Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University
Reviewed: 5/4/22
Wondering which extracurricular activities to pursue in high school? Unsure of what your options are? This extensive guide has got you covered! Read on to explore over 500 different extracurricular ideas!
Extracurriculars can be rewarding, fun, and empowering. When you choose the right ones, you’ll not only have somewhere to escape when your academic pressures get overwhelming, but you’ll meet like-minded individuals that can become long-term friends, you’ll pick up new and useful skills, and will even strengthen your college apps.
But how do you choose the perfect extracurricular activities? Matter of fact, what is an extracurricular activity? What’s the difference between extracurriculars and hobbies? Rest assured, all of your extracurricular activity-related questions will be answered below!
What Is an Extracurricular Activity?
Before we provide you with a comprehensive list of the extracurricular activities you can choose from, it’s essential you understand what an extracurricular activity is to debunk any misconceptions about them!
Extracurriculars are activities you participate in outside of the classroom. While some can center around academic subjects, they are not part of schools’ curriculums and are pursued in your free time.
The majority of extracurriculars high school students participate in are found and engaged in at their school, although they may also be offered through other institutions within your community.
Extracurriculars generally differ from hobbies because they are more formally organized, follow schedules, involve other students and teachers, and aim to foster personal growth, skill development, and passion. On the other hand, hobbies are pursued independently and are done for relaxation or enjoyment solely.
For instance, an extracurricular activity would be a book club where peers critically examine and discuss books, whereas independent reading for pleasure would be considered a hobby!
Extracurricular Activity Examples By Category
Now that you know what extracurriculars are, the next step is figuring out which ones are right for you. Fortunately, high schools and other institutions cater to diverse student interests, so there’s no doubt you’ll find an extracurricular you’re passionate about!
Here are over 500 extracurricular activities examples for you to choose from:
Arts Extracurriculars
Arts clubs focus on various disciplines, including visual, performance, and fine arts:
Drama club
Music club
Art club
Concert band
Jazz band
Acoustic guitar club
Percussion club
Drumline
Flute club
String quartet
Orchestra
Photography club
Film club
Drawing club
Sketching club
Painting club
Fashion design club
Poetry club
Graphic design club
Marching band
A capella choir
Choir
Songwriting club
Rap club
Bagpipes band
Ceramics club
Creative writing club
Literary magazine club
Costume design club
Animation club
Sculpture club
Ballet club
Swing dance club
Latin dance club
Hip-hop club
Ballroom dance club
Contemporary dance club
Tap dance club
Salsa dance club
Tango dance club
Breakdance club
Bhangra dance club
African dance club
K-pop dance club
Bollywood dance club
Folk dance club
Bachata dance club
Musical theatre club
Acting club
Digital art club
Printmaking club
Academic or Career-Related Extracurriculars
Academic-related extracurricular activities provide opportunities for students to engage in intellectual pursuits and enhance their knowledge and skills beyond the regular classroom environment:
National Honor Society for Music Education (NAfME)
National Technical Honor Society (NTHS)
Mu Alpha Theta - Honor Society for Mathematics
Tri-M Music Honor Society
National Chinese Honor Society (NCHS)
B.E.S.T. Robotics Design Contest
Hackathons
Biology club
Political science club
Physics club
Chemistry club
Social studies club
English club
Business club
Accounting club
Psychology club
Engineering club
Biochemistry club
Microbiology club
Marketing club
Geography club
Coding club
Zoology and marine biology club
Neuroscience club
Space exploration club
Peer academic tutoring
Peer ESL tutoring
Mock trial competitions
Physics bowl
National Spelling Bee
VEX Robotics
STEM Club
Art History Club
History Club
Academic decathlon
Trivia club
Research club
Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)
Astronomy club
Economics club
Philosophy club
Archaeology club
Computer science club
Image cup
Science fair
Future pharmacists club
Future dentists club
Future doctors club
Future scientists club
Future Educators of America club
Future lawyers club
Future nurses club
Activism-Related Extracurriculars
If you’re passionate about certain social justice issues, you can join a group that focuses on addressing and improving them through the following extracurricular activities:
Environmental club
Black Lives Matter club
LGBTQ+ alliance club
Animal club
Racial justice coalition
Mental health awareness club
Feminist club
Amnesty international club
Climate action club
Disability rights club
Homelessness awareness club
Indigenous rights club
Women in STEM club
Social justice club
Students for education equity
Students for criminal justice reform
Youth anti-poverty club
There are also several activist organizations high school students can collaborate with directly:
Amnesty International
Planned Parenthood
ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union)
Human Rights Campaign
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)
WWF (World Wildlife Fund)
NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People)
Moms Demand Action
Sunrise Movement
National Organization for Women (NOW)
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
NARAL Pro-Choice America
The Nature Conservancy
Doctors Without Borders
National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics
