Planning extracurricular activities during high school can be confusing and overwhelming. It entails a juggling act of doing activities you find challenging, fun, and fulfilling while also thinking about how these extracurriculars will be perceived by admissions officers at universities.  

I frequently see students expending – and sometimes wasting – valuable time and energy applying to contests such as the John Locke Essay Contest or the New York Times Essay Contest. While it would be great to win one of these contests, the raw numbers indicate the deck is heavily stacked against any given student (last year’s NYTimes Editorial contest garnered more than 12,000 submissions for 11 winners, making 0.092% of students winners). This approach is akin to buying a lottery ticket. Unfortunately, if your ticket isn't picked, you gain almost nothing.

Given the time constraints students face, allotting significant time to zero-sum competitions represents a missed opportunity to participate in activities that are social, which help students develop as individuals, and which build the student’s profile for college applications.

Essay competitions, such as the John Locke Institute Essay Competition, often represent a misallocation of precious time for students.

The Surrender Value Concept

When evaluating extracurricular activities, think about their “surrender value,” a term borrowed from the insurance industry. In brief, surrender value refers to the amount of money a person receives if they choose to terminate a life insurance policy before its maturity date.

I first came across this term when I was in graduate school at Penn GSE. We used the term to think about what students walk away from a lesson with. We were taught to ask ourselves the following question as we planned lessons: “If the student doesn’t continue studying, what will they be able take away from this lesson that they can continue to use?” For example, this concept explains why one might teach a kindergartener his/her vowels before teaching low frequency letters like x, z, or q.

Similarly, when students consider potential extracurricular activities, they should ask themselves, "If I don’t win, what will I still get?" Rather than defaulting to winner-take-all competitions, students should think about the range of ways an activity can help them grow (and appeal to admissions officers).

Here is *one methodology* for allocating time to extracurricular activities:

Complete everything on the bottom floors of the pyramid before moving up.

 First, ensure you are maximizing your participation within your school’s community. Then, think about joining affinity groups and societies outside of school related to subjects you enjoy. From there, think about securing internships, research assistantships, or part-time jobs related to topics that you find fascinating. Once you are crushing all the lower levels of the pyramid, then go ahead and indulge in some of long-shot competitions.

Classes in School & Clubs at School

These foundational activities are where you should start. They offer consistent engagement and opportunities to develop a variety of skills. Joining school clubs and participating actively in classes show your dedication and can lead to leadership roles.

Example: Joining the robotics club can lead to leadership roles, teamwork skills, and technical knowledge.

Youth Societies and Youth Society Conferences

Next up are youth societies and conferences. These can be incredibly enriching. You’ll engage in meaningful discussions, collaborate on projects, and gain insights from peers and mentors.

Example: Participating in Model United Nations, for instance, offers debate experience, global awareness, and networking opportunities.

Internships and Research Assistantships

Internships and research assistantships offer practical experience and networking opportunities. They help you to explore career interests and build professional relationships. These experiences should be pursued after you’re involved in school clubs and youth societies.

Example: A summer internship at a local law firm provides insights into the legal profession and professional connections.

Individual Competitions

Individual competitions, while prestigious, offer limited benefits if you don’t win. They showcase your skills and dedication, but the payoff is all or nothing. These should be the pinnacle of your extracurricular pyramid.

Make Yourself a More Compelling Candidate

Extracurricular activities are a great way to make yourself more interesting and add nuance to your academic profile. Concentrating solely on competitions does little to make an applicant more compelling. By engaging in a variety of activities, you demonstrate a well-rounded character and a willingness to explore and grow.

By following this approach, you’ll create a well-rounded profile that demonstrates your interests, skills, and personal growth. This strategy not only strengthens your college application but also provides valuable life experiences that extend far beyond the admissions process.