Extracurricular Activities for International Students in the U.S. and Canada: Tips on Where and How to Look

As an international student studying or looking to study in the United States or Canada, you want to make the most out of your North American high school experience so that you are prepared for college and beyond. The most important part of any high school experience is academic performance, but while a good GPA makes a strong college applicant, a balance of extracurriculars makes that applicant even stronger. According to College Board, “Admissions committees also review the extra-academic activities listed on your college application to help decide whether to give you an offer of admission.”

For some, finding extracurricular activities is easy and stress-free, while for others, navigating the high school extracurricular search is daunting to think about. Here are tips on where and how to look for extracurricular activities as an international student in North America.

‍Researching Extracurriculars Before Arriving to Campus

As a high school student in a new environment, it is a good idea to gather information on student life prior to arriving on campus. When looking at a school’s website, there is usually a section for “Athletics,” “Arts,” and sometimes a section for “Student Life.” These options are a great place to begin your search. For example, Justin-Sienna High School in Napa Valley, California has options for students who are interested in art, athletics, engineering, and various other disciplines. Villanova College in Toronto, Ontario also offers nearly 20 athletic clubs & extracurricular activities including a championship-winning basketball team.  

Students can also connect with faculty, staff, students and others who are involved with the school to learn more about specific activities. Oftentimes, leaders, coaches, or advisors will attach their contact information to their club’s webpage. When communicating with school representatives, it is best to introduce yourself in an email first. Let them know that you are an incoming student, tell them which extracurriculars you are interested in, and ask if they can provide you with more information. Whether they are faculty or an affiliate of the school, representatives are always eager to connect with prospective students who are interested in getting involved within the school community.

‍

Sign Up for Everything

To “sign up for everything” is an exaggeration, but high school students have a greater chance of joining a club they enjoy if they have a wide variety of options. A school such as Bishop Montgomery High School has over 50 clubs and organizations. So, when a student has a lot of extracurriculars to choose from, it is never a bad idea to sign up for a surplus of activities to decide on a select few.

If clubs have meetings where walk-ins are welcome, maybe stop by. Signing up for a club or showing up for a club meeting does not mean that a student is permanently a member of the club. Many high school students will join a club and drop it after a week, because they learn that they aren’t interested, or they find a club that aligns more with their passions. By using this technique, you will be able to narrow down your choices in the most accurate way in order to find the extracurricular that best suits you.

Be More Strategic and Selective with Your Extracurriculars

At some point in your study abroad experience, a college advisor or guidance counselor is going to talk to you about extracurriculars and their place within a college application. College admissions officers want to see their applicants participate and grow in areas they care about, but they also want to see diversity in the activities students do. Taking on challenges should be part of the academic experience but choosing to do an activity just because of how it may look on a college application should not be the main reason for choosing an extracurricular.

So, before students panic and cram in as many extracurriculars as possible, you should begin with creating a mental, or even physical, chart to strategize what extracurriculars best fit them and their goals. Here is an example:

Recreation:

Surf Club

Robotics

Volunteer:

Dog Shelter

Performing/Creative Arts:

Chorus

Creative Writing Club

Students will organize their extracurriculars in various ways. Some may have no interest in performing or creative arts, but they will focus on athletics instead. Rather than volunteer work, a student may be interested in doing semester-long research. The categories and their level of importance are up to you, but organizing the extracurriculars into smaller groups is not only a good planning strategy before making a final decision, but it also helps alleviate stress during the college process.

Whether you are an Amerigo Education applicant, or a student at one of our Signature or Select schools, click here to browse through our schools to find what activities they have to offer. Show off your skills, build new ones, and good luck in your search for extracurriculars!

‍