Young Activists Leadership Council (YALC)
The California Innocence Project
Greenpeace
Sierra Club
March for Our Lives
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
DoSomething.org
PeaceJam
National Youth Rights Association
Students for a Free Tibet
It Gets Better Project
Earth Guardians
Student Voice
Free the Children
Campaign for Youth Justice
Youth Service America
National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness
Joining sports extracurriculars is a great way to hone your athletic skills and hone your discipline, time management, and leadership skills! Remember, these don’t have to be offered by your school to be considered extracurriculars! Look into local sports organizations to join a team and participate in competitions:
Football
Soccer
Track and field
Cross country
Baseball
Basketball
Tennis
Volleyball
Field hockey
Ice hockey
Rugby
Cricket
Lacrosse
Badminton
Ping pong
Swimming
Diving
Sailing
Rowing
Canoeing/kayaking
Skateboarding
Cycling
Triathlon
Horse-back riding
Polo
Squash
Ice skating
Rollerblading
Skiing
Snowboarding
Kickboxing
Handball
Javelin throwing
Shot put
Roller derby
Gymnastics
Cheerleading
Boxing
Karate
Taekwondo
Muay Thai
Judo
Jie-jitsu
Krav maga
Kung fu
Kendo
Wushu
Aikido
Capoeira
Hapkido
Fencing
Archery
Weightlifting
Powerlifting
Ultimate frisbee
Curling
Billiards
Bowling
Rock climbing
Figure skating
Surfing
Scuba-diving
Golf
High jump
Long jump
Triple jump
Discus throw
Hammer throw
Kabaddi
Racquetball (70)
Community Service Extracurriculars
There are several extracurriculars you can join through your school and other organizations to give back to your community:
Habitat For Humanity
Red cross club
Key club
National honor society
Big brothers and big sisters
Pen pals
Community food bank volunteering
Environmental clean-up crew
Recycling crew
Homeless shelter assistance
Hospital volunteer programs
Community garden maintenance
Youth mentoring
Reading buddies
Meals on wheels delivery
Wildlife rehabilitation volunteer programs
UNICEF club
Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD)
Girl scouts or boy scouts
American cancer society club
National Alliance on Mental Illness Club (NAMI)
Relay for Life team
Operation Smile club
Ronald McDonald House Charities Youth Volunteers
YMCA Youth Volunteer Corps
Global Youth Service Day Projects
Student Conservation Association (SCA)
National Park Service youth programs
Assisting at local libraries or community centers
Assisting with food and clothing drives
Fundraising for local or non-local causes
Volunteering at local senior homes
Coaching youth sports leagues
Participating in fundraising walks and runs
Supporting programs for veterans
Volunteering at daycare centers
Volunteering at local animal shelters
Diversity and Culture Extracurriculars
Diversity and culture extracurricular activities focus on promoting and celebrating the backgrounds, cultures, and identities of different communities:
Spanish club
French club
Latin club
Greek club
German club
Mandarin club
Japanese club
Korean club
Italian club
Russian club
Persian club
Arabic club
American Sign Language (ASL) club
Hindi club
Urdu club
Armenian club
International club
Indigenous club
Turkish club
Vietnamese club
Filipino club
Brazilian club
Irish culture club
Indian culture club
African culture club
Mexican culture club
Arabic culture club
Black students union
Asian students association
Tamil students association
Punjabi students association
Chinese students association
Indian students association
Middle eastern association
European association
Caribbean club
Jewish student union
Muslim student union
South Asian club
Allyship club
Hobby or Interest-Related Extracurriculars
While we’ve distinguished between hobbies and extracurriculars, it’s important to note these categories often overlap. You can take a hobby or interest of yours and make it into a club at your school, as many students often do! Here’s some examples:
Reading club
Cooking club
Baking club
Anime club
Gardening club
Yoga club
Pilates club
Knitting club
Crochet club
Sewing club
Embroidery club
Model Rocketry Club
Model Railroad Club
Model Car Racing Club
Model Boat Club
Fashion club
Birdwatching club
Scrabble club
Sudoku club
Chess club
Checkers club
Board games club
Video games club
Film appreciation club
Scrapbooking club
Makeup artistry club
DIY club
Astrology club
Aviation club
Journaling club
Car enthusiasts club
Magic club
Pokemon Go club
Entrepreneur club
Equestrian club
Wall street club
Woodworking club
Coin collecting club
Rock collecting club
Stamp collecting club
Music appreciation club
Puzzles club
Tea tasting club
Coffee club
Survival skills training club
Self-defense club
DJ and mixtape club
Nutrition club
Crime club
Forensics club
Comedy club
Improv club
Cosplay club
Ethical hacking club
Virtual Reality club
Comic book club
Call of Duty club
Minecraft club
ROBLOX club
Fortnite club
Battleship club
Dungeons and Dragons club
Public speaking club
Music production club
Classical music appreciation club
Calligraphy club
Juggling club
Mime club
Podcast club
Video editing club
Current events club
Fantasy sports club
Financial literacy club
Fishing club
Karaoke club
Meditation club
Nature club
Marvel club
Origami club
Shakespeare club
Vegan club
Vegetarian club
Glee club
Spirit club
Outdoor adventure and camping club
Travel club
Hiking club
Cosmetology club
Geocaching club
Storytelling club
Soap making club
Candle making club
Kite flying club
Historical reenactment club
Parkour club
Puppetry club
Rubik’s cube club
Sports card club
Metalworking club
Artificial intelligence club
Paranormal investigation club
Drone racing club
Don’t see your passion on this list? Don’t fret! You can always start your own club at your high school! Doing so can further strengthen your college applications and ensure you thoroughly enjoy your extracurricular activity.
