Do you need extracurricular activities to get into university?

[Nadira]

Hi i am 15 and started "high school" or A-levels as they call it here. Recently all my friends have gone bogus about joining the interact club and when i asked why they said it helps them to get into university.

How important are extra curriculars anyway? I read a website and it said do something that impresses the college admission officers and don't do things that almost everyone is doing. They tell you to "stand out".

I don't have any extra curricular activities except for the fact that i did skiing courses in Norway (though i'm sri lankan!) for four years and i guess a few athletics in school and also 3 months of gymnastics though i don't have documents to prove it.

As for being impressive well i got so far is skiing 40 km non-stop near the Arctic Circle in Norway and yeah good grades i guess.

So assuming i get average results for A-levels what are my chances of getting into university? None?

If so should i start something like badminton in school?

By the way does speaking many languages help in any way? I can speak like 4 and planning to start my fifth language.

 

[jul*75]

Extra curricular activities are only there to help you out. They are like your back-up. Sure, people notice them, but if you don't really have extracurriculars, then who cares? If you're really smart or a good student, having little or not extra curricular activities at all won't be a problem. I suggest focusing more on your studies (and making you grades go up, of course) because that is the thing they will want to see--and will definitely look at--more. Good luck at school, by the way.