How to improve your college application

As you move through high school, you are probably beginning to wonder, what things actually look good on a college application? You know the importance of getting good grades and scoring well on your ACT or SAT, but haven’t thought much about your college application holistically. Does HOSA look good? Does JROTC look good? Does AVID? How do you figure out what activities will help your application the most?

What You Need To Know

Clubs and Organizations

Clubs and organizations are activities that you can include on your college application that will strengthen your application. You should focus on those clubs that you are truly interested in, that have leadership opportunities, and that are unique. Participating in clubs and activities that you are interested in will likely align with the majors or course of study you are planning to pursue. Colleges love this! It shows that you are a passionate and dedicated student who is invested in your learning. After finding clubs you are interested in, it may be beneficial to focus on those that offer leadership opportunities. Typically, colleges would prefer that you have some type of leadership position, such as President, Treasurer, etc., in a few of the clubs that you are in. 

Stand out from the others who will also be applying to the school. Clubs like HOSA, National Honor Society, and JROTC are generally favorable when coupled with leadership and longevity. However, the more unique the club or organization, the better. Are there clubs that you can join that are selective in nature? Can you start a club or organization that isn’t offered at your school that you could start? That would combine leadership with uniqueness.

Get Involved in Your Community

Volunteering is another excellent activity that you can participate in that will impress college admissions committees. Check out your local animal shelters, food pantries, and other community-based organizations that may be accepting volunteers to help carry out their mission and goals.

Why is volunteering such a great “thing” to include in your application? This activity shows colleges that you are involved in your community and demonstrates that you would engage with their campus community if admitted. If you aren’t sure where to start, identify some areas of your community that are in need or areas that you have a particular interest in. This should help you find someplace to start searching for volunteer opportunities.

Keep in mind that consistency is key! The ways volunteering reflects positively on your application and character only work if you consistently volunteer. Many students run into the mistake of only volunteering for a day or two around the holidays or at one or two food drives their school offers. While this, of course, counts as volunteering, it is too infrequent and surface-level to make an impression.

Internships

You’re probably thinking about going to college in order to get a good-paying job that you are passionate about and excited about! Internships are a great way to get work experience and continue showing colleges that you are passionate about your course of study and dedicated to your growth as a student. In case you are not sure what internships are, Internships are selective positions with companies that give you shadowing and work experience purely for learning purposes. Some internships are paid, and others are not; however, as a high schooler, you can expect most to be unpaid. Your high school counselor may know of some opportunities, but a good way to get started in your search is to identify an area of work you would like to grow in and start reaching out to the organizations that do that type of work. Keep in mind that if you land an internship, these folks could be great individuals to get recommendation letters from when it comes time to apply for college, as they can give a unique perspective that isn’t academic!

Here are some common spaces where internships may be offered for high schoolers:

• Political campaigns
• Non-profit organizations
• Local radio stations/newspapers/news
• Local small businesses

Summer Programs

It’s summer break, and all you want to do is play video games, binge-watch your favorite TV shows, and relax. However, these things won’t necessarily help your college applications! There are multiple summer programs that combine new experiences with academic growth to impress admissions. They may take place in their local community, or they may be slightly more competitive and take place in other areas around the United States or the world. It is important to start your research for these early; the best programs usually have applications due anywhere as early as January or February. Some may even be hosted on the campuses of colleges and universities near you! Ask your college counselor for recommendations of programs they may know about, as these vary widely across schools! Having a productive summer shows that you are dedicated to learning and are willing to take that learning into your own hands. The best summer programs are ones that are either fully themed around your academic interest, or that offer multiple classes you can choose from and have some that connect to your interest. Many majors in college are topics not offered in high schools so these programs can be exciting chances to take college classes on topics you likely don’t usually see at school.

Some ideas for Summer Programs:

• Academic camps
• On-campus college events
• Selective programs in major cities
• Advocacy programs

What To Do Now

Hopefully, you now have a good idea of what will look good on college applications besides good grades and strong test scores. As you can see, there are a ton of other beneficial and important activities to include in your college application. If you need any assistance with your application or want more tailored advice on which activities are best for you, why not contact us today?

Originally published in Dec. 2022. Edited and updated by one of our admissions consultants before being republished in February 2026.