Student Government Extracurriculars
Make an impact on your school and peers by joining your school government extracurricular activities:
Student union
Prom committee
Student council
Student diversity committee
Student athletic advisory committee
Prom committee
Student inclusion committee
Summer Programs
Have some free time in the summer you’d like to spend pursuing a useful extracurricular activity? Here are some summer programs offered by various institutions to help you develop your abilities and boost your resume!
Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS)
New York University (NYU) pre-college programs
Carnegie Mellon University pre-college programs
University of Michigan pre-college programs
Georgia Tech pre-college summer programs
Princeton University summer journalism program
University of Pennsylvania pre-college program
Harvard pre-college program
MIT Launch summer program
Columbia University summer immersion program
UC Berkeley pre-college scholars program
Duke University Summer Academy for high school students
Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) summer programs
Brown University pre-college programs
Georgetown University summer high school programs
Northwestern University Center for Talent Development summer programs
National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC)
Bank of America Student Leaders program
NASA internships and fellowships
Exchange programs
Girls Who Code summer immersion program
Telluride Association summer program
Research Science Institute (RSI) programs
United States Naval Academy summer seminar
Oxbridge academic programs
Explo at Yale
High School Diplomats program
National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS)
U.S. Department of State Youth Exchange programs (e.g., YES, NSLI-Y)
National Student Leadership Foundation (NSLF) youth leadership conferences
Medlife volunteer program
Global Leadership Adventures (GLA)
Roadtrip Nation summer programs
Abbey Road summer programs
Youth Empowered Action (YEA) Camp
Youth for Understanding (YFU) cultural exchange programs
CIEE high school summer abroad programs
LeadAmerica leadership development programs
Envision Experience leadership programs
YouthBuild USA
Employment
It’s common for students to pick up part-time or summer jobs to keep busy and make some extra money to buy their first car, their overpriced prom dress, or save up for college. But did you know these jobs can also be considered extracurriculars? Here are the most common positions students seek:
Babysitter
Dog walker
Lifeguard
Tutor
Receptionist
Retail associate
Waiter/waitress
Fast food crew member
Camp counselor
Movie theater crew member
Pizza delivery driver
Barista
Event staff
Park attendant
Ice cream shop member
Sales associate
Warehouse worker
Dishwasher
Pet store associate
Research assistant
Intern for small and large businesses
Dog daycare attendant
Catering assistant
Food delivery driver
Amusement park ride operator
Personal assistant
House painter
Moving and packing assistant
Lawn care attendant
Grocery store associate
FAQs: Extracurricular Activities
You can find the answers to any remaining questions about extracurricular activities in high school below!
1. How Do Colleges Feel About Extracurriculars?
Colleges highly value extracurriculars on their candidates’ applications. Admissions committees search for students that are well-rounded and can demonstrate excellence in more ways than just their academics, and having extracurriculars checks off these sought-after traits.
Extracurricular activities also highlight students’ ability to manage their time effectively and collaborate with others, essential qualities for success in college and beyond!
Additionally, extracurricular involvement can help students stand out among a competitive pool of applicants and showcase their unique talents, interests, and experiences.
2. Why Are Extracurriculars Important?
Aside from getting you into your dream college, extracurriculars are important because they will enable you to develop skills that will help you throughout your academic and professional career!
You’ll develop strong communication, time management, responsibility, leadership, and interpersonal skills that will contribute to your personal growth and character development!
They also allow you to discover and nurture your interests and talents, helping you reach your goals, increase your confidence, and gain a sense of self-fulfillment!
3. What Extracurriculars Do Ivy Leagues Look For?
Ivy League colleges appreciate extracurriculars that demonstrate leadership, critical thinking, and commitment, so with any extracurricular you participate in, ensure you stick with it for an extended period of time and make meaningful contributions to it.
Popular extracurriculars Ivy League students pursue that demonstrate these traits are student government, sports, and creative clubs.
You should also consider joining academic and community service-related extracurriculars that can demonstrate your dedication to intellectual enhancement and your strong sense of social responsibility.
4. What Counts as an Extracurricular Activity?
Essentially, any activity that is done outside of your typical curriculum and is not used towards your grades or for school credit can be considered an extracurricular activity. It should involve other people and should not be an independent pursuit.
It should also develop your interests, work towards specific goals, and follow a schedule for meetings and events.
Final Thoughts
Now that you've had the chance to dive into over 500 extracurricular activities, you're in the prime position to pick extracurriculars that truly align with your passions and interests. Whether you're drawn to sports, arts, community service, or something entirely unique, the world is your oyster!
Remember, these activities are not just a way to fill up your free time—they're a chance for you to explore, grow, and make unforgettable memories. So, choose wisely and get ready to embark on a thrilling journey of self-discovery, skill-building, and all-around awesomeness!
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